All I Ever Needed by Jo Goodman Read Free Book Online Page B

sit." Sophie saw he had a glass of lemonade in his hand. The pitcher and extra glass were on the bench. "Is it to your liking?"
    "If you mean has it washed away the taste of my proposal," he said, "I fear that will require something fermented, preferably for twenty or more years in an oaken cask."
    Sophie marveled at the perfect aridness of his tone and wondered that he did not eschew his glass and drink directly from the pitcher. "My comment stung, did it?" she said softly, the tiniest smile lifting one corner of her mouth. "I cannot even apologize because it was my intention that it should."
    "I never doubted it."
    Sophie slowly sat down. Wishing she had indeed asked for something stronger, regardless of the hour, she poured herself a glass of the lemonade. "I did not want you to make your proposal."
    "You were clear on that point."
    "Yet you made it anyway."
    "It was a matter of honor."
    Sophie wasn't certain she understood why he thought that was true, but she did not ask. Wrapping both hands around her glass, she drew in an uneasy breath and released it slowly. "Have you truly considered the consequences, my lord, if I were to accept?"

Chapter 2

    Eastlyn wondered if he had ever been so discomposed as he was in the presence of Lady Sophia Colley. He had negotiated terms of surrender between entire countries that were less troubling to him. But then, he acknowledged, this was about his surrender, and in all those other situations he had been dealing with levelheaded men who were well versed in the nuanced language of diplomatic relations.
    Sophie's faint smile hinted at her amusement. Though Eastlyn's fine features remained imperturbable, his silence in the face of her question spoke most eloquently of his feelings. "I collect you are happy to have this bench under you," she said.
    Her perceptiveness did nothing to ease his mind. He did indeed imagine he would be on the ground without the support of the stone cherubs, but he did not thank her for pointing it out. How she managed to unsteady him was a thing worth considering, though he doubted he would intimate as much to her. In the event there were future encounters, Eastlyn acknowledged that he would do well to be prepared, and that perhaps the better course was to simply avoid her altogether. At this moment, however, there was still the matter of the question she had put before him and her expectation of his reply.
    "Naturally I have considered the consequences of your acceptance," East said. "Did I not say you would make me most happy?"
    Sophie's amusement slowly faded while her slight smile remained fixed. "I should say yes, you know, not to this last question, but to your proposal. It would go a very long way to proving how wrong you are. It is my opinion, however, that that sort of lesson has import for me as well. I find I am selfish enough not to trade the prospect of my own happiness for the certainty of ruining yours. You surely have acquitted yourself admirably today, making your proposal when you could not be certain of my answer. It was wrong of me to tease you with the anticipation of my acceptance when I knew you hoped for precisely the opposite outcome, and while I acknowledge the wrongness of it, never think I regret it. You deserved it, my lord, for placing your need to discharge yourself honorably above my express wish that no proposal be offered."
    Sophie watched the marquess's eyes darken at the centers and wondered that he did not flinch or move to strike her. Although neither would have had the effect of silencing her, she would have understood those responses. His calm in the face of her censure was outside her experience. "You spoke of your happiness," she said quietly, "and not of my own. Indeed, how could you when you have not the least notion of what would bring that elusive thing about? As you said yourself, we have only had benefit of a short acquaintance. It is inconceivable to me that anything that has passed between us this afternoon has