She couldn’t think. How could she think when he was staring at her as if they were the only two souls left on earth? His midnight eyes were warm—no, hot, and they made her want to melt into him, to throw over everything she knew, all good sense. Her body quivered, and her breath quickened, and she could not look away from his mouth as he kissed her yet again, this time moving to her palm.

Something tightened within her. Something she was sure it was not proper to feel. Not here in her aunt’s hallway, not with a man she’d only just met.

“Will you marry me?” he asked.

No. Something was wrong. It was too soon. It did not make sense that he would love her so quickly.

But he did not love her. He had not said he loved her. And yet, the way he looked at her . . .

Why did he want to marry her? Why could she not trust him?

“Iris?” he murmured. “My darling?”

And she finally found her voice.

“I need time.”

DAMN IT.

This was exactly what he had thought would happen. She wasn’t going to agree to marry him after only a weeklong courtship. She was far too sensible for that.

The irony just killed him. If she weren’t the intelligent, sensible creature she was, he wouldn’t have chosen her.

He should have stuck to his original plan. He’d come here tonight with every intention of compromising her. Nothing extreme; it would be the worst sort of hypocrisy if he stole anything more than a kiss.

But a kiss was all he needed. One witnessed kiss, and she was as good as his.

But no, she’d mentioned the word wedding, and then he’d felt guilty, and he knew he damn well should feel guilty. A romantic proposal was his way of making it up to her, not that she knew there was anything for which he must atone.

“Of course,” he said smoothly, rising to his feet. “I spoke too soon. Forgive me.”

“There is nothing to forgive,” she said, stumbling on the words. “It was just so surprising, and I hadn’t considered, and you’ve only met my father just once, and in passing at that.”

“I will, of course, ask his permission,” Richard said. It wasn’t exactly a falsehood. If he could get Iris to say yes in the next few minutes, he would happily seek a private audience with her father and do things in the proper manner.

“May I have a few days?” she asked, her expression hesitant. “There are so many things I don’t know about you. And at least as much you do not know about me.”

He let his eyes burn hot into hers. “I know enough to know that I shall never find a more worthy bride.”