Page 73 of A Duke But No Gentleman
Tristan stilled, his entire body filling with sudden tension.“Have you come to persuade me to not announce our betrothal at the ball?”
“Not precisely,” she said, knowing she was being evasive when he deserved honesty from her.“I will leave the final decision up to you.”
The relief blossoming across his face was a dagger in her heart.
“Then I shall give you my answer.I want us—”
She silenced his words by touching her fingers to his lips.“Not until I give you the truth you wish to hear.”Imogene sighed.“Tristan, I believe I am with child.”
His expression became guarded.“Are you certain?”
“No,” she said, feeling defensive.For all of his promises, she could not guess his feelings on the subject.“I am no expert in these matters, and I refuse to approach my mother.You are the only one I have shared my suspicions with.”
“You think this child is Norgrave’s,” he said flatly.
“It is a possibility,” she said, her voice sounding hoarse even to her ears.“He was the last man to—”
Tristan held up a hand to stop her from finishing her thoughts.He swiftly stood and began to pace in front of her.There was a wild look in his eyes, but she knew his anger was not directed at her.
He stopped and glared down at her.“When was the last time you bled?”
Imogene winced at his bluntness.“I do not know.”She gasped when his fingers caught her wrists and she was pulled onto her feet.“M-maybe the week we arrived in London.With everything that happened, I was not as attentive as I should have been.”
He nodded, almost absently.“Then the child is mine.”
“You do not know for certain—” His hot, furious gaze had her swallowing the rest of her argument.“You asked for truth between us, Tristan.Do not ask me to dissemble about what took place in your mother’s house.You know there is a chance the child could be Norgrave’s.”
“I have not forgotten,” he shouted at her.Tristan refused to release her hands when she attempted to pull away.His fingers tightened over her wrists, but he was not hurting her.“Listen to me.Since you collided into my life, you have bewitched and maddened me.I have done reckless things, and have not always been careful when it comes to you.Not when I claimed your maidenhead, or the other times when I bedded you.If you are with child, it is my babe sleeping in your womb.I would wager my estates and title on it.”
“Can you understand how difficult this is for me?I want this child to be yours,” she yelled back at him, matching his temper.“I would give anything…anything… for there to be no doubt.”
Tristan cupped her face, and lightly touched his forehead to hers.“Oh, darling, how long have you carried this burden by yourself?”
“Since the night it happened,” she said, his tenderness almost her undoing.“He taunted me about the possibility and it took root in my brain.He said other things—” She could barely look him in the eye.
“Let me guess,” he said, practically spitting out the words.“Norgrave told you that I would abandon you once I learned that you carried his child.”
“Yes.”
“Imogene, the bastard lied.Norgrave told you whathewould have done if he learned his lover carried another man’s child.He does not speak for me, and he never will again.”Tristan cuddled her against his chest.“You should have told me about the baby sooner.”
“I am not positive, but there are signs,” she murmured against his bare chest.
“Then it is good that I am already planning to marry you.”He rubbed her back in a soothing fashion.“I am looking forward to watching you get as fat as a hen with my child.”
Imogene sensed Tristan was still furious at the marquess, but he somehow managed to keep his darker emotions from her because she needed to be comforted.“What if you are wrong?”
“I am not.You still do not understand,” Tristan said, impatience flashing in his gaze.He placed his hand on her belly.“I claim this child as mine.Anyone who hints otherwise will become my enemy who will face ruin by my hand.Our son will never doubt even for a moment that I am his sire.”
“So you have decided that I am carrying your heir?”she asked, her heart lightening at the conviction ringing in his vow.
“Of course,” was his arrogant response.Tristan’s eyes took on a sensual cast as he reached for the buttons on her dress.“And if you are not with child, you soon will be.”
“You are not—we cannot—not with all of the servants strolling about,” she protested, but the duke was no longer listening.
“I am—we can,” he countered firmly.
It seemed Tristan had decided the only way to wipe out her lingering doubts was to coax her back into his bed.She wondered if that had been his plan all along when he had escorted her upstairs to his bedchamber.
