Tallie's Knight. Anne Gracie

and obviously had no intention of making this any easier.

      ‘I wished to see you in private because there are things we need to have clear before the wedding,’ she said in a rush.

      Have clear? His eyes narrowed. ‘Are there indeed?’

      ‘Yes. You left so suddenly I had no chance to talk to you about them.’

      ‘Well, I am here now,’ Magnus drawled.

      ‘Th…they are very important to me, and I could not agree to marry you unless we do so.’

      ‘I was under the impression that you had already agreed to marry me, madam,’ he said silkily.

      ‘Well, I did, yes, but we had not finished our discussion when you rushed out, and I only discovered later that you had gone to d’Arn…d’Anvil…’ She stumbled over the word in her nervousness.

      ‘D’Arenville Hall, madam. You had best learn the name, as it will be your home for the rest of your life.’

      This veiled allusion to the rural imprisonment he planned for her threw Tallie into a temper. He did not know she had overheard him in the library that night, telling his cousin his plans for a bride and an heir. She recognised his threat.

      ‘It is not my home yet.’ Tallie bared her teeth in what she hoped would look like a smile. ‘And there are issues to resolve before I agree to make it so—several conditions, in fact.’

      Conditions! Magnus was outraged. The chit was trying to blackmail him. Threatening to jilt him unless he agreed to her demands. The day before the wedding, when guests would be arriving at any moment. By God she had a cheek!

      With difficulty he held onto his temper, kept his face impassive. He would wait until he had heard her ‘conditions’—then he’d show her who was master here! He’d march her to the church and marry her out of hand, and then set about teaching Miss Thalia Robinson a lesson she’d never forget! Gritting his teeth, he coolly inclined his head, inviting her to continue.

      Tallie regarded him nervously. He was leaning casually against the wall, seemingly relaxed and at ease, but his jaw was clenched tight, and there was a most disturbing look in his eyes. She should not have spoken of conditions, should have put it more tactfully. He was annoyed. Still, this was her only opportunity to ensure that not all her dreams ended in the dust. A betrothed female still had some power—a wife had none.

      ‘There are a number of cond—matters that we need to agree on. The first concerns children.’

      He stared at her and his frown darkened. ‘Go on.’

      ‘I…I know you want children…but I must tell you that I will not…’ Tallie gulped at the black look on his face, but forced herself to continue. ‘I will not allow you to send them away to school.’