Page 14 of Ravished By the Beastly Duke

“What? Why?” Theo asked, sitting up.

“Because it is what is customary to do in cases like this.”

“But her virtue is intact. Nothing happened,” Theo argued.

“It doesn’t matter what happened or not,” Edwin interjected. “Society will expect a marriage soon. If he doesn’t marry her, her reputation will be tarnished beyond repair, and if he attempts to defend her, it will be even worse for her.”

“What a terrible fate, indeed,” Theo muttered.

William thought back to the frightened look in the lady’s eyes when they had been caught and how she attempted to convey her apology. She did not have the triumphant expression of one who had gotten a prize they strived for, or was she appealing to his honorable side to get him to marry her?

It would not be the first time a woman had manipulated a man into marrying her only to show him the vixen that lay underneath right after.

But would marrying her be such a grievous fate?

When he remembered how she had felt in his arms, the notion seemed almost worth it. But marriage needed more than just passion in the bedroom. He did not know anything of her mind or any other virtues she might possess.

He needed a woman who could also manage his home and alleviate his burden. She wasn’t so young that she was clueless about her duties, but she did not have a mother who would have educated her on such matters. It would be a risk on his part to marry such a woman, yet he wasn’t fully averse to it as he should have been.

“But it is still convenient,” Theo joked. “You needed a wife not so young that she would be frightened by you, without the rigors of courtship, and Providence dropped one in your lap.”

“While I do not appreciate Emerton’s humor, I must admit he is correct.” Magnus nodded.

Eyebrows rose around the room. Surely hell must be freezing over if Magnus agreed with something Theo had said.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Do not ruin this truce, Emerton,” Magnus warned. “I am almost jealous of how nearly perfect your bride is, Mayfield. Her dowry is sufficient, and her father is not drowning in debts or a drunkard, although he hasn’t been the same since his wife did. You might never have found her if this incident had not happened. You are most fortunate.”

“Would you be willing to marry her?” William asked snidely.

“I would,” Theo piped up. “But it wasn’t me she asked to kiss her. My pride is definitely wounded because she consideredyoufor her first kiss.”

“You do realize she might not have planned this.”

“Yet here we are.”

“Is there anything more to know about her?” William asked.

Magnus shook his head. “We have told you everything my spies could glean in such a short time frame. Perhaps on the morrow, we shall know more.”

“I still am not comfortable with the fact that I left home this evening strongly against the institution, and now I might be stuck with a wife I do not know.”

“Yes, but a wife you need,” Magnus argued. “She could help you become better acquainted with Society once the shame of what she has done is forgotten. Besides, if it were my sister in such a situation, I would no doubt have asked you to pick your seconds by now.”

“I also would have done the same if I had a sister,” William admitted grimly.

“It might not be so bad to be married,” Edwin spoke up. “At least this one doesn’t seem intimidated so easily.”

“She hasn’t seen me without the mask,” William pointed out.

“Nonetheless, she is not so innocent as to fear you when it is time to make heirs.”

“But marriage?” William sighed, going to pour himself a drink. “It requires more than just producing heirs. What if she were to require us to spend time with each other? To engage in conversations? What shall I speak of? Frills and feathers? I amused to blood and gore and death. Nothing I can speak of would interest her. She would probably be frightened off.”

“You think too much of these things, Mayfield.” Theo laughed. “There might be more to her than frills and feathers.”

“Emerton is right,” Edwin added. “Not much of your current life has to change if you do not want it to.”

---