Page 11 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
She studied him, searching his face for some sign that he might be lying, but she could find nothing.This cannot be happening.“You are serious?”
“Of course, I am.” He laughed, and she had to admit that the sound put her at ease.
“You would truly let me keep my home?” She narrowed her eyes. “You would not expect any… wifely duties of me?”
“No, it would be a marriage in name alone.” His cheeks coloured and he rubbed the back of his neck. “You could keep any portion of money you wished. After all, once we were married it would be mine, so why should I not bequeath it back to you?”
Andrea’s mouth was dry, excitement coursing through her, but she shook her head. “My father would never agree.”
The Duke’s eyes widened. “Why ever not? I am a duke! Most men would be delighted.”
“Not my father. He likes to be in control.” She clenched her fists. “My father likes to remind me of that.”This is his version of penance. Punishment for my behaviour; I have no doubt the man would cling to life longer if only to spite me.
There was a beat of silence, and Andrea felt a heaviness settle over her body, her shoulders slumping. The Duke clapped his hands together. “Then we must give him a reason he could not refuse for our marriage.”
He is serious.Andrea chewed on her bottom lip, trying to think of how she could convince her father that this match was his idea. She began to pace. “It would require rather careful thought,” she rubbed her chin as her mind raced with all the potential ideas for their ruse to work. “Definitely planning, after all we only get one shot at this.”
“Or perhaps a simple moment of serendipity.” He grinned like a schoolboy who had just stolen the answers to a particularly difficult exam.
“What –” her words were cut off as he took her hand in his.
The warmth of his fingers spread through her, and she looked at him. He was not smiling, simply looking at her with an intensity that sent an inexplicable shiver down her spine.
“You said it yourself, if we are discovered, we would have no choice but to marry.” He took a step towards her.
“It would have to be a big enough scandal to force my father’s hand. Just our discovery would not be enough.” She shook her head, though she did not dare move away from him, her heart picking up its tempo.
“Then we seal it with a kiss.” He pulled her close, an arm going around her back.
His touch was soft, as though she were something precious he could not bear hurting. The smell of amber filled the space between them. They were so close, she could feel his breath against her lips. The sound of voices drifted across the air.
“You swear this will be a marriage on paper alone?” she whispered.
“I swear it.” He breathed back.
Their eyes met. The beating of her heart echoed through the air around them. Or perhaps it was his heart. He tilted her chin up with just the tip of a fingertip, but he did not close the distance between them.
She knew she could stop this. He was giving her the choice.
“Kiss me.” She let the words out before she lost her nerve.
His lips touched hers, and all rational thought left her. Warmth spread through her, and for once, everything in her head stilled.
She was so lost in the experience, that she almost missed the startled cry from behind her, but the sound of clapping broke through the haze.
They broke apart, breathing heavily. She turned and found herself staring at the Dowager Duchess, who was smiling so broadly that you would think she had discovered a hidden treasure.
“Welcome to the family, my girl.” She clapped her hands in delight.
There was no going back now.
ChapterFour
“Thankfully the archbishop is a dear friend of mine, so he was more than happy to grant you a special license. Lady Andrea seemed to think that two weeks would be plenty of time to arrange things and was very open to the idea of a wedding here.” The Dowager Duchess surveyed him as she sipped from her glass of sherry.
Two weeks?Frederick made a noncommittal noise. He had been staring out of the window of his London house, watching as servants scurried about, cleaning up after the impromptu engagement dinner his grandmother had arranged the evening before.
He had only just managed to convince her not to throw a full ball, and only with Lady Andrea’s help. Absently he touched a hand to his lips. They had barely spoken since their kiss; it seemed like everyone in the ton was determined to speak to each of them on their own.
