Page 10 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

She turned to walk away when a strong hand encircled her upper arm. He stepped forward, looking down at her with an urgency she had not expected.

“Christian,” he murmured. “You are my betrothed, after all. Call me by my name.”

She wrenched her arm free and stepped away from him. “I imagine I will see you at the wedding,Your Grace.”

Iron Harridan by name, Iron Harridan by nature.

The little vixen had left the ball before he had even been able to dance with her or explain the arrangements he had planned. She certainly had a reputation for a reason. He had never met a woman with such fire in her.

Her early departure had necessitated the tedious task of coming to see her the following morning. That was how Christian found himself in his carriage, winding his way through the streets of London toward her townhouse—the deed of which was locked in a drawer at his club.

When he arrived, the butler admitted him and asked him to wait in the drawing room. After several minutes—which felt very deliberate on the lady’s part—she eventually entered the room.

Her hair was tied by red ribbon this morning, matching the deep color of her dress, and he found himself quite captivated by the full beauty of her face.

I will need to watch myself around the Ice Queen. Or I will end up like my brother.

“Good morning, Lady Louise,” Christian said pleasantly as her eyes narrowed. “I trust you slept well?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I had very pleasant dreams about chasing a wolf through the forest,” she replied coolly, her eyes full of challenge. “I hope your visit this morning will be brief—I have places to be.”

Christian stared at her, amazed to find himself fighting a smile again. The little vixen was not to be underestimated.

“Lady Louise, I shall not waste time with pleasantries. Circumstances require swift action, and our marriage will resolve things most efficiently. I assure you, I do not make this proposal lightly.”

He paused, searching her face for a reaction, then continued. “To spare us the delay caused by the banns, I have obtained a special license. It will allow us to marry within the week. Despitethe unusual circumstances of our marriage, I assure you, as my Duchess, you would have my utmost respect, and this is—first and foremost—a partnership.”

Lady Louise was wringing her hands as he spoke, her eyes narrowing at every word.

“I am most grateful for yourrespect, Your Grace. But I do not understand the haste with which you would carry this out or why you would put yourself in this position.”

“I have asked you to call me Christian.”

“Yes, I remember.” She jutted her chin stubbornly. “If you are marrying me to punish me for being friends with your brother, then I would ask you to reconsider. Believe me, I wish to know that he is safe as much as you do.”

“I am not interested in punishing you, Lady Louise. I want to find out what happened to him. If I must go to extremes to do so, then so be it.”

He sniffed, taking a step forward as she eyed him warily. The door was open, but they were technically unchaperoned. He wondered if his hasty visit had surprised her.

Is she alone in the house?

“You must be eager to marry,” he said softly. “Why does it matter who you take as your husband?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Eager to marry? Wherever did you get that idea? I have never wished to marry, and certainly not under these circumstances.”

Christian shrugged a shoulder. “I had assumed… given your reputation, you would be keen to ally yourself with a strong match. I am that match.”

She scoffed loudly, and his anger flared unbidden.

He looked out the window at the gray sky outside and cleared his throat. “Well, it does not matter. We will be married in a week, and this discussion will be irrelevant.”

“Hardly, Your Grace. If we are to be married so hastily and under terms I find abhorrent, I wish to set some rules to ensure that I have some say in the matter.”

Christian blinked.

Good God, the woman has more arrogance than many men of the peerage.

“Is that so?” he heard himself say. “And what rules might they be, Lady Louise?”

---