Page 51 of Good Duke Gone Far

“I may have told them that the duke would be throwing a big party for all his esteemed tenants and villagers. Once he found true love, that is.” Another look flew to each of them.

She had to ask, “And you didn’t stop to think what problems all that could cause?”

“Oh, yes I stopped to think. Every day. But those problems were for a future me. And the present me needed an answer to give frustrated people. Lots of frustrated people.”

Kat could relate. She had experienced similar thinking a time or two before. She stood still weighing the words. What were the chances that this man’s lies had been amalgamations of a partial truth?

She studied Quinn to try and catch a reaction. He was a stone wall. He hadn’t flinched or conveyed any emotion since the tiny smirk upon seeing her at her arrival.

“I need a moment.” He put up a finger and then beckoned her to follow him out of earshot.

Kat’s heart drummed and an energy thrummed through her. She felt it. Her future was in the balance. Whatever Quinn was going to say now would determine the rest of her life.

“What do you say? Shall we keep up the ruse?”

Her heart plummeted. Sank into the dirt where she stood. It could have only been worse if she was standing in horse droppings.

He wanted to keep up their husband and wife ruse? She could do it. It could be lovely to be on his arm again as his fake wife. Pretend that everything was alright. Quell the tension from the people, send them home, and then figure out a proper plan.

Or…

She could do what she had chased after him to do.

“No.”

His face fell, and his disappointment struck her in the heart in the best way. Seeing that, she held onto hope.

“No, I don’t want to continue the ruse, Quinn. Everywhere we go it makes more sense for us to be married than single. And isn’t that life? If you find the one that it makes more sense to be with than not, you should go for it. If we’re better together than as individuals, don’t we owe it to the world to be better? Together.” She reached for his arm. “No more ruses. Just the real thing.” She squeezed his forearm and slid her hand down to entwine their fingers. “Perhaps you did find true love as a colonel? I know that this is it for me.” He was giving her nothing. Their eyes were locked, but so were his lips. “This is it for me. It’s the real thing. I never thought you’d be the one. But you are. And I choose you. I want you. I want you to be the one. My one.”

His answer couldn’t have been fast enough. And certainly, there was no pause in his reply, but the shortest breath before his answer still equaled the entire duration of their journey together so far.

“No more ruses.” He tugged her closer to him. So close that she could feel his heart beating with hers. “Just the truth. Just love. Just marriage.”

“Yes.”

Chapter 19

YES.YES.YES.ANDa whole slew of yesses were about to follow.

“Back into the carriage with you.” Quinn pointed toward the waiting horses. They would hardly have time to be wiped down and given water before taking another journey. At least this one should be quick.

A small groan leaked out of Kat. “All I’ve been is in the carriage. Can’t we just go inside?”

“We’ll not make a liar out of–” Kat watched as Quinn glanced back at the unnamed man. “–My man of business. He’s been holding down the fort for long enough. He ought to be rewarded. And so too should all my tenants. If I’m to be a duke, I’m going to start out on the right foot. Off with you.” He placed his hand gently on the small of her back and guided her back toward the carriage. “We’re going to get married.”

She stumbled. It was a good thing he was right beside her, steadying her elbow.

“Well, what did you think I meant when I asked you to marry me?”

“You didn’t ask me.”

“I most certainly did.’

“Though your words implied it, no question was posed, no knee was bent, ergo, no proposal was made.”

“Then what did you say ‘yes’ to?”

She had no answer. She was caught. Oh, she could have argued more. But it was quicker to take his mouth with hers. His lips met hers, parted, and they kissed as if they had been kissing for years. He deepened the kiss, likely forgetting where they were. She had completely neglected to remember the people still in view.

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