The Governess and Mr. Granville by Abby Gaines

Author:Abby Gaines
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-10-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Serena’s lips were soft, yielding beneath Dominic’s. Yet he kept a distance between them with his grip on her arms, as if that would negate the intimacy of the kiss. In the dim light, her pale cheeks, the sweep of her lashes, were beautiful mysteries to behold.

The kiss did not feel convenient. Not like the kind of embrace he anticipated in his marriage.

It felt right. Perfect.

It can’t be. Dominic’s rational mind stepped in, pointing out the obvious. Yes, Serena was kind and giving and a young woman—emphasis on young—of admirable faith, but Dominic still loved Emily. His wife. The wife of his heart.

He didn’t know Serena the way he’d known Emily. He didn’t love her.

So now, even though his senses screamed to deepen the kiss, he pulled back.

Serena pressed her fingers to her lips, her eyes wide. She looked...innocent. She was innocent. He’d shocked her. Probably appalled her. Frightened her, even.

“Dominic,” she said uncertainly.

Before he even knew what he intended, he blurted, “Will you marry me?”

She gasped. “Dominic!”

Dear heaven, what was he thinking?

He’d kissed her, that’s what he was thinking.

But now, images of Serena from the past few weeks filled his mind, images of her with his children, his sister. It’s a good idea.

“Serena...Miss Somerton—”

Her slightly wild laugh told him it was too late to revert to surnames. “Serena, I mean it, will you marry me?”

He’d shocked her into silence. He wondered with grim humor if anyone had ever done that before.

When she spoke, her voice was a whisper. “Are you saying...you love me?”

Right away, he knew he’d made a big mistake. Yet some stupid, stubborn part of him wouldn’t let the idea drop.

“I won’t deceive you,” he said. “My reasons for wanting to marry haven’t changed. But I hope you’ll consider—you love my children, and they love you.” As he began to enumerate the reasons she should accept his proposal, his conviction grew. He took both her hands in his, and was aware of a faint tremor, though he wasn’t sure if it originated with him or with her. “Marianne relies on you, and already loves you like a sister,” he continued. “You’ll never lack for material comfort. You’ll be mistress of your own home, and a mother.”

“Dominic...” Serena found her voice. “This is crazy. You just said opposites cannot be happily wed.”

He had said something like that. But not exactly that. “I expressed a view that to build a relationship on the attraction of opposites would be inherently unstable,” he said carefully. “But I’m asking you to build our relationship on practical reasons. Despite the attraction, not because of it.”

She pulled free. “I was under the impression you’re asking because you kissed me.”

He wanted to take her hands again, but “practical reasons” didn’t necessitate such contact. “I shouldn’t have kissed you,” he admitted. “And, yes, my proposal contained an element of wanting to put that right. But, Serena, the more I think about this, the more it makes sense.”

“You said you wouldn’t enjoy the conflict inherent in a union of opposites.

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