Page 39 of The Duke's Inconvenient Bride
Her face grew hot. “I shouldn’t have said that. I wasn’t at my best.”
“Quite the contrary.” He studied her intently. “I appreciated the honesty.”
“It isn’t that I find you… unappealing,” she said, wishing the floor would swallow her up. “I’m sure you know that you’re handsome, and as a duke, you could marry any unwed lady of the ton whom you wanted.”
A smile quirked his lips. “Now that you’re done trying to soothe my ego, may I make my point?”
“Of course.” Her cheeks blazed. She pressed her fingertips to them, wishing she weren’t quite so fair.
“Why would you wish to marry someone you have no interest in?” he asked.
She blinked at him, stunned by his directness.
His expression wavered. “Have I overset you?”
“No, not at all.” She drew in a shaky breath and picked up her teacup to keep her hands busy so she wouldn’t wring them and give away her nervousness. “My initial assessment may have been overly harsh. You are attractive, seem relatively intelligent, and are not involved in any scandals. I could be comfortable with you.”
He nodded. “I can give you all of the creature comforts you desire. You would want for nothing as my wife.”
Except, perhaps, the love she’d always longed for.
“I would expect an heir,” he said, and she inclined her head in acknowledgement. “My duchess will need to be well-presented, respectable, and able to play the role of hostess when required.”
“I can do all of that,” she told him and sipped her tea. A prickle of awareness crept through her at the thought of creating a baby with him. She wasn’t sure exactly what the mechanics involved were, but she was reasonably sure they both needed to be undressed.
He moistened his lips. “She would also need to be discreet if she were to become romantically involved with anyone else.”
Emma’s jaw dropped. Was he implying that, were they to become wed, he’d expect her to engage in extramarital affairs?Would he do the same? She’d thought he had more honor than to say so to her face.
“When I marry, I shall be faithful,” she said through gritted teeth. “And if I were to discover that my husband had not been, I would discreetly pack my things and make sure I was as far from him as possible.”
Something flashed through his eyes. Was that a hint of approval, and why did she like it so much?
“Noted, my lady. I think we have reached an understanding. Shall we summon your parents to share the news?”
Emma bit her lip, hard, so she wouldn’t give away her distress. “Daisy, please request the presence of Lord and Lady Carlisle.”
Daisy went to the door and exchanged words with someone on the other side but didn’t leave. A few seconds later, she moved aside, and the earl and countess stepped inside.
The duke stood, and Emma followed suit. They met her parents midway across the room.
Ashford took her arm. “Lady Emma and I have agreed to marry.”
CHAPTER 10
London,
November, 1819
The modiste,Madam Baptiste, was located in a stone building on the corner of a busy street in Mayfair. The windows were filled with dresses and swathes of fabric, and Emma was eager to see them more closely.It was the only part of her wedding she was looking forward to.
While she was not as fashionable as Violet, she knew what she liked, and she loved ordering new outfits.
Lady Carlisle pushed the door open, and a bell tinkled above it. Emma glanced at Sophie, who was gazing around, wide-eyed. She didn’t usually accompany her older sisters to the modiste, but their mother had allowed her to come along today, since Emma had said she would enjoy her company.
After all, it was Emma they were shopping for.
A pair of women stepped out from behind a row of fabrics, and Emma froze. The older of the two, Lady Talbot, spotted them first. Considering that the last time they’d seen her, LadyTalbot had given them the cut direct, Emma wasn’t expecting much in the way of a greeting.
