Page 53 of Her Wolf of a Duke

But he was laughing kindly, and Emma couldn’t help but do the same. He was not an unkind man, nor a spiteful one. That was to say, there were worse men that she could have been engaged to.

He took a ring from his pocket, taking her hand in his and slipping it on.

“I did remember, by the way. I thought it best to wait until everything was easier. My proposal was not ideal, so I hope this makes up for it.”

It was a beautiful ring, with a large diamond in the center. It was far more expensive than she had ever expected to see, unless Sarah had made a particularly good match, and it felt heavier than she had thought jewelry could.

“You shouldn’t regret what happened,” he continued, “not if you enjoyed it. And, if you therefore do not regret it, you should not apologize.”

“Very well. This ring is beautiful. Thank you.”

“It was my grandmother’s. It’s funny, she refused to give it to my father. She said the match was not right, and so she could not support it. My mother always wanted it, claiming that it was her right.”

“Was it not?”

“No, not if my grandmother did not want her to have it. Instead, she gave it to me. She told me to make better choices than my parents had, and until then I could not give it to any lady.”

“Does that mean you think this was a good idea?” she teased, but he was serious.

“Her instruction was to do better, and I do not believe I could have found worse for myself than what my parents shared.”

Emma fell silent, wondering what had happened between them, but only for a moment because he then cleared his throat and looked steadily into her eyes.

“I should be the one apologizing to you.”

“Why? You never do anything you regret, and so by your rules you should not apologize.”

“It isn’t that I regret this, but this match is far less than you could have found. I am marrying you because it is my duty to do so, and it will be far better for you than staying here, but I never wanted to marry.”

“Nor did I.”

“No, but I will not be a true husband to you. This is a marriage of scandal, and nothing more, and that is all it will ever be. For that, I must apologize.”

It felt as though the air had been knocked out from her. She was not in love, and she was not foolish enough to think that he could be, but to be told that it would never happen was another thing entirely.

“Why will this never be a real marriage?”

“Because it will not. I do not want to be a loving and doting husband. I am not capable of such a feat.”

“Do you truly believe that?” she asked, trying to keep herself steady.

“I do. I know it to be the case.”

She searched his face for something that told her more, but there was nothing. She couldn’t see any affection at all, and while it felt unfair to expect it of him she wanted to see something even resembling it. However, there was nothing, and she had to move past expecting such a thing. He had never promised her any such thing, and so she could not well expect it.

“Very well,” she nodded.

“If you wish to cancel the engagement, I will not blame you.”

“You would like that, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, Lord Rosendale called on my sister yesterday, which means that he is willing to look past the scandal. If the ton is to not see my sister differently because of it, I must marry.”

“I am not asking you to do it for my sake. I am only asking because I want you to do what is right for you. That is the only thing I have ever done, after all.”

“Yes, well, it is the only thing that I have never done. There is no need for me to begin doing so now.”

“I have upset you.”

“Nothing upsets me, not anymore. I did not cry the night of that ball, and I do not intend to cry simply because a man that I do not love is telling me that he never will. You mustn’t think that you have such power over me, Your Grace.”

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