Page 1 of Married to the Ruthless Duke

ChapterOne

“Does this even stand legally?” James, the Marquess of Montgomery, asked as they pored over a contract spread out on Alexander’s oakwood desk in the study.

Alexander had wondered the same when his father’s man of affairs had presented it to him the night before, asked the stoic-looking man as much, and was surprised by the answer.

“It does,” he replied curtly.

The contract in question was one between his late father, the former Duke of Blackhill, and the Viscount Honeyfield. The contract allowed him to marry any one of the Viscount’s daughters with no clear benefits or reasons stated. Another reason he thought the document a joke.

“That’s rather…”

“Ridiculous. I know,” he finished for his friend.

He had pretty much had the same response last night, but he had had a couple of hours to think on it since and realized it actually did save him a lot of trouble he had envisaged having in achieving his current goals.

“But I’ve given it a lot of thought between last night and this meeting, and I see that it does save me a lot of time and the tedious process of courting to find a suitable wife,” he continued. “The Viscount Honeyfield is a man of honorable standing, and if my father, bastard that he was, God rest his soul, had thought him worthy of such a contract, then I will definitely honor it.”

“I still don’t understand why you’d honor the contract though, when there’s no consequence if you choose not to,” James argued. “Besides, you know nothing about his daughters. For all we know, they could be of questionable character or shunned by society. You can have any girl you choose, so why would you marry someone you do not know?”

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Alexander sighed, folding his arms. “You seem to forget about my reputation with the fairer sex.”

“You’re being dramatic, my friend,” James scolded. “You’re the ton’s most eligible bachelor of all time.”

“Remember the Turninton Ball? The Earl of Washam’s daughter fainted after I greeted her.” Alexander reminded his friend. “I’ve literally been dubbed the Ruthless Duke. If that doesn’t further buttress my point, I don’t know what else will.”

It had been truly an embarrassing moment for him, but he had learned to live with their odd fear of him, especially since he discovered the moniker he had been given. It was annoying all the more because he’d been completely innocent of their accusations. He hadn’t kicked his stepfamily out when his father had died; they’d left him alone.

He was a shrewd businessman as anyone else would be when they had a lot of money. All other claims of his ruthlessness had been made by people who had a whole lot more to lose if he decided to out them for playing major roles in his family’s attempts to trap him in scandal.

“That was one time, and you have to admit her corset was too tight that night.” James glared. “Perhaps if you tried smiling, it would have helped. Lady Emerson’s daughter is head over heels in love with you, and you know it.”

“I do, but she’s in love with every unmarried duke in London.” Alexander rolled his eyes.

“You’re only speculating.”

“Did you forget when she basically threw herself into the Duke of Bidden’s lap?”

“Some would say she fell.”

“And they would be wrong,” he retorted. “I saw it clear as day. She’s after any man that can make her a duchess, and that is not a trait I want in a wife.”

He sighed, shaking his head at his friend’s attempt to stroke his ego. Not that he needed it.

“I don’t really care so much for wooing any females at this point,” Alexander told him. “I know you’re rather knowledgeable about everything and everyone in London currently, so I don’t buy that you know nothing about the Viscount Honeyfield’s daughters.”

James shot him a wolfish grin that let him know he was spot on.

“Well?”

“All right. You’re in luck because I do know all about the Viscount’s daughters.” He smiled. “The older one, Miss Margaret, is a mystery as she typically keeps to herself and her books. She’s twenty-three and has never been courted despite being the belle of her first Season. There are rumors of heartbreak but nothing substantial. She’s well-mannered but is a pronounced wallflower.”

Alexander grunted, contemplating her quiet nature and shaking his head.

Even if he didn’t necessarily need a wife for personal reasons, he surely wanted the woman who bore his family’s name to be someone whom Society’s darlings envied. He did have a reputation to maintain, after all.

“What about the other one?” he asked, despite himself. “Is she much like her sister?”

“On the contrary, she’s the exact opposite of her sister’s quiet nature.” James smiled. “Miss Helen has been a Society darling since her debut and has a growing number of admirers. It’s a wonder she isn’t married yet. Her beauty, charm, and wit have earned her an invite to almost every event of the year, despite the fact that they’re not of such a high rank.”

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