Page 19 of Ravished By the Beastly Duke

William raised a hand to silence his protests, turning to the confusing woman.

“Why do you refuse my proposal?” he asked, wanting to understand her reasoning.

Surely she knew this was a more advantageous match than any she could have hoped to secure even before her reputation was tarnished.

“I understand that the entire situation is my fault, Your Grace, and I accept the blame for it,” she answered, frowning. “You do not need to enter a forced marriage to atone for a sin you did not commit.”

William found himself moved by her honesty. He took the liberty of lifting her chin to look her in the eye.

“It would not be seemly of me to let you take the blame for what was a shared mistake, and I would not be asking you if I did not think it was the right thing to do,” he said with a small smile. “Besides, I am a duke. No one can force me to do what I do not want to.”

Her eyes widened, giving her an air of innocence he found endearing. Her full lips teased him again with memories of the previous night, and he found himself tempted to kiss her again.

He released her chin before the thoughts made him do something utterly improper that would send her father to his grave.

She lowered her head, and he knew she was pondering his words.

“You do not have to accept if you do not wish to be tied to me,” he told her. “No one can force you into a match you do not want. I am not the beast everyone thinks I am, so you do not have to fear if you choose to refuse me.”

Her eyes flicked up to his, searching, and then she nodded slowly.

He could sense her father waiting to rain abuse if she chose not to answer, and he contemplated sending her to his aunt in France for some time if she did choose to refuse him. It would be one small thing he could do to help her escape the torment.

“I will ask once again, and if you refuse me, I will leave,” he told her with a nod. “I only ask that you look at me while you answer.”

She nodded again.

“Will you marry me, Miss Eveline?” he asked.

This time, there was a tension in the air that had not been there before as she considered her answer. He could see her pulse fluttering erratically at the base of her throat, and he sensed the emotions warring inside her.

Even if he wasn’t affected by her answer directly, he hoped she would agree to the marriage. Magnus had pointed out some things in her favor. She would save him the toil of sifting through the ton’s daughters for a wife that would at least tolerate him whether or not there was passion between them.

“I accept your proposal, Your Grace,” she answered with a small smile. “I would be honored to be your wife.”

He nodded and stepped away from her. “Then I shall discuss further arrangements with your father.”

She nodded and left the room.

The Viscount was smiling brightly when he turned back to him. “I told you, my daughter is?—”

“I shall return in a week with a special license,” William interrupted. “I believe you can start the preparations.”

He left before the man could say anything.

CHAPTER 7

“Where is the yellow ribbon I purchased last week?” Ava asked, blinking back tears.

“It should be on the dresser, Miss,” Marguerite, her handmaid, said, rushing over to check.

“It’s supposed to be in her hair. I told you…”

Eveline tuned out the noise of the women around her trying to beautify her for her special day. Her wedding day arrived quicker than she had expected, and the house was awash with activity, as her family would be hosting the wedding breakfast before she left for her husband’s estate.

Husband.

The word still left a sour taste in her mouth, as she had come to realize what it meant while her family prepared for the wedding.

---