Free Persuading Prudence by Liz Cole Page B

of unease adding to his already anxious state. Despite his determination to persuade, and seduce, her into accepting him, he was nervous.
    When the rush of challenge she presented eased a bit, he’d begun pacing the room, realizing just how big a step he was forcing them both to take. Both their lives would change drastically. He would have a wife to answer to and she, in turn, would be dependent upon him. What would she expect from him? He couldn’t offer her love at this point. Who knew if he ever could? He did care for her to some degree. But would it be enough?
    “Of course.” He cleared his throat against the thickness, which had suddenly taken it over. “You may ask anything, and I will answer whatever you wish to know truthfully.”
    Pru straightened, if possible for her already rigid posture. “I am glad,” she replied in a no-nonsense tone, “because I believe being truthful with each other from this point forward is both necessary and important.”
    “I will do all within my power to always be honest with you, Pru.”
    She lifted her eyes and met his steadily. “Even if you fear I will not like what you have to say?”
     
    ***
     
    Kolton thought this over for a moment. “I would never want to cause you pain or undue stress, but I will do my utmost to uphold my promise to you. And I am promising, Pru, to always tell you the truth.” He meant it. He believed that dishonesty would make a marriage between them miserable, and he did not want that.
    His answer seemed to please her and she relaxed a bit. “Thank you.”
    “What is it you wish to ask me?” Would he be prepared to answer as honestly as he had just promised? He hoped so.
    “First, I would like to know what to expect if I should decide to marry you. Are we to live apart? Do you expect to return to your life in London after I produce the required heir?”
    Kolton hadn’t really thought that far ahead. He should have, of course, but he’d been too wrapped up in gaining her acceptance to contemplate the matter.
    He motioned for her to sit and this time she took a seat on the settee. Settling himself next to her, he took her hand in his and studied her expression. It was withdrawn, but he could tell his answer was important to her.
    “To be completely honest, Pru, I’ll admit I haven’t thought about our living arrangements. So far, I have been focused solely on obtaining your agreement to marry me.” He frowned thoughtfully as he pondered his feelings in the matter. “Have you any preference?”
    “I do not want my feelings on the matter to sway you in your answer. I want to know, honestly, what you want from a marriage,” she replied, the hint of a smile entering her eyes at his obvious attempt to stall.
    He rubbed his chin absently. “Well, I always believed I would share a mutual accord with the woman I married,” he began, “and attraction is important as well. I have never really contemplated how we would live but, since I do want to have a successful marriage and not one of the indifferent arrangements so prevalent amongst society, I believe that one’s spouse should be a companion, not simply convenient for procreation purposes.”
    Pru nodded, but her neutral expression didn’t indicate whether what he said met with her approval or not.
    “I believe I would want to keep my wife with me, if at all possible, wherever we live. I see no need to live separate lives, especially after we have children. It is my opinion that having both parents involved in a child’s life is important. It gives them a sense of stability and self assurance that many of the ton’s marriages do not provide for their progeny.” It may not be what the ton viewed as traditional thinking, but his own parents’ lack of convention had proved a close family to be a successful and loving one.
    “I agree,” she replied softly. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders before asking her next question. “And fidelity? What of that? Do you intend to