This was clearly a proposal that took Celia Sterling by surprise:
"Why?"
According to the plan, they were to get their marriage certificate a week before the wedding. With Silas Norwood now pushing to move it up so significantly, she couldn't help but wonder:
"Has our marriage alliance been compromised by some outside factor? Is something wrong?"
His upbringing prevented Silas Norwood from saying something as crass as wanting to fast-track things to the bedroom. But indecisiveness wasn't his style, so he hinted obliquely:
"Cece, your boyfriend is turning thirty-one after the New Year..."
Celia didn't quite catch his meaning. "Silas, I don't think you're old."
Silas sighed and spoke more plainly. "If Cece keeps teasing a man my age a few more times, he's liable to... malfunction."
"When did I ever tease you?" Celia finally understood his meaning, and her face grew hot.
