Page 86 of The Duke of Desire
Chapter Nineteen
Ivy had never minded being on the periphery. In fact, she’d found it comforting and safe, a haven from the life she could’ve had if Lady Breckenridge hadn’t decided to help her. Tonight was no different. As she sat in the corner of the cardroom at the Assembly Rooms, she was grateful to be on the fringe. Particularly after everything that had happened yesterday.
Perhaps tonightwasa bit different. While she was content to keep to the shadows, she didn’t feel particularly comfortable, nor did she feel safe. She expected West or Peter to arrive at any moment and upset her tenuous equilibrium. Of course she didn’tknowthat they would come, but she was on her guard, nevertheless.
She’d barely slept last night. Instead, she’d been consumed with thoughts of her afternoon with West and the potential consequences.
Shecouldn’tbe with child. Perhaps if she repeated that to herself enough, it would come true. It was all she had to cling to.
As if conjured by her thoughts, West walked into the cardroom. His gaze swept the space, and Ivy sagged in the chair, as if she could somehow fade into the background and become invisible to him.
But no. His eyes found hers, and he made his way immediately and directly to where she sat. So much for discretion. He seemed to have recently abandoned that objective.
“Good evening,” he said, standing next to her chair. “I’m delighted to see you.”
She didn’t look up at him. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“It’s a public ball.”
She flicked him an exasperated glance. “I mean, you shouldn’t beheretalking tome.”
“Why not? There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Now she looked at him, her eyes narrowing. “Please stop,” she hissed.
“I came to ask you to dance. You should try the waltz again.”
Pressing her lips together, she directed her attention toward Lady Dunn. Sitting at a table near the center of the room, she hadn’t seemed to notice that the Duke of Desire was talking to her paid companion. “No, thank you.”
When he didn’t leave, Ivy glowered up at him. “You should go.”
“No, thank you,” he parroted back to her. “If this is the manner in which I have to wage my courtship, then so be it. I’ll stand here until you change your mind.”
Courtship? She rose from the chair and angled herself toward him. “What the devil are you doing?”
“Courting you.” He turned to face her, his features now so familiar that she wondered how she could go without seeing them. His eyes darkened, and the edge of his mouth ticked up. “I’m going to marry you, Ivy.”
Her breath caught. He couldn’t mean that. “You’re as arrogant as ever.”
“About this, yes.”
“Abouteverything. You told me you possessed a special skill.”
“I did, didn’t I?” he murmured.
Marriage.To the Duke of Desire. Her pulse quickened, and she pivoted away from him, facing the center of the room. “Please go away.”
“If you insist. But I’ll be back.”
She turned her head and glared at him. “No. I want you to leave me alone.” She clenched her teeth as tension gripped her frame.
He moved the tiniest bit closer. “Why? I’m offering you marriage. You would be my duchess.”
“I’ve no interest in marriage, especially to a man with your reputation. You’re a philanderer, a libertine, a rake. I have every expectation you would continue in that vein.” She couldn’t stand here another moment. She started to go, but he discreetly—but only briefly—touched her arm.
“I’m not that man anymore. I’ve changed.You’vechanged me. Please don’t go.”
“You give me no choice. Can’t you see you’re making this worse? Every time you pay me attention like this, people notice. You’re the Duke of Desire. I’m no one. I like being no one. Furthermore, I’d like to keep myjob.”
