Page 66 of Her Devil of a Duke
“Thank God for that,” Rafe huffed, “I was beginning to think I had made the journey all this way for nothing, when I could have been lying back in a warm bathtub right now…”
Evelyn frowned at him and lightly slapped his chest, before he snatched her arm, bent down toward her, and found her lips with his own.
Her hands tightened across his biceps as his palms found her waist, settling her against him. He angled their kiss, making it deeper, feeling the same fire burning within him that had always been there with Evie, despite the chill in the air.
“Oh.” She suddenly drew back, her eyes widening.
“Oh? That is not a good sound,” he laughed, but this time, she didn’t smile.
“My aunt and uncle.” She shook her head. “They are still insistent upon me marrying Mr. Windham.”
“Have no fear about that,” Rafe smirked subtly. “I think I have a way to change your uncle’s mind.”
“Good, because he’s coming this way.” She gestured behind him, her whole mannerism growing flustered.
Rafe immediately adjusted his hold upon her, turning to face the other side of the terrace as he looped her arm through his.
Mr. Gulliver was hurrying across the terrace, his boots struggling to find purchase in the snow, as behind him Mr. Windham followed, his nose still bloodied.
“What is the meaning of this?” When Mr. Gulliver’s gaze met Rafe’s, he halted, his body stiffening and his spine going rigid. “Your Grace?” He looked at Evelyn, clear anger palpable in the air.
“Mr. Gulliver.” Rafe bowed his head in acknowledgment of his presence, not bothering to acknowledge that Mr. Windham was there as well. “I am here to offer my hand in marriage to your niece. She has accepted.”
“Marriage!?” Mr. Gulliver spluttered, looking between the pair of them.
“No. No.” Mr. Windham stepped forward with the words, moving to Mr. Gulliver’s side. “We had an agreement. She was to marry me–”
“An agreement that hardly matters now.” Rafe knew he could have pointed out that Mr. Windham was about to strike Evie, but he feared that wouldn’t make a difference to a man like Mr. Gulliver.
Instead, Rafe decided to pull rank. It might not have been a good way to achieve his aim, but he had a feeling it would matter to Mr. Gulliver more than anything else. “What connection do you wish for, sir? Do you wish to see your niece married to a man without a title? Or a duke?”
His question clearly connected to the heart of the matter, for Mr. Gulliver stood taller and straightened his tailcoat.
“I think we can all agree that if you want the best opportunity for good marriages for your other three daughters, having a duke for a nephew-in-law is a wiser way to go, is it not?” Rafe asked, keeping his voice calm.
“We had an agreement,” Mr. Windham said feebly again, his voice somewhat muffled by the bloodied handkerchief he held to his nose.
“Well, I…” Mr. Gulliver looked between the two men. Clearly, his mind was being swayed one way, for his eyes settled on Rafe for much longer than on Mr. Windham.
“Please, Uncle,” Evelyn whispered, sliding her hand further across Rafe’s arm. He held a hand over hers, relishing that touch. “Do this one thing for me. Allow me to marry the Duke.”
Rafe was touched by her words. She was speaking out, saying exactly what she wanted. The only sad thing for Rafe was that he believed her words didn’t sway Mr. Gulliver much at all. He’d already made his decision and it had little to do with his niece’s happiness, and everything to do with the connection his family could make.
Ignoring Mr. Windham, as if he wasn’t there, the older gentleman strode toward Rafe, offering his hand.
“Well, it is an unorthodox way to announce a betrothal, but so be it.” He smiled abruptly, his manner changing so fast, it was as if a candle had been lit outside in that cold. “You have my blessing, Your Grace. You may wed my niece.”
Evelyn sighed and leaned against Rafe in relief, as their fingers entwined, his hand enveloping hers.
Mr. Windham was outraged by the sight, but Rafe paid him no heed. All he cared about was having Evelyn beside him.
As Mr. Gulliver turned around and attempted to calm Mr. Windham down, Rafe shifted his focus completely to Evie. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back.
“So, are you going to be busy this following month?” he whispered.
“I do not believe so,” she frowned. “Why?”
“Perfect. That sets the date of our wedding.”
