he hates you, too—”
“No!” came Diana’s protest. At first she had no idea she’d spoken aloud until she realized that Tanner had drawn himself up sharply and was watching her with a mixture of anger and something that hinted strongly of repulsion. She knew then that he didn’t desire her for herself, that he’d meant his earlier comment about her appearance. He really did want Briarhaven and would go to any lengths to claim it, even by marrying a woman he clearly didn’t desire.
He still must hate his family, and her, to use her so shabbily to achieve his goal. A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down, vowing not to cry like a silly goose in front of Tanner.
“You’re lying about David. I don’t believe he’s going to be hanged at all. What you want is Briarhaven, and I won’t allow you to have it or to hurt your father again.”
“Or besmirch my dead brother’s memory either,” he put in and sneered.
Diana flinched, saying nothing. In fact there was nothing but awful things to say about Kingsley, so she refrained from even mentioning him. “Then you admit you do want Briarhaven.”
“I admit nothing, but this says a great deal.” Tanner took a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Diana glanced at it, seeing three names upon it. David’s name was second. “That list is the execution schedule, Diana. The first fellow is going to be hanged tomorrow, and Richmond the following day. You can say anything you like to me. You can refuse my marriage proposal, but Richmond will die if you don’t agree.”
“Your marriage proposal is blackmail and you know it! I don’t know whether to believe you.” Her eyes implored him, but Tanner’s face was inscrutable, expressing no emotions. The choice of saving David was up to her. Her head swam with the implications. If she refused, David could die. She still wasn’t at all certain that Tanner wielded enough power to free David, but the very fact that he’d arranged for her safe passage to Charlestown and was evidently in close communication with Rawdon dispelled some of her doubts. But marriage to Tanner was something else again.
Would he demand his husbandly rights? Would he hurt her like Kingsley had done? But of course he would. A wife must endure her husband’s animal lust, and somehow she knew that Tanner would be more ferocious and possessive in bed than Kingsley. Yet hadn’t Tanner asked only that she agree to marry him? Once she gave him her word and David had been freed, then she would have done what was asked of her. Somehow she’d hedge on marrying him — that was all she need do. Tanner only wanted her word, and when the Richmond family was safe she’d break it.
“I agree to marry you,” Diana told him.
Tanner quirked an eyebrow, but he smiled and took the paper from her, replacing it in his pocket. “Such a ready acceptance makes my head spin. But you’ve done a wise thing, my dear. Now I suggest you fetch your cloak and let’s progress to the next stage of our relationship, because time is of the essence in this case.”
“What … do you mean?”
“Why our wedding, of course, Diana. Curtis has brought round the carriage for our ride to St. Phillip’s where the minister is waiting to perform the ceremony this morning. I knew you’d agree so I made the necessary arrangements in advance.”
“But … but … you said only that I agree to marry you.”
“And so you have, my love, but if you want Richmond and his family safe, then you will marry me today.”
“That wasn’t what we agreed upon!” she stated hotly, standing with arms akimbo. “I want some proof that David and my sister and the children are safe.”
“I promise you shall have it soon enough, but do hurry, Diana.” He glanced at his pocket watch. “Not many hours are left until the execution; even as you stand here dawdling and arguing about semantics the scaffold is being readied for your
“No!” came Diana’s protest. At first she had no idea she’d spoken aloud until she realized that Tanner had drawn himself up sharply and was watching her with a mixture of anger and something that hinted strongly of repulsion. She knew then that he didn’t desire her for herself, that he’d meant his earlier comment about her appearance. He really did want Briarhaven and would go to any lengths to claim it, even by marrying a woman he clearly didn’t desire.
He still must hate his family, and her, to use her so shabbily to achieve his goal. A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down, vowing not to cry like a silly goose in front of Tanner.
“You’re lying about David. I don’t believe he’s going to be hanged at all. What you want is Briarhaven, and I won’t allow you to have it or to hurt your father again.”
“Or besmirch my dead brother’s memory either,” he put in and sneered.
Diana flinched, saying nothing. In fact there was nothing but awful things to say about Kingsley, so she refrained from even mentioning him. “Then you admit you do want Briarhaven.”
“I admit nothing, but this says a great deal.” Tanner took a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Diana glanced at it, seeing three names upon it. David’s name was second. “That list is the execution schedule, Diana. The first fellow is going to be hanged tomorrow, and Richmond the following day. You can say anything you like to me. You can refuse my marriage proposal, but Richmond will die if you don’t agree.”
“Your marriage proposal is blackmail and you know it! I don’t know whether to believe you.” Her eyes implored him, but Tanner’s face was inscrutable, expressing no emotions. The choice of saving David was up to her. Her head swam with the implications. If she refused, David could die. She still wasn’t at all certain that Tanner wielded enough power to free David, but the very fact that he’d arranged for her safe passage to Charlestown and was evidently in close communication with Rawdon dispelled some of her doubts. But marriage to Tanner was something else again.
Would he demand his husbandly rights? Would he hurt her like Kingsley had done? But of course he would. A wife must endure her husband’s animal lust, and somehow she knew that Tanner would be more ferocious and possessive in bed than Kingsley. Yet hadn’t Tanner asked only that she agree to marry him? Once she gave him her word and David had been freed, then she would have done what was asked of her. Somehow she’d hedge on marrying him — that was all she need do. Tanner only wanted her word, and when the Richmond family was safe she’d break it.
“I agree to marry you,” Diana told him.
Tanner quirked an eyebrow, but he smiled and took the paper from her, replacing it in his pocket. “Such a ready acceptance makes my head spin. But you’ve done a wise thing, my dear. Now I suggest you fetch your cloak and let’s progress to the next stage of our relationship, because time is of the essence in this case.”
“What … do you mean?”
“Why our wedding, of course, Diana. Curtis has brought round the carriage for our ride to St. Phillip’s where the minister is waiting to perform the ceremony this morning. I knew you’d agree so I made the necessary arrangements in advance.”
“But … but … you said only that I agree to marry you.”
“And so you have, my love, but if you want Richmond and his family safe, then you will marry me today.”
“That wasn’t what we agreed upon!” she stated hotly, standing with arms akimbo. “I want some proof that David and my sister and the children are safe.”
“I promise you shall have it soon enough, but do hurry, Diana.” He glanced at his pocket watch. “Not many hours are left until the execution; even as you stand here dawdling and arguing about semantics the scaffold is being readied for your
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