Page 87 of The Duke Who Loved Me (The Duke's Estates 1)

James unsealed the note. Cecelia asked him to call on her at eleven the following morning. His pulse accelerated. Could she want to see him as much as he wanted to see her? Unless… But no, he’d heard of no new outrage from Prince Karl. The fellow had gone quiet. Perhaps ominously. They would see. But before that,hewould see Cecelia. Alone. He would push her aunt out of the room and lock her in a wardrobe if he had to. He wouldmakethis the opportunity to settle matters between them. He tucked the note into his waistcoat pocket.

He looked up to find Ned slowly folding a stocking, as if he savored the feel of the smooth knit under his fingers. “That is worn with evening dress,” James said.

Ned started, froze as if fearing retribution, and then relaxed. “Knee breeches and pale waistcoat,” he answered, repeating an earlier lesson.

“Correct.”

The boy grinned, pleased and proud.

It was so easy to cheer him, though it seemed few had ever bothered. “Is all well with your mother and sisters?” James asked.

“Yes, milord. Uncle Will mended the stable lock.”

“Ah, he’s arrived then.”

Ned nodded. “Staying in a room above the stables. He reckons it was the head groom’s.”

James started to say that the man could sleep in the house. But where would he find proper quarters? The stable was probably more comfortable for now if it was fitted out for a head groom.

“He said to tell you thankee—thank you.” Ned enunciated the last two words carefully. “And if you have any other work that wants doing, he’s ready and able.”

There was so very much do. But first, always first, there was Cecelia.

James arrived precisely on time the next day. He was taken up to the drawing room at once and found Cecelia waiting for him there. Alone.

“My aunt is with her bees,” she said. “And I have given orders that she is not to be disturbed.”

He scarcely heard through the exultation racing through his veins. Now he must retrieve the words he’d been rehearsing. He’d botched this the last time. He wouldn’t again. Even though she looked so lovely that he could think of little else.

She sat down. He took a chair opposite. “I was wondering if you still wish to marry me,” she said.

This was such an unexpected beginning that James stumbled over his answer.

“Considering recent…occurrences, I thought you might. But it’s best to be sure of these things, is it not?”

Was she calling their kiss an occurrence? That made it sound like an encounter with footpads or a carriage accident.

Cecelia frowned. “If you have changed your mind, of course there is nothing more to be said.”

“I have not!” All his careful phrases now escaped him.

“Oh, well, good. Then I think we should.”

“Should?”

“Get married,” she explained, as if he was being purposely slow.

“Dash it, Cecelia.”

“What? I thought you said…”

“I spent half the night trying to find the right words to convince you to marry me.”

“You did?” Her tone was softer.

“Yes, and now you jump in before I’ve used any of them. You have a pronounced autocratic streak.”

“So you have often said.”

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