Page 30 of Defending the Duke (The St. Clairs 4)

She grinned. “That would be an advantage.”

He put his hands on her shoulders. “You’ll be wife of a duke and sister to another. I believe you’ll find yourself the darling of society.” He kissed her brow. “Now, go.”

She left and Anthony watched the gentle sway of her hips, something stirring within him. Laurel St. Clair was a mix of strength and fragility. She would certainly challenge him. He promised himself to guard his heart, though. He would give her his name. Children. But that was it. She wasn’t to have even the smallest piece of him.

He spied the Duke and Duchess of Everton and went to their table, slipping into a seat next to Everton, who turned and greeted him.

“Good evening, Linfield. I haven’t seen you tonight.”

His voice low, Anthony said, “We’ve always been two men who could mask their feelings. Do so now,” he commanded, leaning in. “I have offered for Laurel and she has accepted me. You’re to announce our engagement after supper. We plan to wed this week.”

A muscle twitched in Everton’s cheek. “You’ve compromised her,” he said flatly. “Someone saw you.”

Anthony didn’t want to go into explanations. “I did.”

“You bastard,” Everton said. Though his face appeared bland, Anthony saw murder in the duke’s eyes.

“There’s already been plenty of gossip about her, despite the St. Clairs closing ranks around her. By wedding me, Laurel’s place in society will be secured. I’m a bloody duke. Once she’s my duchess, no one will dare speak ill of her—else they have the both of us to answer to.”

He sat straight again. “You’ll need to break the news to your family. Now. They should be prepared for the announcement.”

“I want to speak to Laurel first,” Everton said.

“Follow me.”

Anthony exited the supper room and strode toward the ladies’ retiring room. Laurel was just emerging. Her eyes widened as she met him. He turned and saw not only Everton behind him but the man’s duchess and two other couples, along with the dowager duchess, who had been seated at the table.

Her family surrounded them as Everton said, “Laurel, do you truly wish to wed Linfield?”

Anthony heard the gasps and felt her family’s eyes bore into him. Anthony focused on her instead. Their gaze met and she nodded.

“Yes, Jeremy. Yes, I do.”

A woman, most certainly a St. Clair, said, “I told you to kiss a few men, Laurel. Not compromise yourself and be forced to wed one, especially the second day of the Season.” She turned and glared at him. “How dare you ruin my sister, you bloody fool!”

“Keep your voice down, Rachel,” Everton warned. “We already will have a bit of a scandal with Laurel wedding so quickly.” He looked at her again. “You’re certain.”

“I am,” Laurel said firmly and came to him, slipping her arm through his. “Anthony and I know what we want.”

In that moment, he felt pride at marrying a woman who stood strong in the face of adversity.

“Then let’s return to the supper room. We may as well make the announcement now,” Everton said. The duke watched his family turn and walk away but he hung back and said to Anthony, “I expect you tomorrow at three. You will produce the special license and we’ll make the arrangements for the wedding.”

With that, the Duke of Everton strode away.

“His anger will subside,” Laurel said quietly as they followed. “Jeremy only wishes for me to be happy. He and Catherine are a love match. So are his two siblings. They’d wanted the same for me.”

Anthony stopped. “I have offered you marriage, my lady. Love has nothing to do with it,” he said stiffly.

“I quite agree. I come from a life where love between a husband and wife isn’t important. I want children. I’ll do what it takes to get them.”

“I want them as well.”

“Good. As long as you can treat me with respect and act as a good father to our children, it’s all I’ll ever ask. You are free to do as you wish the rest of the time. I understand that to be the way of theton.”

“Agreed,” Anthony said, though as they entered the supper room, the bargain they’d struck left him less than satisfied.

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