Page 52 of Her Wolf of a Duke

“Then it is just as well that I have very little interest in you and I ever seeing him. I should think that is his preference too.”

“But we shall see my sister, yes?”

“As often as you please. I have no qualms with her at all,” he nodded. “Indeed, if our situation has affected her own fortunes, I would not mind finding space for her. I cannot stand a bully, and the thought of leaving her with one gives me a great deal of unease.”

“Do you mean it?”

“I do. I would not make such a promise if I did not intend to keep it.”

His words had filled her with hope, although she couldn’t help but notice the seriousness in his tone. She wanted to ask him about it, but it did not feel like the right time to do so. If anything, it was simply his hatred of her father, which she could not blame him for.

“Why did you call on me today?” she asked. “We are to wed in a week, and so it is not as though we must do all of this.”

“I wanted to see how you are. It was a difficult ending to the party, and with all that is being discussed in the ton at the moment, I thought it wise to ensure you are doing well.”

“In spite of everything, I am indeed. I had always thought that ruin would be worse than this, but then not all ladies are surprised with a proposal. I was certainly not expecting one.”

“Because I am a rake? A ruiner of reputations?”

“Yes. No– what I mean is… I did not think you would care what became of me.”

He seemed genuinely shocked at such a belief.

“I apologize,” she said softly, “for all of this. It was not my intention.”

“You have no need to apologize.”

“But I do! I was the one that kissed you, and now we are here.”

“I did kiss you, too.”

“Only because I did not leave you with much of a choice. It was willful, the worst thing that I have ever done.”

“Well, did you enjoy it?”

She could feel her blush creeping into her hair. How could she answer such a question, especially when he was looking at her the way he was?

“You mustn’t ask such things,” she protested, continuing on her way.

He followed after her, chuckling as he did. Emma wanted to turn and tell him that he infuriated her, and that she did not like him at all, and that the way he acted was unbecoming at best, but she could not. He fell into step beside her again, holding his arm out, and instinctively she took it. He had strong arms, and in spite of herself she felt protected by that.

“You did not answer me,” he said after a while.

“Because I do not dare. We have caused enough trouble.”

“And now we are in your garden, by your home, not under the ton’s watchful eye. Even if we were, it is not as though we could find ourselves in any more trouble than we are already. Therefore, you are able to answer me. Did you enjoy it.”

“Yes,” she replied at last. “Are you satisfied?”

“I certainly was, yes.”

“Levi!”

“Emma.”

“You are insufferable,” she sighed.

“And you will be my wife, which means you face a lifetime of irritation. Truly, you poor thing.”

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