Page 29 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

“I have not.” He guided her toward a more secluded path bordered by flowering shrubs. “At least, not in the way you might expect.”

Curiosity overtook her wariness. “What do you mean?”

Leo stopped, turning to face her fully. “You claim you cannot stop writing because you need the income. What if I were to offer you an alternative?”

Marina’s eyes narrowed. “What sort of alternative?”

“A financial arrangement.” His gaze never left hers. “I will provide you with an amount equal to, or greater than, what you receive from Lupton. In return, you will cease writing stories featuring a character that resembles me.”

Marina blinked, taken aback by the unexpected proposal. “You wish to… pay me? To stop writing?”

“Think of it as a commission if you prefer. I am merely redirecting your talents away from my personal life.”

The offer was tempting—more than tempting. To be free of Lupton’s demands and meager payments, to never again fear being discovered as the scandalous authoress… and yet, something about the arrangement felt wrong.

“And what would you expect in return, besides my silence?” She held his gaze, searching for any hint of ulterior motive. “Surely not just the cessation of my stories.”

Leo’s jaw tightened. “What exactly are you suggesting, Lady Asquith?”

“I am suggesting that men like you do not offer financial support without expecting something in return.” The memory of his kiss burned between them. “Something beyond a simple business arrangement.”

“Men like me,” he repeated, his voice dangerously soft. “You believe you know me so well, don’t you? Through whispered gossip and secondhand accounts.” He stepped closer, and Marina forced herself to stand her ground. “Let me assure you, Lady Asquith, if I wanted your body, I would not resort to financial coercion to obtain it.”

Marina’s cheeks blazed. “I didn’t?—”

“You meant exactly that.” His eyes glittered with a mixture of anger and something darker, more primal. “And you’re right to be wary. But in this instance, your suspicions are unfounded. I want nothing from you but your agreement to stop dragging my name through the mud of the ton’s drawing rooms.”

Shame washed over her. She had misjudged him, jumping to the worst conclusion based on her own prejudices.

“I apologize,” she said quietly. “That was unfair of me.” She hesitated, then continued, “And I should apologize for my stories as well. I never considered how they might affect your reputation or your business affairs. When I began writing them, I never imagined they would affect your life in such a way.”

Something in his expression softened. “Perhaps we have both been too quick to judge.”

Marina looked away, her thoughts in turmoil. The offer was generous—more than generous. It would solve her financial troubles while allowing her to maintain her independence. And yet…

“I can’t accept,” she said finally.

“Why not?” Genuine confusion crossed his face. “It solves both our problems.”

How could she explain that her stories had become more than a mere source of income? They were her voice, her passion poured onto the page. To accept his money would make her beholden to him, dependent on his goodwill—just as she’d been dependent on Henry, always fearful of displeasing him.

“Because I would still be at someone else’s mercy,” she answered honestly. “I would be trading Lupton’s control for yours.”

Leo’s expression darkened. “You truly believe I would use this arrangement to control you?”

“I believe that the moment I displeased you, you could withdraw your support, leaving me with nothing. Again.” Marina squared her shoulders. “I have spent the past year rebuilding my life after being left destitute by my husband’s debts and his heir’s cruelty. I won’t put myself in that position of vulnerability again.”

Leo studied her for a long moment, his gaze penetrating. “You’re not what I expected, Marina Tate.”

The use of her maiden name startled her. Few people remembered it now that she was better known as Lady Asquith.

“How did you?—”

“I make it my business to know those who make trouble for me.” A hint of a smile touched his lips. “Noah discovered that your father was squire of a small estate in Derbyshire. You were married to Asquith at nineteen, widowed at twenty-one, and left with barely enough to maintain a modest townhouse on Mount Street.”

Marina shivered, unsettled by how thoroughly he’d investigated her life. “Your point being?”

“My point is that I understand your desire for independence far better than you might think.” He took her gloved hand, his touchsurprisingly gentle. “But there must be a solution that satisfies us both.”

---