He slid an arm around her waist, pressing her against the tree bark. “There are better ways you can repay me.”

Her expression grew strained, and he corrected himself. “I meant with a kiss, Emily. Nothing more.”

She shivered a little, leaning forward to brush a light kiss against his lips. It wasn’t nearly enough, and he took her mouth deeper, nipping at her lips, his tongue sliding inside.

“I’m going to lose my balance if you keep kissing me,” she whispered, breaking away. He let her go, wondering how to broach the subject of marriage. He’d never proposed to a woman before, and there was no way of knowing whether she would agree to his suggested arrangement. Emily was the least predictable woman he’d ever met.

They sat together in the tree while a light dusting of snow drifted from the clouds. It coated her cloak, melting upon her nose. She reached up to touch his cheek. “Something is bothering you, Whitmore. Does it have to do with why you’re avoiding me?”

“I avoided you to keep from seducing you again.” He hadn't been able to drive her from his mind, and so many nights he'd awakened with a painful arousal, wishing he could be with Emily.

Her eyes widened slightly, and her cheeks colored. “Well. That was honest.”

“I didn’t think you would appreciate it if I had my way with you on top of the dining room table.”

A laugh escaped her. “You wouldn’t dare.”

He only smiled at her. “Wouldn’t I?”

Emily picked up a handful of snow from the tree branch, crunching it into a ball. She tossed the snowball in one palm. “Daniel isn’t going to come for me, is he? I assume you haven’t heard from him.”

“No.”

“So now what will become of me? Shall I return to Hollingford House?”

“I’d burn it to the ground before I’d let you go back there.”

She crumbled up the snowball, letting it sift through her fingers to the ground. “Am I to become your mistress, then?”

“No.” Stephen reached into his pocket and pulled out his grandmother’s ring. “I was thinking you could become my wife.”

Had she really agreed to this? After days riding in a coach to Scotland, she was about to get married. Emily stared down at the heavy ruby ring Stephen had given her, her heart sinking. Though she’d dreamed of this day for all of her life, her instincts warned her that the earl had other reasons for wedding her. Reasons that had nothing to do with love.