“No later than Epiphany, but I may decide to return to London sooner. I’m sorry, but I can’t be more specific than that.”

“I shall expect at least Christmas, hope for the new year, and pray for Epiphany.” He winked at her. “Truly, I am honored that you accepted. Any time we spend together will be a gift that I will treasure always.”

“That’s lovely of you to say,” she murmured. Turning her upper body toward him, she asked, “I wonder if you’d answer something for me? I’ll understand if you’d rather not.”

He also pivoted in her direction. “What is it?”

“Why are you celibate?”

He’d expected she would ask. “The easy answer is that I’ve never been attracted to anyone enough to pursue an encounter. My parents also strongly urged me to live with virtue so that I could undertake my religious studies with a clear heart and mind. The more complicated answer includes the fact that my brother was the opposite of celibate, which disgusted our parents. I never wanted to disappoint them.”

“I see. You were the good son, while your brother was…not.”

“Mostly. But you must understand that I didn’t see my celibacy as a sacrifice. I truly haven’t wanted to bed anyone.” His gaze held hers as an electric current passed through him. “Until now.”

“So, your decision to end your celibacy was prompted by me?”

“Entirely.”

Her lips parted, and he was struck with an overwhelming urge to kiss her. This wasn’t a public space, so he could do that, couldn’t he? He wasn’t sure he dared. Not yet. They’d agreed to an affair, but did that mean it had already begun?

He chose to deepen their emotional connection instead. Sharing his reasons for celibacy with her made him feel as though they were growing closer. He hoped she felt the same way. “May I ask you a question now?”

“Yes.”

Ash settled down into her lap and rested his head on his paws. She stroked his ears, and Ash’s eyes nearly closed in apparent delight.

Gregory moved his attention from the dog to Evie. “Why do you prefer to remain unwed? Was your marriage unhappy?”

Her hand stilled, flattening against Ash’s back. “No. It was…fine. It wasn’t a love match, but we got on well enough. He was quite a bit older than me.”

“Why did you marry him?” He saw her nostrils flare slightly and rushed to add, “You don’t have to answer that.”

“I wanted security. He gave me that. He’d hoped I would give him a child, but that was not to be. He died just over a year after we wed.”