Page 47 of Never Dare a Duke
“Miss Shaw knows that I have to consider someone of much higher birth than her as my duchess, so she offered to allow a pretend courtship between us, leaving me some peace at this insufferable house party.”
The duchess blinked. “There are so many responses I could make to everything you said that it’s difficult to know where to begin. You told her that you need to marry a woman of higher birth? I did not think the son I raised would be so cruel.”
It was his turn to blink. “Shetold me she thought I needed to marry such a woman. And she’s right. A duchess needs to be born to understand the role, raised to accept the duties and responsibilities.”
“As I was?” she countered dryly.
“You are the rare exception,Madre.Most women could never be like you. Father found you, his perfect duchess, and now I have to find mine.”
“And some poor woman has to live within your definitions or fail you?”
“It won’t be like that. She will understand what our marriage will be.”
“And love does not matter?”
“How can I trust in something as unpredictable as love?”
His mother’s stare once had the power to reduce him to ash, but he’d long ago learned to stand against it. And now he saw the touch of sadness there, and he felt guilty for it. But he couldn’t allow her feelings to sway him from what he knew was right.
“If by my actions I have not shown you the power of love,” she said softly, “then there is nothing else I can say about it.”
“Madre,don’t act like—”
She put up a hand to stop him. “Then tell me this. You do not look as if you are uninterested in Miss Shaw, and I see you with the eyes of a woman who’s known you your whole life.”
He felt the first wrinkle of unease.
“Then I am a very good actor, am I not?”
“And she is not interested in marrying?”
“She says she wants to find a nice country squire. She’s not interested in marrying me, and that’s all I needed to hear.”
“But I am not an innocent young lady, Christopher. I understand that there’s more to what a man says, that love is not always a part of what a man is feeling for a woman.”
He sighed and briefly closed his eyes. “I cannot believe we are discussing this. Yes, she is a lovely young lady, but I know my responsibilities, and I will marry the right person, and it’s not Abigail—Miss Shaw.”
Oh, that had been a mistake.
His mother’s eyes narrowed. “I find it sad that you continue to be so rigid and unimaginative about your future. I sometimes feel like I have failed you.”
He sighed. “Madre—”
“Know this,” she interrupted. “Whatever game you think you are playing with this girl—or she thinks she’s playing along with you—you have the power to hurt her terribly. And if I hear you do…”
“You will what?” he said mildly. “Turn me over your knee?”
She sighed. “It is not I who will punish you. No, Christopher, I believe you will punish yourself.”
Chapter 13
“And you found nothing?” Gwen asked Abigail in disappointment, as they took turns looking at themselves in a mirror in Abigail’s bedroom.
“Nothing.” The logical place to search would have to be his bedroom. And she couldn’t think about that right now.
The Madingley maid had done wonders with their gowns and proved herself even more valuable in dressing their hair, for their tresses were piled high in the Georgian style, laced with bows and flowers; Gwen even had a bird’s nest perched on her head, and she confessed that she might have to steal the talented girl away with her when she returned to London.
“There was nothing but old clothing?” Gwen continued.
