Page 25 of Wedded to the Ruthless Duke

“Yes, I can well imagine,” Philip murmured to himself. Plainly, there was nothing wrong with Lord Garton’s hearing, for he allowed himself a small smile of humor.

“My wife has always had a habit of making her opinions known.” Lord Garton’s smile soon slipped. His eyes settled on Philip’s face. “Are you here to tell me that you will ride out the storm of this scandal? That my Grace…” he broke off and sighed heavily, a rasping sound leaving his chest with the movement.

He looks in agony at the thought of Grace being hurt.

“No. No, that is not what I have come to say.” Philip lifted his chin a little higher. “My Lord, I intend to marry your daughter if I have your blessing.”

Lord Garton sat forward. It was the most movement he had yet done, resting his elbows on the desk between the pair of them.

“You will marry her?”

“I see your wife’s sour opinion of me is shared by many,” Philip said tightly.

“No, I would not put it like that.” Lord Garton shook his head. “It’s just that you must know, such scandals affect the woman always more than they affect the man.”

“Yes, I do know,” Philip said, his chin lowering an inch or so.

I should have considered that last night. I should have known the danger I was putting her in when I kissed her.

Yet that hadn’t even been a thought last night. All that had mattered was that if Grace was going to kiss someone, she should scandalize herselfwith him.Not another man.

“Before we talk anymore about this…” The Marquess shifted back in his seat. “…there is something you must know.”

“What is that?”

“Grace’s dowry.” He grimaced. “It is nonexistent.”

Philip stiffened a little. He’d already had some idea from hints which Eleanor had made that Grace would not have a large dowry, but nothing at all was a surprise.

He couldn’t answer right away. He scratched his clean-shaven jaw, deep in thought.

“If that makes you rescind your proposal, I perfectly understand —”

“No, it does not.” Philip met the Marquess’ gaze. “The dowry is of no importance. I have enough money to see us by.”

“You do?”

Philip paused before answering. He couldn’t deny that financially, things had been difficult for a long time now. He had intended to marry a woman with a large dowry, to ease his money woes, but it wasn’t necessary.

Since Eleanor had married and some of his investments had proven fruitful, he had a little to live on. If he was smart and continued to make such wise investments, no large dowry would be necessary.

“I do.” Philip nodded. “I do not require any dowry from you, My Lord. I will marry Lady Grace as she is.”

“Hmm.” Lord Garton shifted in his seat once again. He sighed, the sound loud in the sudden silence between the pair of them. Lord Garton’s eyes, the same honey hue as his daughter’s, fixed intently on Philip’s face. “What happened between the pair of you last night…”

“I didn’t dishonor her,” Philip needed this to be understood. He didn’t think he could bear it if the Marquess thought he had scandalized Grace completely in that garden.

The imagining took hold of Philip steering Grace back to that bench, of lifting her skirt, of bending down toward her, exploring her, feeling her cry out in pleasure as her hands tangled themselves in his hair…

No.

Philip brushed the thought away fast.

“It was a kiss. That was all, My Lord.” Uncomfortable, he found himself fidgeting as well, matching the same movements as the Marquess.

Slowly, the Marquess nodded though he looked no more at ease than before.

“Well, then you have my blessing,” the Marquess said quietly. “I suppose, I do not have much choice in the matter, do I?”

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