A footfall at the door made them break apart then and Lisa glanced toward it, cursing herself for not closing the door when she saw Robert standing there.

“Langley,” Charles said in greeting, releasing Lisa. He hesitated and then said, “You may be the first to congratulate us. I just asked Miss Madison to marry me.”

Lisa bit her lip, but otherwise didn’t react. He did ask her to be his wife. However, she had asked for time to think and the way he had phrased it made it sound as if she’d accepted. But then they had just been caught in something of a compromising position and she didn’t doubt he was trying to protect her.

“Perhaps you should go for now,” Lisa suggested when Robert didn’t comment and simply continued to stand staring at them.

“Of course,” Charles murmured, but asked, “Will you be at the Brewsters’ ball tonight?”

Lisa nodded.

“Then I shall look for you there,” he announced. He kissed her on the forehead and then moved across the room to leave.

Robert stepped out of the way at his approach, watched him exit and then pushed the door closed and turned on Lisa.

“I didn’t agree to marry him,” she said nervously when the silence drew out, and then could have kicked herself for it. Raising her chin, she added, “But I intend to if he still wants me after I tell him about . . . what we did.”

“You cannot marry him,” Robert said quietly.

Lisa scowled. “I can and I will, Robert.”

“Marry me instead. Then you will not need to explain anything.”

Sighing wearily, she shook her head. “I will not spend a lifetime trying to prove I will not be unfaithful.”

“You could be carrying my child,” he pointed out.

“Then I had best find a husband quickly,” Lisa snapped impatiently and his head went back as if she’d slapped him.

“Another man is not raising my child,” he growled.

“And I am not marrying a man who thinks I will be unfaithful before we have even said I do,” she shot back.

“I don’t—” Robert broke off and glanced to the door impatiently when a knock sounded. Growling under his breath with frustration, he turned to open it. “What?”

“There is a Mr. Smithe here to see you, my lord,” Handers announced. “I showed him to the office.”

“Dammit,” Robert muttered, and then hesitated a moment before turning to Lisa. “Wait here. I need to see him, but I won’t be long. We need to talk about this.”

He didn’t wait for her agreement, but then turned and hurried out of the room.