Page 125 of The English Duke
Damn it all.
He stopped at the church door.
“Shall we proceed?” he said, glancing toward the carriage.
“Where are we going?”
“Back to Griffin House for the moment,” he said. “I want to propose marriage to you,” he added. “Without so many witnesses.”
She only stared up at him, her expression one that made his heart lighter. She looked as stunned as a child presented with a magical present. Happiness lit up her eyes and her mouth was slightly open.
He couldn’t help himself. He bent and kissed Martha in front of hundreds of people.
Let them talk. Let them tell the tale of the duke who came to announce that one wedding wasn’t going to take place while proposing to another woman on the steps of the same church.
Nor was that the only shocking thing he did. He kissed her again and she kissed him back.
Reese packed his valise and looked around the room, paying special attention to the rumpled bed. Josephine would be married shortly. Would being the Duchess of Roth be everything she wanted or expected? He doubted it.
Most of the staff had already left for the church to witness the exchange of vows. How long would it be before Josephine broke hers? A month? Longer?
He wagered that Jordan would be faithful until the end. Or maybe he wouldn’t even make it to the church. He wouldn’t fault the man if he grabbed Martha and hied off to Gretna Green.
To his surprise, his carriage had been brought around to the front of the house without his order. Not only had it been readied for him, but it seemed as if he had a traveling companion.
He entered the vehicle to discover Josephine sitting there, dressed in a brilliant blue traveling dress and jacket, a jaunty blue hat with a bouncy feather completing her attire.
“Should I ask what the hell you’re doing here?” he said. “Or shall I just congratulate you for escaping a loveless marriage?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “Most marriages are loveless.”
“There are a great many, I understand, that are the height of companionship, not to mention passion.”
She sent him a look no doubt designed to singe him to his toes. He was not so easily cowed. Perhaps she would learn that fact in time.
“I’ve been thrown over,” she said, the words said with less venom than he expected. “Jordan has decided he doesn’t want to marry me.”
After her announcement, she glanced at him.
“You knew,” she said.
“I didn’t, but I’m not surprised.”
“You might have warned me.”
“Did you blame him?” he asked. “He knew it was you in my bed last night, by the way.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Was that why?”
He shook his head. “I suspect it was because he wanted Martha more than he wanted you.” Daring words. He half expected her to fly into a rage.
She surprised him by smiling and the expression look almost genuine.
“They belong together, don’t you think? They’ll always smell of the lake. Perhaps their children will be little goldfish.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. She had a way about her when she wasn’t being manipulative.
“You said something intriguing.”
