Page 20 of His Unwanted Duchess

A ruined wedding, perhaps.

Men always seemed to have more options, more opportunities to crawl up from the dirt, but Society seemed keen on keeping a woman where she was once she had fallen.

Enough of that.

Stephen purposefully turned away, glad to stride out of the chaos and filth of the marketplace.

Perhaps I ought to take my carriage more frequently. But then, not walking through places like this would not make them cease to exist, would it?

“You still haven’t explained why youwantto marry, Stephen,” Theodore spoke again, jogging to catch up with him.

“Perhaps I am tired of being besieged by Society mamas and their precious daughters,” Stephen responded.

“They’re too afraid of you.”

“Unfortunately, that is not quite true. There are always a few enterprising young ladies and unscrupulous parents who are willing to try their luck.”

“Hmph. If you say so.”

“I do say so.” Stephen shot Theodore a pointed look. “Perhaps it would be best if you didn’t mention any of this to Anna, by the way.”

“First of all, I don’t keep secrets from my wife. Secondly, I am absolutely sure that Beatrice will have told her the whole story by the time the carriage arrives home.”

“Oh.” Stephen paused, digesting this. “Do you think so?”

“I do. And frankly, I don’t believe Beatrice would agree to marry you. She is entirely too clever. No offense.”

“Thatisrather offensive, old friend. Nevertheless, don’t worry—time will tell. I think she has a rather different view on the matter. And it’s not like you have been exactlyhonorable, Theo.” He paused, giving his friend a grin. “No offense.”

Theodore glowered at him and let out a long sigh. “Sometimes, Stephen, I want to wring your neck.”

“Yes, I believe that’s a popular sentiment.”

Stephen noted with satisfaction that they had made excellent time, and were indeed going to arrive back at Theodore’s house at the same time as the ladies’ carriage. He could see the carriage waiting patiently outside the door. Anna climbed out first, slowlyand carefully, a hand placed protectively over the swell of her belly.

With a flash of guilt, Stephen realized that he had never asked Theodore how he felt about the upcoming disaster of fatherhood.

Perhaps I do not want to know. I ought to be a better friend, though.

There was a second lady in the carriage. Miss Haversham, of course. No doubt she had chosen to come back to her friend’s house for a short rest, to forestall going home and facing her parents and the now useless wedding breakfast.

Stephen was not entirely sure what made him speed up, leaving Theodore behind. With a light jog, he was able to reach the carriage just as Miss Haversham unfolded herself out of it, that hideous dress swishing around her legs. She reached out tentatively to steady herself on the door but instead grasped Stephen’s outstretched hand.

She flinched—he felt the movement quite clearly—and of course, her foot slipped, tangled in the drooping hem of the aforementioned hideous dress.

The footman’s reactions wereawful. The man’s eyes only widened as Miss Haversham plunged face-first towards the pavement. Stephen stretched out his free arm, keeping a grip on the woman’s hand, and neatly hauled her up from disaster.He bit back a sigh. Mouse would have torn strips from that footman’s hide for half the incompetence he’d just shown.

She stumbled, knocking herself against him, and his arm went around her waist instinctively, steadying her.

And there was a brief pause as Stephen realized that he had only crushed the wretched girl against him. The footman’s eyes were now popping out of his head. There was a rather telling silence from both Anna and Theodore.

Miss Haversham herself was breathing raggedly. The movement only seemed to accentuate their improper closeness. Stephen could feel the swell of her breasts against him. She tilted her head up, her eyes wide and blown with something that was not entirely disgust.

I could kiss her if I chose. With her wrapped up in my arms, our lips could meet before she even knew what was going on.

Kissing her would not be the worst thing in the world. Shewaspretty, and her plumpness only made her softer, morewomanlythan he might have thought. Arousal fizzled in his gut, muddling his thoughts.

And then Anna spoke, her voice deceptively calm. “Goodness. You had better let her go, Stephen.”

---