Page 46 of His Highland Duchess
“I do not know if I wish for you to stay,” he said. “But perhaps I wish to see if there is a reason for you to. Which is why I propose that we stop pretending that we don’t know what this is and start acting as if we do. As if we want the same thing.”
“And what do ye want?”
“I want to see what this marriage might become,” he said. “There is still a way to go before the Season ends. And if that time comes and we decide that we cannot stand one another…” He laughed and then smiled at her. “I will not begrudge you if you want to leave.”
“And if I do nae?”
His smile grew. “Then you stay. But only if you wish it. Only if you decide that this is what you desire, I will not force it. And I hope you realize too that if I do not see a point in you staying…”
“I think we both ken that ye will have nae hesitation in voicing to me exactly how ye feel,” she grinned.
She did not know it until the words were spoken, but they were exactly what she needed to hear. All this time, she had been in denial regarding how she felt about Lysander. It was physical only. It was desire and arousal and fire and passion and all those things rolled into one. But she did not like him. She did notwantthis marriage any more than he did. Only… that wasn’t true.
There was something there, simmering beneath the surface, the faintest flicker of what this marriage might be if they were brave enough to take it. Was it possible? She could not say yet. But did she want to find out?
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
“It is,” she said with a warm smile. “A yes, is my meaning.”
“Good.” The duke smiled and seemed to relax. “I am glad we had this conversation.”
“As am I.”
A tense silence followed this declaration. Not awkward, but heavy because with their piece said and an agreement come to, it was clear now what was on both of their minds. The fire crackled and popped. The storm still howled beyond the walls. It was dark but not so much that they could not see each other clearly, the want and desire in both their eyes.
The duke’s fingers still brushed the back of Margaret’s neck. Her hand still rested on his thigh. Memories of the previous evening raged inside of Margaret, and oh, how she wanted to feel his fingers inside her again.Although I sense that this time, it will be more than just his fingers that I feel…
She sat forward. “I –”
“I think that is enough for one evening,” the duke spoke over her quickly, cutting her off, even if he surely sensed what was on her mind. Then he stood, and she very nearly cried out. “Do not mistake me,” he made sure to say when he noticed the disappointment on her face. “I told you already how much I desire you.”
“I am wondering now if I believe it,” she said. “I may require proof.”
“Proof you will have…” He looked down at her, the fight behind his eyes so damn clear that she wondered why he was having it at all. “But it is as I said, we knowthatabout each other. There is no denying that at the very least we are of the same mind.”
“Again…” She laughed awkwardly. “Some proof might be needed.”
“If this marriage is to succeed, we need more than attraction. Proof, as you say, that we can make this marriage work. That we can be in the same room without descending into argument and then…” He flashed his eyes. “That.”
She dropped her head. “I suppose so…”
“I wish I could say that I was sorry, but a part of me does so love disappointing you.”
“Hopefully it is nae something I will be getting used to.”
He laughed. “Just for tonight. I am glad we had this talk, and for the sake of this marriage, a talk is where it will end. For now.”
She frowned at him, pouting too, because she did not agree with him at all. She wondered if perhaps this was his way of taking back control, as if he needed to prove to himself that he could resist her. That she did not have such a hold over him.And why would it be a bad thing if I did?
But she did not argue. She did not rise to her feet, drop the blanket from her naked body, and then demand that he take her. Although she very much wished it, Margaret also agreed with his logic. If there was a chance of this marriage working, they needed more than lust to fill it with.
“Supper?” he asked her. “Will I be seeing you?”
“May I bring Spotty?”
He grimaced. “Ah, yes, the dog…”
“I am keeping it, by the way,” she said without question. “The girls will appreciate it, if naething else.”
