Chloe wrenched herself out of his arms, walking forward and turning around only when she reached the back of a chair. “Just because I look like a tart doesn’t mean you can behave as if I am one,” she said fiercely.

Will gulped. “I didn’t mean that! I just meant that your dress … well, it’s so revealing, or it reveals so much of you….” His hands nervously sketched a shape in the air.

Chloe glared at him. “It’s no more revealing than what the other ladies are wearing!”

Will wondered what she meant by emphasizing ladies but ignored it. He walked toward her. “You are not like the rest of the ladies—” he began.

She interrupted him. “I knew it! Because I’m not a lady you think I shouldn’t be wearing this dress!” The tears that had threatened to fall all day welled up and overflowed. She ran to the door, but Will was there, quick as lightning.

“How can you even say that?” he demanded furiously. “I meant nothing of the sort! You are every inch a lady,” he continued more softly, “from your beautiful hair to your delectable toes. I acted like an idiot because, well, I liked your old clothes. You were my undiscovered diamond, my jewel that no one else knew about. And I know I acted like a madman when I first saw you this evening. But everyone was looking at you, and all the men were saying you were a diamond of the first water. It was a fit of insanity. You see … I’d got into the habit in the last month of thinking that you were mine, and no one else’s.”

Chloe stood stock still. “Where have you been?” she asked, her voice shaky.

“Working,” Will replied. “I’ve been organizing the sheep farmers on my land. We have started a weaving guild, and just last week a new flock of fancy sheep were delivered. You see, I’ve decided to make a fortune rather than marry into it.”

A hand pushed up her face and Will kissed the tears from Chloe’s cheeks. She looked at him gravely. She didn’t know what to say. What about her fortune?

“I want to marry you, Chloe. But I want you on my terms, with my own money, and not for your fortune.”

Chloe nodded, her eyes filling up again.

“Why are you crying, dearest?” Will asked.

“I didn’t know where you were … and I thought you couldn’t bear the idea of marrying me.”

Will pulled her into his arms and kissed her neck. “I want to marry you. And so does virtually every other single man out there and quite a lot of the married ones as well. Can you wait for me?” He looked at her anxiously.

Chloe just barely stopped herself from smiling at the ridiculousness of his request.