When her eyes widened incredulously, he shrugged. “I wish it even more now that I know that Langley took advantage of you. At least I could have saved you from that.”

Lisa frowned. Robert hadn’t taken advantage of her. She’d gone to his room fully intending to seduce and trap him into marriage. Of course, she hadn’t had to try very hard, but he hadn’t taken advantage of her at all.

“I do want you,” Charles said firmly. “But, unlike Langley, my intentions are honorable and I would marry you first.” He leaned closer, his expression gentle. “Say yes and I will have the driver head for Gretna Green right now. You can put Langley and everything that has happened firmly behind you and be Lady Findlay. We can live quietly in the country, reading our books, paddling on the water and exploring each other’s bodies at night.”

Charles brushed a hand down her cheek as he said the last, and Lisa was hard-pressed to keep from flinching. Her reaction was as much at the thought of their exploring each other’s bodies as anything else. The idea held no appeal for her at all. She couldn’t find it in her to want to explore him. She couldn’t even imagine anyone’s body but Robert’s beside her in bed, Lisa acknowledged, and that is when she realized just how stupid she had been to think she could marry anyone else.

This was not like switching one dress for another. This was a husband. A man who would expect her to do with him all those intimate things she’d done with Robert. Who would have the right to strip her, and touch her in places and ways that were . . . She shuddered at the very thought of marrying this man or anyone who was not Robert and letting him caress or suckle her, or bury his body in hers. If Robert could not see his way clear to believing she could be faithful, she would just rather be an old maid and single for the rest of her life.

“Lisa?”

Sighing, she raised her head and offered an apologetic smile. “I am sorry, my lord. I am touched, but I could not.” When he released her hands and sat back in his seat, she bit her lip and tried to soften her rejection by pointing out, “I might be carrying his child, my lord. Surely you wouldn’t want to raise his child as your own. You’d resent it, and me.” She shook her head. “I like you too much to saddle you with another man’s child. Besides, I would probably make you miserable. I really have loved Robert my whole life. I can’t imagine that would ever change. I would be married to you and forever pining after him. I—”