She should've been going down to breakfast, but she refused to leave Ruby, sat with her on the small sofa in her room, cradling her left forearm in her hands. He had done this, because of her. Frustrated that he couldn't find her, Gaston had grasped Ruby's forearm so tight, he had left a black and blue imprint of his hand on her fair skin. Belle felt guilty, gently brushing her thumb over the bruise. She should never have asked her to stand guard. Lord Gold would've stood up for her, if Gaston had come into the library. Selfishly, Belle had wanted to steal as much time as she could with him and she had enjoyed every minute she had spent with him. And sadly, she knew, if the chance came up again, where she needed Ruby to stand guard, buy her some more time, she would take it and Ruby give it gladly. The guilt though… She didn't want to see her devoted friend get hurt, because of her.
When she had met with Ruby in her room last night, changing for dinner, Ruby had only told her, how she had distracted Gaston, leading him on a wild goose chase around the house and back into the gardens. She hadn't mentioned that Gaston had hurt her, that he had gripped her wrist and yanked her about, threatening to have her and her grandmother fired. Bowing her head, her heart felt heavy with her shame, even though it wanted to soar above the clouds, with the words 'absolutely charming' etched deep into her heart. It had killed her blissful mood, finding out what Gaston had said. Belle had been thankful for Lord Gold and Mr Mandermer, keeping her distracted at dinner, otherwise she would've thrown her dinner at Gaston, and anything else close to hand on the dinner table. She'd known he was ruthless. A man with no kindness in his heart, but she had naively thought, he wouldn't dare doing anything uncivilised in her father's home.
"I'm going to tell my father about this." Belle stated, carefully cradling Ruby's arm.
Ruby shook her head and grasped at Belle's arm with her other hand, telling her. "There's no point. You know, your father will only excuse his behaviour, like he does when Gaston is being rude and obnoxious to other servants."
"But he's physically hurt you, Ruby!" Belle argued. "He can't get away with this!"
"Belle, Lord Gold and Mr Mandermer are only going to be here another two days. You haven't got time to waste." Ruby said as she squeezed Belle's wrist.
Carefully, Belle unwrapped one of her hands from Ruby's forearm, mindful of touching the bruise and the area around it, and gestured forcefully at the inflamed mark. "You can't ask me to ignore this, Ruby! He did this, because of me!"
"Yes, I can ask you to ignore it and you will, because it'll be so much sweeter, when you're riding off in a carriage with Lord Gold and not Gaston." Ruby claimed, smiling through the pain as she said it.
"I'll just tell Granny and she can shoot him with her crossbow." Belle decided, nodding her head in agreement with her plan.
"That's exactly what we need right now." Ruby rolled her eyes at the idea. "My grandmother chasing after Gaston with a crossbow." She then laughed and said. "Though, it'd be quite fitting end for him, seeing how he loves to hunt."
"I'm serious! It's not supposed to be funny!" Belle said, pushing at Ruby's shoulder.
Ruby continued to laugh. "You should tell her, just so we can see Gaston running away from her!"
"It's not funny!" Belle exclaimed, but started laughing at the image before she had finished admonishing Ruby.
Sobering, Ruby gathered Belle's hands into her hands and squeezed her friend's hands, telling her. "Belle, please don't waste the time you should be spending with Lord Gold. They're going to be leaving tomorrow. You need to get in his good graces or win his affections before he leaves." Firmly holding Belle's hands, Ruby's features grew darker. "Because I fear, Gaston isn't going to leave this time until you've agreed to marry him."
"I know." She casted her gaze down at the rug, knowing there was truth in Ruby's forewarning.
The timing of everything couldn't have been worse. If Lord Gold and Mr Mandermer had come the week before, she certainly wouldn't be thinking of pushing him to marry her. They possibly could've ended their visit with the agreement to write to one another, as would happen during a normal courtship, but she needed something more certain before they had to leave.
Her mind wandered, picturing the long, beautifully written letters he would've sent her. Every week, he would've sent her two letters without fail, and if he was feeling perhaps over affectionate or was dreadfully missing her, there would be a shorter letter sent with the declaration he had to see her soon. They would've attended balls together, danced together, showing society that they were courting. She would've travelled to his estate, meet his son and fall in love with him, adoring him as soon as she saw him, much like she had his father. Regretfully, none of this was going to happen.
"You really should be getting down to breakfast." Ruby encouraged, patting her hand on top of Belle's hands, cradled in her other hand.
"Yes, I should." Belle drew her gaze to the nasty bruise on Ruby's wrist. "I just don't feel right leaving you like this."
Shaking her head, Ruby stood up, waving off Belle's concern as she walked away, heading to the bed. "I've got chores to attend to and you should be loving it up with your Earl."
Belle rolled her eyes. "He's not my Earl."
"You could've fooled me." Ruby commented as she collected the pile of clothes, she had piled on the bed earlier. "You were bouncing round the room, when you came up to change for dinner. I thought I was going to have to call some of the maids to restrain you."
Giving Ruby a pointed look, Belle stood up, straightening her skirts, as she said. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Well, I can say this, Gaston has never made you smile as much as Lord Gold has, so he's got the thumbs up from me." Ruby shared as she crossed the room to the door.
"I doubt many people have smile at the prospect of spending their life with him." Belle remarked, following Ruby to the door.
"Yes, they have." Ruby said, over her shoulder, blindly opening the door. "When he looks at himself in the mirror and sees his handsome mug."
Belle helped Ruby through the door and closed the door after them, saying. "He should marry a deaf girl, then she wouldn't have to hear all the drivel that comes out of his mouth."
Aghast at Belle's suggestion, Ruby stood still in the hallway, clutching Belle's laundry to her chest, mouth hanging open. "What a wretched thing to say!"
"Well…" Belle innocently shrugged her shoulders. "It would be the best match for him."
"Anyone forced to spend time with him - deaf, dumb or blind - would be a poor soul." Ruby told her, turning to head to the grand staircase with Belle trailing after her.
Throwing her hands up in the air, signalling defeat, Belle said. "Then that's it! The only suitable match for Gaston would be Gaston, himself."
Ruby laughed. "I still see problems with that match, one being they would fight for the limelight, but you're probably right."
They laughed, sharing a smirk, as they got to the end of the hallway and ventured out onto the landing of the grand staircase. Their laughter died naturally and Belle opened her mouth to say something, when down in the foyer, they heard voices and together, they spied over the banister to see her father and Gaston crossing, heading in the direction of her father's study.
"I do understand your frustration, Gaston." Her father said, patting the younger man on his shoulder. "But Belle seldom does as she is told."
Gaston threw his gaze up to the ceiling. "She's your daughter, Maurice! She should do as you tell her." Turning his gaze to her father as they entered the hallway, he said. "She will have to learn quickly, once we are married, to do as I say or I'll have to treat her much like I would one of my hounds."
Her father chuckled. "Now, now, Gaston. She'll be fine, once you're married and she's settled in. She'll make you a fine wife."
Their conversation became obscure, the further they went into the hallway, leaving Belle to watch on, grasping at the handrail for support. Ruby dumped the bundle of washing to the floor and wrapped her arms protectively around Belle, offering her comfort at the same time. Belle couldn't believe her ears. A brute was threatening to treat her 'like…one of my hounds' and her father laughed it off. She wanted to believe he was being naïve. That his eagerness to have her married and her future secure, was blinding him to the beast, Gaston could be. The beast, even she herself, had foolishly thought wouldn't rear its ugly head in their house, yet the branded mark on Ruby's arm proved he would.
A gentleman or a monster, Gaston had no right to touch a woman – Lady or servant.
Peeling Ruby's arms from around her, Belle went to start down the stairs, telling Ruby. "I'm going to find out what those two are discussing."
"Be careful, Belle." Ruby warned, nervously looking from Belle to the opening of the hallway.
"I will, I promise." Belle assured as she gathered her skirts and quickly descended the stairs.
Near the bottom of the stairs, Belle's gaze ventured in the direction of the dining room, wanting more than anything, to join Lord Gold and Mr Mandermer for breakfast. She couldn't ignore her inquisitive nature. Especially, as her father and Gaston appeared to be discussing her and her future. Her heart thumped eagerly for her to go to the dining room, to catch a glimpse of his suggestive smile, the one that melted her insides and curled her toes. The one, where she would bend to every whim, no matter how frivolous they may happen to be. To join them and listen to his distinct brogue again, intimately sharing details about himself, peeling away the mysterious layers of his character.
Her thoughts made her more determined, to find out what Gaston and her father were discussing. Swishing from the stairs to the hallway, she lifted as much of her skirts as she could and stealthily snuck into the hallway. Slowing her step, careful as she took her step, Belle kept herself hunched close to the wall.
"It's been long enough." Gaston declared.
"It has been, but as I've said, I'd rather not make her." Her father said as she got nearer to the ajar door.
Belle leaned to spy through the gap in the doorway as Gaston said. "Maurice, I will not have your daughter make a fool of me!"
"I don't believe her intention is to make a fool of you." Her father defended her, from where he sat behind his desk.
Gaston pointed his finger at her father. "When I told you, I was interested in marrying your daughter, you gladly invited my proposal. Your daughter should be grateful, that I'm even proposing to marry her. She's getting older now. Most women her age are married and have had a child or two by now." He waved a hand towards the front of the house. "And it wasn't like she had suitors banging down your front door."
Her father held his hands up in the air. "What would you have me do, Gaston? Grab her by her hair, drag her into my study, tie her to a chair and force her to accept your proposal?"
"Yes, I would!" Gaston vigorously nodded his head. "In fact, I demand that's what you do!"
"I wouldn't do that to my Belle. It would be vulgar and I have guests! I couldn't do such a thing with them in the house!" Her father argued.
"Then you will do it as soon as they leave. Otherwise, Maurice, you will forfeit the sum we agreed upon, when I marry Belle." Gaston threatened her father as he flicked out the tails of his coat and sat down in one of the chairs in front of her father's desk.
Sitting back in his chair, taking in a deep breath, her father looked thoughtful before he said. "When they leave, tomorrow, I'll get Belle to sit down with you."
"Good. Then we can finally get on with organising the wedding." Gaston beamed as Belle snapped back, flatting her back against the wall, covering her mouth with both of her hands.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to burst into her father's office, proclaim to them that only she could decide her future and point blank refuse any future proposals from Gaston. She wanted to beat them both with a heavy book, beating sense into both of them, hopefully putting Gaston off ever wanting to marry her. These were unwise and dangerous notions. They could easily trap her and push forward their plan. No, the wisest, and the only, move would be to find Lord Gold.
"Come on, let's go for a ride." Her father declared to Gaston. "That'll cheer you up and take your mind off things."
"Balls." She whispered harshly, looking round for somewhere to escape.
There was no time to back track to the foyer and out of the sight, as the two of them would be following her, if she went in that direction. Hurriedly, scooping up her skirts into her arms, Belle ran, very unladylike, to the library door and quickly shut the door behind her. She grimaced on the other side of the door, holding her breath, listening intently to the other side of the door.
"Do you think that was Belle?" Gaston inquired.
"Possibly. Could also be one of the servants." Her father sounded impassive. "Don't worry about Belle, for now Gaston. It's not like she's going anywhere."
"I suppose you have a point. One day isn't going to do any harm." Gaston reluctantly agreed.
Pushing herself away from the door, she sped through the library and used the French doors to escape from the house. Belle knew she had to find Lord Gold. The small bit of time she had, had become even more precious and she couldn't waste another minute. She ran along the building, following the perimeter of the house, and hastened around the corner, quickening her step as she kept an eye out for Lord Gold or Mr Mandermer, or even Ruby or any of the servants. Someone had to know where he was.
As she scampered across the back the of the house, peering in through the windows, endeavouring to catch a hint of Lord Gold, Belle was hit with a sudden offence to her father and his accord with Gaston. Of course, she understood that her father wanted her married. It was, after all, her whole purpose. To take a suitable husband, bear him children and tend to the insignificant duties of the household, enabling him to manage the estate and conduct his business as he saw fit. She had always assumed, or hoped, he would stay out of it and let her have the final choice, even if he didn't want to hear her objections to the match.
Possibly, due to her unorthodox upbringing, where her mother had encouraged her to read, to develop her own opinions and feel free to express them, Belle had been tainted for the likes of Gaston. He desired a wife, who would dutifully stand at his side, silent and looking beautiful, worn on his arm to make other men jealous. She could happily perform two of these tasks, but she would never be silent. They would never have a happy, meaningful marriage. It wouldn't be too long into their marriage, Gaston would begrudge her tendency to speak her mind, to think her own thoughts and develop her understanding, devouring as many books as she could. It was obvious, he was already frustrated with her – from what he'd said to her father and had done the day previous to Ruby. Marrying him, would be a life sentence without the mercy of parole.
Staggering a couple of steps, when Belle tripped on a stone, she smiled as her mind wandered to Lord Gold, speculating what it would be like to be married to him. If their conversation in the library was anything to go by, she was more than convinced, he'd appreciate her wit and her thirst for knowledge. 'Find it refreshing to converse with a Lady, when she…understands the subject.', it made her heart flutter, recalling his frank words. So many balls, so many soirees, where Belle had played dumb and bit her tongue. Unable to express her opinion, shying away from attention, sheltering herself in the nearest library. If only, she had met Lord Gold at one of these dos, if they had happened to meet, perhaps drifted to a corner together, chatting and sharing… Maybe, share a kiss… Or…
Wherever that thought may have gone, was squashed into the firm chest that she ran into, blown out on the breath forced out of her chest, flung off in a random direction as the owner of firm chest clutched at her sides and dragged her down onto the ground with him. Belle clung to the front of his coat, fistfuls of his lapels kept her safely tucked in close to his chest.
Studying his face, she became breathless with his handsome face being so close to her own. She would've touched his face, stroke her finger along the edge of his lower lip, map the curve of the fold of his cheek, trace the dimple, which was hidden in his cheeks until he smiled. Her hand itched to caress his cheek, craving to know if his skin would be smooth or if there would be a prickly trace of his stubble. His thin lips, a temptation all of their own, beckoned her to press her plump soft lips against them, tenderly, but fiercely, kissing him like she'd been dying to do.
Belle flicked her gaze up to the dark abyss of his eyes, laden with utter confusion, as they stared back at her. "I'm so…" She paused to breath and whispered to him. "I'm so sorry, my Lord."
The lump in his throat bobbed, his gaze didn't wander from her own, as he mumbled. "It's no bother."
"I hope I didn't hurt you." She told him, becoming awfully aware that she was lying on top of him, her pelvis met with his, their bodies fitted perfectly with each other.
His eyebrows hooded down over his eyes, as he muttered. "No…" Lord Gold's head faintly shook from side to side. "No, I don't think so."
A strong pair of hands grabbed at her arms, telling her as they lifted her off Lord Gold. "Let me help you up."
There was pull at her waist, a strong force tethering her to Lord Gold, reluctant to let her go. For a very small moment, Belle was hopeful, the binding between them would win and pull her back down onto Lord Gold. A heatwave flushed through her body, all the way down to her toes, curling them inside of her shoes. Hauntingly, Belle could feel his solid form, cushioning her, pressed delightfully into her soft curves. She wanted more of him, craved to feel his body, coveted the wicked thought of having him above her, nestled between her thighs, a comfortable weight on top of her.
The strong bind between them broke and Mr Mandermer stood her up, tentatively brushing the dust off of her skirts with a coy smile. Belle thanked his kindness with a smile and a nod of her head. If it had been anyone else, she may have been tempted to throttle them, for ruining such a perfect moment.
Mr Mandermer stepped by her and held his hand out to Lord Gold. "Rumford, are you alright?"
There was a very quick, "Yep.", and Lord Gold was launched up onto his feet, standing up to face her, his gaze immediately locked with hers. Absently, Belle wiped at the front of the dress, occupying her hands. She yearned to touch him, mould herself against his frame, wrap her arms around his neck, tiptoe up to press a kiss to his delicate lips.
Opening her mouth to voice her desires, Belle managed to catch herself and apologised instead, before she made a fool of herself. "Really, my Lord, I am so sorry."
His hand waved weakly through the air at her. "It's quite alright."
"What had you in such a hurry?" Mr Mandermer asked, peeping over Lord Gold's shoulder as he patted the dirt off the back of Lord Gold's coat.
"I was…" Her eyes traipsed back to Lord Gold, meeting his gaze, as a heat bloomed in her cheeks. "I was looking for Lord Gold, actually."
The surprised look on his face made the corners of her lips turn up. It was the first time, she had seen beyond the stoic persona he projected, only allowing smiles to break through the façade. The man in front of her, was far from being the Earl, who had arrived a few days ago. His mask had slipped and as much as she really liked the prim and proper Lord, she felt a warmth for this other man she saw, growing her thirst to know more about him.
The dull thud of Mr Mandermer clamping his hand down on Lord Gold's shoulder, drew her attention as he professed. "Well, you found him!"
From the corner of his eye, Lord Gold eyed Mr Mandermer's smug grin, which caused her to chuckle as she agreed with Mr Mandermer. "Yes, literally."
"Seeing as Lady French was seeking you out." The two friends shared a look as Mr Mandermer said. "I'm going to see, if Mrs Lucas would be gracious enough to make me a pot of tea."
"Oh, I'm sure, she'll be more than willing to do that for you, Mr Mandermer." She smiled at him, glad Mr Mandermer was making himself scarce.
Mr Mandermer smiled all knowingly at her as he said. "Yes, I totally agree with you, my Lady, but don you find, we should always keep ourselves open to other possibilities. Things we thought weren't possible or had accepted may never happen."
'What a strange thing to say…', Belle thought, knitting her brow together, creasing her forehead. It gave her the impression, she had missed something and the two friends were secretly communicating. Looking between them, there was something in the way Lord Gold was staring at Mr Mandermer. She didn't know him well enough to pinpoint the precise feeling, but she suspected it was something close to irritation.
"How very… studious of you." She said to move the conversation along.
Lord Gold nudged Mr Mandermer's hand off his shoulder and waved a hand to the open French doors. "You better go then and see Mrs Lucas, before a possibly outcome hits you in the face."
Smiling at her, Mr Mandermer muttered out of the corner of his mouth to Lord Gold. "Not with a lady present."
"You never know what could happen, fate's tricky like that." Rumford hissed in a deadly tone.
Dividing her attention from one to the other, Belle raised her eyebrows at the underlying hostility, enforcing her suspicion that the two friends were conducting a private conversation in front of her. The two of them shared a look, silently conveying whatever was being said between them.
"Lady French, I'll leave you in Lord Gold's company and hope to talk to you later." Mr Mandermer smirked as he bowed to her and then ambled back into the house, glancing back at Lord Gold before he crossed the threshold into the house.
While she watched Mr Mandermer entered the house, Belle shifted closer to Lord Gold, doing her best to ignore how her body tingled and intensified the closer she got to him. "Did I miss something?"
"Not at all." Lord Gold remarked, the tone of his voice made it clear he didn't want to share. "Just Mister Mandermer being his usual self."
"Right…" Belle decided not to push it as she had more pressing matters to discuss with him. "Anyway, I was wondering, if you'd like to take a spin around the garden and that… We may continue our conversation from yesterday?"
His head turned to look at her and his eyes bulged at her, surprised at something, and dropped his gaze down at the ground, then back up to meet her gaze. A muscle in his cheek twitched as his eyebrows pushed up the middle of his brow, creasing several small lines into his forehead. The expression on his face encouraged her curiousness. The 'Lord Gold' she had become accustomed to, had always been regal, in control and sure of himself. The man in front of her was off balanced, showing an insecurity in his eyes, which called to her and begged her to comfort him.
A short moment passed before Lord Gold pressed his lips together and nodded his head at her, and swivelled on his feet, extending his elbow to her. Belle smiled at him as she slipped her hand around his arm, lightly grasping his arm, feeling his taut muscles through the sleeve of his coat. Towing her with him, he set off to walk the breadth of the house at leisurely pace. Through his arm, she felt the change in him. The mask of 'Lord Gold' slipped into place with his shoulders pushing back, his back straightening, standing taller beside her, his strides in perfect sync with her own. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she contemplated why he would feel the need for guises, was it just something that had been instilled into him or was there something more, hidden behind the masks he wore.
They ambled in a comfortable silence. Strolled the width of the house and sauntered onto the gravel path, which encircled the small flower garden and maze garden. A contented sigh easily slipped out of her as they followed the path. It felt so right to have him by her side. Their strides were perfectly timed, neither of them taking one too short or longer than the other, putting them out of sync. His arm was the ideal height, where it wasn't uncomfortable or awkward to hold his arm like it was her father's, who was so much taller than she was.
"I do quite admire the gardens here." Lord Gold shared with her.
Belle swept her gaze over to the flower garden, smiling at the different variety of flowers and colours. "My mother designed it and tended to it. I've tried my best to keep it going, adding new flowers to it over the years."
A sad smile touched his lips for a flicker of a second. "I have a small rose garden in honour of my mother."
"You must have been close to your mother." She remarked, swinging her gaze round to look at him as she spoke.
His eyes drifted down to the gravel footpath. "I was close to both my parents, but she was the first to love me unconditionally."
'What a strange comment.', Belle thought to herself, curving up an eyebrow at his comment. 'Didn't all mothers love unconditionally, or parents for that matter?'
Even with the situation with Gaston, she knew without a doubt, her father loved her no matter what. Their opinions might not correspond at times, but he still loved her. And there was no denying that her mother had loved her. Without a second thought, her mother had defended her more fiercely than a lioness protecting her cub. Belle hoped, when she had children, she could love them as strongly as her mother had.
"There's nothing like a mother's love." Belle stated and squeezed at his forearm, smiling softly at him when he turned his gaze onto her.
His brow flexed down over his eyes, a thought passing through his mind, and looked away before he said. "Some people aren't maternal."
"What makes you say such a thing, my Lord?" She prompted, though she suspected it had something to do with his late wife, from the conversation she'd had with Mr Mandermer… But it sounded like there was more to his comment.
"Past experience." Lord Gold told her, refusing to give her anymore context.
Her eyebrows teased together as she regarded his comment and pieced it together with what Mr Mandermer had told her, when they had tea the other day. Had the Countess been that bad of a wife and a mother, she had left a mark on this man? Scarred their son? Belle didn't like to form opinions from gossip. She liked to come to her own conclusions and judge people on how they treated her and others, and not from the bias remarks of others. It was hard not to be swayed by what Mr Mandermer had told her and the unsaid truth of Lord Gold. Which led her to wondering, as she chanced a glimpse at him, how much his late wife had hurt the Earl and his son, if he couldn't bring himself to talk about it.
He extended his other arm, motioning to the path that splintered off, leading to the gate in the outer wall, the coastal path beyond it. "Would you like to continue around the gardens or venture out of the grounds?"
"Around the gardens." Belle braced a smile for him, hiding the twinge of angst, the thought of the coastal path aroused in her.
Lord Gold scrutinised her with his gaze. "Do you not like going beyond the gardens?"
Her eyebrows lifted up at him, astonished he had seen through her smile, and said. "No, I do…" Belle paused, considering the truth. "I… Don't tend to walk the coastal path these days."
"Really?" His gaze went to the gate in the wall and then back to her. "It's very picturesque and the view of the beach below is striking in the early morning sunshine."
"I know, I remember." The corners of her lips twitched with a smile, but the heavy memory of that fateful day killed it. "I'm sorry."
Waving off her apology, Lord Gold said. "Don't be sorry." Then he smiled at her, creasing the small lines by his eyes, revealing the small dimples in his cheeks. "I don't need a scenic viewpoint, to appreciate the beautiful sight on my arm."
His compliment totally blew her away. Clutching the sleeve of his coat, Belle blinked her eyes at him, a few times, disbelieving the admiring comment he had uttered. A heatwave flooded through her body, chasing the tingle that coursed down her limbs and tensed her toes, clenching tightly in her shoes. It wasn't the first time, someone had flattered her about her beauty, but it was certainly the first time, the person issuing the compliment had left her feeling giddy.
"You flatter me, my Lord." She admonished to him, bashfully turning her gaze away, her cheeks were heated by his complimented.
"Merely stating the honest truth, my Lady." The look on his face was pure wickedness and it served only to ignite her cheeks.
'The honest truth…'. The words became a mantra inside of her head. The truth of the matter, was there was no time for such pleasantries. The truth was, she would be hung the next day at dusk or as soon as the dust had settled from their carriage leaving. The time for courtship, as wonderful as it could've been, had been voided for them. Studying his face, the tantalising curve of his lips, the crinkles by his eyes, the abyss of his dark brown eyes, Belle couldn't think of anyone else, who she would rather vow to spend the rest of days with. Possibly, with time, they could learn to appreciate one another, maybe love one another, and if it did become something more, bordered onto something, she had envisioned for the last few nights, she would be a happy woman.
Time was not on their side, though.
Breathing in, Belle mustered herself together and pushed herself to be brave. "Lord Gold, I know you've said, you don't find my brashness to be intimidating, but I'm hoping I can share something and not offend you."
"Offend me?" He halted, pulling her to a stop, and took a step, pivoting, to face her. "What could you possibly say to offend me?"
"I…" She faltered as she gazed into his eyes, recognising uncertainty in their depths, which unsettled her and dispersed her courage.
Lord Gold's eyes narrowed at her, asking her. "What is it?"
Her mouth worked, opening and closing, until she got rallied her strength and told him. "This is very unorthodox and I'm very aware this is against etiquette and socially frowned upon, but I…" She paused, caught by the questioning look on his face. "I need to talk to you about marriage."