Page 203 of Ten Lords for the Holidays

He was ridiculously handsome. How had she managed to not throw herself at him when he was so beautiful? She must have got immunity at some point, maybe after her crush.

Oh yes. That was it. When he’d laughed at her intention to become a doctor.

“I’m here for settlement of our wager.” He walked over to her, confident. In control.

And tall. Her neck cricked as she looked up and her temper flared. “Oh really? Because it sounded like you were here to arrange things with my father, not me.”

“Tam,” he said patiently. “I asked you last night. This is a formality. We suit. We’re getting married.”

“And the price is that I can’t be a doctor.” A little bitter. Yes, she wanted this, but the price was high. Too high?

He tilted his head. “What made you think that?”

“You! You laughed at my dreams! And you said last night—”

“Shh.” He took a step toward her, a smile playing around his mouth. “Your father thinks he negotiated me up to precisely what I was willing to give you last night, Tam. Everything. All yours and your family’s expenses, in return for your hand in marriage.”

Slowly, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, as though relishing the moment. Then his head lowered, and their lips met. And ohh but last night hadn’t been her imagination. Kissing Att really was this good. His warm breath, his hand combing into her hair and stroking her head, the nibbles and sweep of his tongue.

“Finally, Tam,” he whispered as he held her to him with a hand at the small of her back.

What? Finally for him?

“You don’t think I can be a doctor. Don’t want me to be a doctor,” she protested.

“Silly creature.” He pulled her closer at the waist and kissed down her neck. “You get to be a duchess doctor, that’s all.”

She waved her hand impatiently. “But you laughed at me!”

“Laughter of delight at your sheer gumption.” He straightened and stroked his thumb over her cheek, looking into her eyes, lips twisting in wry amusement. “I’d fallen headlong in love with you, and if that was what you wanted to do, I was going to keep out of the way of your dreams. I was an idiot, thinking I was too old for you and I’d hold you back. A terrible affliction.”

That admission, so easy and clear. All this time… He was wrong and just told her that. Her smile couldn’t be restrained. “Is there a cure?”

“Oh absolutely. There is.” He brushed his nose against hers. “You. You are my cure. It took some time, but you did it eventually. I realized the error of my ways.”

He pulled her with him and collapsed back into the sofa, dragging her down on top of him.

She went willingly, sprawling first then organizing her skirts over his thighs.

“I’ve always loved you,” he said between kisses. “I wanted you and I couldn’t believe you’d rather be a doctor than a duchess. I did not want to stop you from doing what is your vocation. I didn’t see that there was room for both.”

“Att.” She couldn’t believe this.

“Tam, I love you. If you want me to just give you money to finish your training, I’ll do that. Hell, I’ll pay for your whole family to train as doctors or whatever they want to be. But there’s one thing I will not, ever, ever do.”

That sounded ominous. “What won’t you do?”

He held the back of her head. “Tam, I won’t help you find someone else to marry. If you’re going to marry, you’re going to marryme.”

“You’re sure? I’m not going to be any better. I’ll still spend all my time being a doctor, and I’ll be a terrible duchess. I might be obsessed with threes.” She tried to look away, but he wouldn’t allow her, his eyes warm and steady.

“You don’t have to be one, on your own anymore. We’ll be two, and you’ll be my best duchess. My only love. And anytime you want, we can be three, and we’ll have a lot of fun getting you with child. Be my wife. I want you to be my duchess, in my bed every night, and achieving everything you’ve wished of with my support. Say yes, Tam.”

He was her best enemy, and this was everything she’d wanted and more. So she leaned in and kissed him. “Yes.” Another kiss. “Yes.” More lingering this time, with a sweep of her tongue. He moaned and gathered her to him more tightly. “Yes.”

EPILOGUE

25 December1876

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