Page 37 of The Duke Meets His Match

“Of course I am,” he replied. “The very fact that you are weighing the cost andbenefit to yourself and your family tells me that you are, at least, considering my proposal. You are speaking to a man who has considered the costs and benefits of marriage numerous times over the course of several years.” He rose from his chair and positioned himself on the settee next to her. “I will be frank, Miss Jennings,” he said. “I refuse to become one of the Prince Regent’s lackeys. Marriage to youallows me to be loyal to my country and not merely to my selfish monarch. I am atyour mercy, Miss Jennings, and I assure you that when it comes to your personal concerns, you have the advantage of me. I will do all in my power to support you and your family in whatever ways you deem best. I give you my word.

“That being said, there are a few caveats I must insist upon,” he continued. He slid closer to her and felt with satisfaction the frisson of energy that emanated from her when he did. It was enough for the moment to know he had a physical effect on her. “I want a marriage in full, as I have already said. I want heirs.”

“I cannot guarantee—”

“I know,” he said. “But I want your willingness.” He locked gazes with her.

“A true marriage means I must give myself to you, body and soul,” she said.

“As must I,” he murmured in reply.

She shook her head, her eyes searching his own. “I will be giving upeverythingif I wed, Your Grace—freedoms I currently have as an unmarried woman. My very personhood. If I am to give myself to you fully, I expect the same in return. Fidelity, for one.”

“Obviously,” he said.

“There is nothing obvious about it, Your Grace,” she said. “Society turns a blind eye to a gentleman’s indiscretions and ruins its womenfolk for much less.” Her expression was serious, her face pale, the small spray of freckles alongthe bridge of her nose a bit more apparent as a result and adding a hint ofvulnerability, her eyes large and gray and indomitable.

“You have my word, Miss Jennings,” George said. “I can say nothing more, except that I must stand on my reputation in that regard. There is to be one woman in my life, and that woman will beyou, if you agree to marry me.” He cast his gaze over her features once again and decided he wanted to explore that frisson he’d felt earlier. He wanted to kiss her, wanted to see how she would respond to his touch. But if he did, would it convince her of his intent toward her or would she feel manipulated?

The blasted woman now had George overthinking things.

Enough!

He laid his hand on the curve of her jaw and lowered his mouth to hers. She reacted with surprise, so her lips were slightly parted, and he felt her breath, warm, as a gasp escaped her. And then she sighed, and George knew he had won, so he let the kiss linger and slid his fingers into the wisps of hair at the nape of her neck for one pleasurable moment.

He drew away, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw victory. “I believe we will suit, Miss Jennings, if our kiss is any indication,” he murmured.

Those eyes immediately flashed silver again. “If you think for one moment that a single kiss—”

He kissed her again to silence her, but this time, he took his fill. Her hands clutched his arms and slid upward until they clung to his shoulders. Her head fell back, and he explored her lips, the column of her throat, the skin behind her ear.

“Unfair,” she murmured.

He smiled inwardly and nipped at her earlobe. “What is your answer?” he whispered.

She let out a deep sigh. “No,” she said.

He blinked. Had he heard her correctly? He had not expected that answer, not from her response to his kisses.

She raised her head and gazed steadily back at him. “It takes more than kisses to make a true marriage,” she said softly.

“Perhaps so,” he replied. “But it is a beginning.”

“If I had said yes to you just now, you would have thought me weak and malleable, easily persuaded by token affection, and that I cannot allow. You have said we will have a marriage in full ... but I fear we may have differing viewson what that means. To me, it means we are one in more than just body. Beprepared for me to share my opinions openly with you, Your Grace.”

“I would expect nothing less from you, Miss Jennings,” he said.

“As long as you are prepared for the heated discussions that are bound to follow,” she said. “As I’m sure there will be.”

“So am I,” he replied, heaven help him. He reached into his jacket breast pocketand removed a ring bearing a ruby stone encircled with diamonds. It had belonged to his mother. “Miss Jennings, having now considered the various reasons whether to marry or not, I ask you again, will you agree to be my wife? And if so, will you take this ring as a symbol of our betrothal?” He held it out for her to see.

“It’s lovely,” she said. She looked up at him, an earnest expression on her face. “Based on your assurances and your honor and with clear recognition on both our parts of the challenges that lay ahead for us, I will agree to marry you.”

“Thank you,” George said. He’d done it. He’d gotten her to agree. “May I?” he asked, nodding toward her hand.

“Yes,” she said.

He took her left hand in his and slid the ring onto her finger. It was a near perfect fit. “It becomes you,” he said.

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