“I have stewards to see to those duties, including my mother the duchess and her army of servants, who do a much better job than I could.” He sucked in a breath. “I return to see for myself that the lady’s health is hale, to check on my sister, and to offer gifts to my sister-in-law and my nieces. Then I intend to leave.”

She blinked. “You have a sister?”

“Her name is Ravenna,” he said. “The unfortunate youngest of four with three older brothers.”

“Brothers?”

His heart squeezed with forgotten sorrow and guilt arced through him that he hadn’t spoken of them to her…or to anyone. “Dead, along with my father.”

“I am sorry.”

Rhystan shoved the sentiment back where it belonged, down deep, and hardened his expression. “Your answer, my lady. Which is it? Do you wish to return to St. Helena? Or do you agree to my proposal?”

She bit her lip, her eyes glancing over her shoulder to the departing shores, her indecision clear. He still couldn’t fathom that she would choose to face a killer over betrothal to him. She’d always been headstrong, but her intelligence had always been a dependable foil to her more impulsive ideas. He felt a stroke of admiration for her unshakable courage, as misguided as it was.

“Will it be in name only?” she asked. “This temporary engagement.”

Rhystan fought back amusement. “Meaning?”

“No…er…kissing,” she said, a blush rising up her neck. “Or inappropriate touching. Or any other things.”

“No.”

A shocked stare collided with his, hot color saturating those elegant cheekbones. Her lips parted on a gasp. “What do you mean, no?”

“Just what it sounds like,” he said. “My mother will see through the subterfuge if it’s not believable. You must allow me to touch you, and you must be willing to touch me. Though based on recent evidence, that will not be a hardship for either of us.”

Desire and heat twined through him, and Rhystan willed his overeager body to behave. A cockstand at this juncture would not win him any favors. He glanced at her flaming cheeks. Or perhaps it would. He leaned on the railing, jutting his hips forward. Rhystan knew the moment her gaze dipped to the overcrowded area in question, when a strangled sound escaped her throat and her flush deepened to dark rose. “You are unspeakable.”

“I’m a red-blooded male,” he returned evenly. “You want me, and I want you. Ignoring the monster between us won’t make it go away, Sarani.”

She rolled her eyes at his innuendo. “Your ego is truly enormous, unlike that part of you. And my name is Sara.”