"I would only withdraw my proposal if you were to make one yourself," he protested. It dawned on him that Macmillan's indirectness earlier had made it unclear what had transpired between him and Tatiana before he'd sought Valerian out; maybe he had proposed, and she'd said she needed time, or maybe she had merely informed him that a proposal had been made. "I could not leave my cousin in such a state. If you win, you will propose and I shall rescind my offer—but if I win, not only will you make no offer, but you will cease to see her entirely."
He pulled himself to his feet, stricken by how sore his body felt. His ribs, his thigh, his lower back—he hadn't felt this sore since last year when he'd had to calm a patient whose condition made him needlessly violent.
He pulled himself to his feet, stricken by how sore his body felt. His ribs, his thigh, his lower back—he hadn't felt this sore since last year when he'd had to calm a patient whose condition made him needlessly violent.
