Page 8 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

He wanted to laugh at the hilarity of the words. He had thought her a woman with common sense but using such an excuse was the most ridiculous thing. Seeing how serious she was, he couldn't help but laugh.

"You're actually serious." He stated, shaking his head. "I would have expected such an excuse from anyone else, but it seems I might have held you in much higher esteem than I should have."

"Your grace, I do not tell a falsehood." She argued, looking affronted that he would accuse of something like that. "If it weren't true, I would not have said it."

He tilted his head to the side watching her. What did she stand to gain from the marriage? Was she looking to elevate her own status?

"Let's say I believe you, what do you stand to gain from marrying me?"

She was silent but couldn't meet his eyes.

"I do wonder what will cause you, a woman who has been described as sweet and caring, to usurp her sister’s chance at happiness."

"I am not trying to usurp her chances!" She hissed, then shaking her head to calm herself down, she breathed out deeply. "Your grace, I only want to see my sister happy. Believe me, if I thought you the best at making that happen then I would not be here doing this. I would be waxing lyrical about her charms."

Now his ire was stoked.

He frowned down at her, not liking the way she gave no reaction to the look other women considered menacing enough to make them quiver in fear.

"She will be happy when she is married to me." He growled out. "Love is only an illusion artists and poets have used to trick young minds. Once she is well situated and cared for in my home with more jewelry and dresses than she could hope to wear in her lifetime, she will forget all about the silly love affair."

"Do not reduce my sister to that. She wants more out of marriage than material things." She glared, visibly incensed.

"She is a woman first. In my experience, they all want the same thing."

And it was true.

He had kept mistresses and had dalliances with widows and spinsters such as herself and had had enough evidence to support his theory.

"That is because you interact with the wrong sort of women." She retorted.

"And you would know the sort of women I have dalliances with because?"

"It wasn't exactly a closely guarded secret of yours, Your grace." She answered shrugging her shoulders. "You made sure to flaunt your current partners in the eyes of everyone watching. No respectable woman would subject herself to such treatment."

He smirked and stepped closer to her. Now her eyes widened but not in fear but surprise, he noted. He had become increasingly good at reading people while in active service and she was an open book.

It was a refreshing change from the practiced words and reactions by debutantes. At least those who were brave enough to remember their lessons in the face of his scars.

He respected the woman before him, he found much to his surprise, but she needed to know that he didn't intend to keep a chaste relationship.

"Your grace." She whispered, placing a hand against his chest. "You are much too close."

He smiled down at her.

"I want you to understand what it will be like when we are married." He said slowly. "As you said, I am not a man to hide my attraction and I am a man of many appetites. I require a woman who is unashamed to fulfill them."

She blushed and met his gaze with steely resolve.

"Are you one such woman?" He probed further, wanting to see if her resolve would cave under such bold scrutiny. "Do you think you will be able to satisfy me, Miss Victoria?"

"I do not presume to speak as one with experience in pleasing men. Your grace." She answered boldly. "But if you will be a patient teacher, I will prove to be a most diligent student and in no time at all, I may learn all the necessary skills to please you."

Her words, pouring from lips he now noticed were full and plump and begging to be kissed, incensed the desire that had pooled in his blood begging for release since he had returned from the war.

He couldn't help but wonder where the demure woman, she had been described as, was?

She was as bold as any of his past lovers, who had whispered similar words albeit practiced, but her innocence still shone through making them all the more enticing.

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