Page 38 of Her Duke Next Door
“Well, I have heard unpleasant rumors,” she muttered. “About the passing of your late wife.”
“Discard them,” he said, suddenly less teasing. “Do not listen to idle gossip. I shall ignore anything anybody says about you if you grant me the same honor.I am honorable,” he said. “Despite the impression I gave during our first encounter, I am an honorable man. And I travel a lot so we would scarcely have time to bicker the way we do now.”
“But your protection?—”
“You shall be protected by our marriage to one another. Yore cannot claim you if you are wed to me.”
He could see that those words resonated with her. They struck true as if she had something she might want to hope for. Her brow puckered with desperation as she twisted her fingers around one another.
“I do not wish to ever marry again,” she whispered fiercely. “But I want what is best for my daughter. If you can promise that she will be safe and you shall allow me to live a separate life to you then I agree.”
“Eloise and you shallbothbe safe,” he swore. “And you shall not have to worry about me being around. I shall protect you, of course, and you will have your marriage to me, but I will reside in Livingston and you can return to Dower House if you wish. We will be a farce, live separately, and nobody will have to know that we do not share a residence. Our daughters can play as they used to.”
He could see the hesitance still in her face but she soon started to nod, agreeing.
“Nobody will know we live separately?” she asked.
“Not a soul, unless we wish it otherwise,” he said. “Although I admit we must keep up appearances often enough when we need to. Do you have a close family?”
Mary’s face pinched. “I do. We’re all very close, with one sister and a brother.”
Dominique stiffened. He could not think of anything worse than meeting a false wife’s family but he forced a smile. “Then I shall be honored to be your husband in front of them.”
He gazed at her as she continued to stare outwards, into the garden. He thought of brushing her hair back from her shoulder, wanting to know how smooth the skin of her cheek was, as he had touched her before.
But he clenched his fist, stopping himself.
“I shall acquire us a special license so that we can wed as soon as possible,” he announced. “And I shall make sure you nor Eloise need to remain with that man any longer.”
ChapterTwelve
Dear Mary,
As you have returned to London, and it has been a long time since we have dined together, I would love for you to join me and my friends this morning at a ladies’ afternoon tea gathering. Wear your loveliest gown. And remember, it is ladies only! We leave the gentlemen at the door. Even Alexander does not get to follow me this time!
Your sister,
Anne.
Hugh read the letter over her shoulder, sneering. Mary recognized her sister’s handwriting and was grateful Anne had done this. She had not explained why she needed a pretend invitation to an afternoon tea she did not intend to go to, but she had made excuses for her sister many times.
You are betraying her by not telling her the real reason, Mary thought. But she only withheld it from her sister in concern that she would tell the rest of their family. All she had told her sister was that she needed a reason to leave the house alone, without Hugh, and not rousing suspicion. She had promised to meet with her sister another time.
“Well,” Mary laughed. “You did want me more settled into society, did you not? I cannot help if my own sister is glad for my return after four years in the countryside.”
“I will come with you,” Hugh said, kicking Mary’s heart into a panic. “I do not care what the instructions say.”
“They shall leave you at the door, my lord!” she said, following him as he called for his valet. “It says so right here.”
“Then I shall wait at the door until you are done.”
“My lord,” Mary said sharply. “This is highly improper! If even His Grace, the Duke of Winsor is not permitted, I do not think they will be pleased if you attempt to insist you remain.”
“After your stunt last night, Mary, I am very intent on my promise to not let you out of my sight again.”
Mary forced the next words out with great effort. “My lord, if you allow me this one event with my dear sister and the old friends I once had then I shall not fight you.” She forced herself to meet his cruel, beady eyes. “I shall not refuse you anything.”
It will not matter what I promise him, for I am to marry the Duke of Livingston, she reminded herself.It is a farce to leave the house.
