Page 23 of Moonstone Angel
“Do you think I care?”
She frowned at him. “You should care. These are your people.”
“They are not. I don’t know most of them and dislike the many I do.”
“Now you are just making fun. You are a duke of the realm. You have a responsibility to king and country.”
“How is marrying a frivolous, empty-headed peahen responsible? Do I not better serve my king and country by marrying someone sensible, compassionate, and kind?”
“Who is not of proper bloodstock?”
“Does your blood bleed red?”
She nodded.
“What an amazing coincidence, so does mine. We are of the same bloodstock. And why are you supporting this ridiculous Upper Crust nonsense when I should think an impertinent chit like you would heartily approve of bringing it down?”
“If you did not believe in the Upper Crust, then why choose Lady Yvonne as your likely bride?”
He sighed and released her. “Because I was not thinking straight when it came to marriage. I looked upon it as a business proposition and formulated a simple plan accordingly. Endear myself to atondiamond. Marry her. Sire sons. Job done.”
“That is the worst plan I have ever heard in my life.”
“Ah, Cara. There you go kicking my arse again.” He surprised her by caressing her cheek. “I agree. Thankfully, you stole off with my grandmother before I could put that miserable decision into effect.”
“I do not mean to kick you. I’m certainly the last one who ought to berate your misguided wedding plans. At least you never proposed to Lady Yvonne. I left poor Harlan at the altar.”
“And you’ve punished yourself by shutting yourself off from love ever since. Is it not time you forgave yourself?”
She could not deny it. “I want to fall in love,” she said in a whisper, trying to hide the pain in her voice. “I think I am ready for it now.”
“Then why not with me?” His hand was still lightly on her cheek, and he stroked across it with the rough pad of his thumb. “Why not me, Cara?”
Tingles shot up her spine. “Are we still speaking hypothetically?”
He nodded. “Yes, of course.”
Foolish girl.
She had almost allowed her heart to believe the impossible could happen. “Then hypothetically, I would say a duke cannot seriously consider his grandmother’s companion as marriage material. This means he would only be asking to take said companion on as his mistress, and that is something said companion would never do. Are we clear on this?”
He laughed. “Stop kicking me in the arse. I wasn’t asking to make you my mistress.”
“Good. Because I’ll never agree to such a thing.”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “I get it, you are a woman of good character.”
She cast him a sheepish glance. “Not all that good. I spied on you naked.”
He chuckled. “Ah, I forgot about that.”
“Propriety is only part of the reason why I would never agree.”
“What else is there?”
“Is it just you? Or are all men as dense?”
“Cara, you are kicking me again.”
