Page 84 of Beyond Scandal and Desire
Again the single word delivered like a death knell.
“You’re being unreasonable, to not even give the man a chance to prove himself.”
“But, my dear,” the duchess whispered conspiratorially, “low morals and all that.”
“His parents most certainly, but not him.”
“Associating with him, no matter how innocent, will lead you along the path to ruin.”
She bloody well didn’t care.
“You will not be seeing him again,” the duke commanded, and she wondered if he suspected Cremorne wasn’t the only occasion she had spoken with him. “Bella.” Once more he held out his hand to his wife. She thought she saw it shake before the duchess slipped hers into it.
“I’ll send word to Kip that he’s expected for dinner tonight,” the duchess said.
Then they strolled away as though they weren’t the most unreasonable, close-minded couple she’d ever known.
Darkness had only recently fallen as Mick sat at his desk in his office and studied the markers, vouchers and deeds in his possession. He still didn’t have the one he craved, but wondered if these would be enough to convince Hedley to acknowledge him. He was growing impatient—
Impatient to publicly claim Aslyn, weary of keeping the truth of his paternity from her, feeling guilty that he’d introduce Kipwick to the Cerberus Club, knowing his weakness.
She’d never asked anything of him before, but she asked this: that he have the doors to the club closed to the earl. And it was within his power to grant her wish. How could he deny her this one small request?
Bloody damned hell.
He’d argued with himself all day about going to have a word with Kipwick, but he’d known a word wouldn’t be enough. It was Aiden he’d have to talk with. No more markers for the earl, no more accepting property as collateral. Then Mick would have to spread the word to every lowly club that existed throughout London that the Earl of Kipwick was not to be welcomed.
For her, he’d cut off his means for acquiring what he longed for.
Hearing the echoing footsteps, he glanced up to see her marching toward him. Opening the top drawer in his desk, he surreptitiously slid the documents inside, closed it up tight and came to his feet just as she barged into the room.
“They won’t have you to dinner.”
He stared at her, unable to make sense of her pronouncement. “I beg your pardon?”
“The duke and duchess. I asked them to invite you to dinner and they refused. Because you’re a by-blow.”
Of course they had. Or at least the duke would have. Mick doubted the man had ever told his wife that not ten months into their marriage he’d sired a son by another woman. If the duchess did know of her husband’s transgressions, she’d have not wanted evidence of his unfaithfulness at her table. “Why would you—”
“Because I’m tired of us being in the shadows.” She began pacing. “Because I wanted them to meet you, to know what a remarkable, wonderful man you are, to understand why I can’t marry their son.”
“You told them you weren’t marrying Kipwick?”
“No, not yet, but when I do I want the reasons to be perfectly clear.”
He’d never been so humbled, so touched. He hadhoped, but to know that she was willing to acknowledge him publicly—
“You’re the daughter of an earl and I—”
“Am a bastard. Yes, I know. But if you didn’t tell anyone, who would know? It’s not as though it’s branded on your forehead.” She charged forward. “You’re someone’s son. What does it matter that your parents weren’t married? I don’t care how you came into the world. I only care that you’re here. I only care that when I’m with you I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
She was magnificent in her fury on his behalf. He thought he could never love her more than he did at that particular moment. For her courage, her determination, her willingness to fight for him.
“You don’t keep me in a cage.” She cradled his cheek. “You pushed me to travel on the railway. You don’t strive to keep me innocent. You take me to Cremorne when it’s naughty, you create fireworks within me. But more than that, you’re a good man. I know about Tittlefitz, what you did for him. I think the night I heard that story is when I might have begun falling a little bit in love with you. I told Kipwick I couldn’t marry him because of his gambling. But I lied. You’re the reason. I can’t marry him, because I want to marry you.”
He jerked her to him, claimed her mouth. All his life he’d been searching for acceptance, and here it was in the form of a woman with a tilted-up nose and crooked smile.
Drawing back, he gazed into her eyes. When she looked at him as she did, he could almost believe when he touched her, he wouldn’t leave grime in his wake. “Your guardians would not approve of my marrying you. Society would not approve.”
