Page 44 of Five Ways to Bed a Duke

“I am just curious to see if your charms were sufficient to secure his attention,” Richard answered, shrugging his shoulders as he sat on the edge of his desk. “You two seemed rather interested in each other.”

“And you would know that how?” she asked, arching an eyebrow. “Or were you spying on us the whole time?”

For a brief moment, his ears turned pink, and he looked like he’d been caught out, which brought a satisfied smile to her lips and warmed her insides.

Had he really been watching her the whole time?

“I wouldn’t say the whole time, but I did see you two,” he said nonchalantly. “I thought he would have proposed by now.”

“What if he is close to proposing?” she teased.

“Would you say yes?” he asked, his tone dark and serious.

She sensed then that the conversation had taken a much more serious turn than she’d expected.

“I might.” She pushed further, wanting to see what he thought of her marrying another man.

Some deluded part of her wondered if he was really attracted to her or if he was just looking to help her secure a match, and a tiny part of her she was learning to ignore painted scenarios where Richard liked her.

“So you like him?” he probed further still with that air of nonchalance, though his arms tightened, and his body looked tense, as though he could snap at any moment.

Catherine didn’t derive joy in pushing anyone’s buttons, but she wanted to see whether he would be bothered by the prospect of her being with another man.

“It is too early to say, but he seems nice enough,” she answered honestly. “With time, I can learn to love him.”

“You would marry a man for being nice?” he asked with a mocking laugh.

“Many marriages have started on less,” she retorted. “This wouldn’t be the first one to do so. Plus, we at least have something in common.”

“You do realize you will be spending an eternity with him,” he pointed out, rising from the edge of his desk. “He will be the father of your children. You will have to warm his bed at night. Will you like him enough to share his bed?”

Her cheeks reddened at the prospect of sharing anyone’s bed, but she couldn’t help but wonder why Richard would enunciate it as though it bothered him.

It was no concern of his if she chose to marry a man she could barely stand.

“I will do my duty by my husband,” she declared, squaring her shoulders, incensed. “I do not need love to perform my duties.”

“Oh?” he said mockingly, looking down at her. “You would let a man you don’t like touch you so intimately?”

His breathing was labored, and his hands kept clenching and unclenching as though he didn’t know what to do with them. Her brain kept yelling at her to kiss him even though she felt she should hit him for asking her such stupid questions.

Couldn’t he tell she was lying?

It was not as though she was unaware of what went on in the marriage bed, but considering men still visited brothels, it was obvious love was not needed where the act was concerned.

“Women have been doing it for ages,” she pointed out, not backing down. “Men, too, or there won’t be so many brothels around.”

He let out a loud laugh that ignited her rage further. How dare he laugh when she was being serious?

“You are one smart-mouthed woman,” he said, grinning. “I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much with a woman.”

“But am I wrong?” She frowned.

“No, you’re not,” he acknowledged. “I am still curious, though. If Lord Livingston were to kiss you suddenly, would you let him?”

“Richard, that is really?—”

“If he were to come up to you like this…” He moved forward. “Held you close to his body.” His arms went around her waist. “Leaned forward and captured your lips, would you kiss him back or stop him?”

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