He crushed her torso against his body, his mouth finding hers and his tongue demanding her breath. She clung to him, her arms drawing his head closer as she curled into him.
“And I,” he growled against her lips, “have no intention of leaving your side… unless your brother forcibly removes me.”
“He may do that,” Eveline replied, shivering when the Duke of Lennox brushed his mouth across her swollen lips.
“Even as my fiancée?” he murmured.
She shook her head. “I’m not your fiancée.”
“You’re not?” He pulled away, his heart stopping. “Have I done something wrong?”
“You didn’t propose.” Her eyes twinkled.
“I must rectify that issue immediately.” Lifting his hand, he tugged the ruby ring from his finger and held it up. “Miss Eveline Braddock, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“No.”
She tried to scramble off his lap, but he reacted quickly, slipping his arm around her waist and cinching her body to his.
“I’m going to stop asking if you keep refusing me,” he said, pinning her with his gaze.
“That’s your father’s ring,” she whispered, sinking her teeth into her lower lip. “I don’t want to take him from you.”
“As long as you’re with me, he is as well.” Levi tilted his head, his eyes sliding over Miss Braddock. “I don’t know what Mr. Drummond did to you…”
“Nothing.” Her voice trailed off when he raised his eyebrows.
“Based upon my witnessed reactions, I imagine the experience was quite terrifying.” He held up the ring. “However, I’m not him, and I’ve never given you cause to think otherwise, have I?”
“You’ve always… mostly,” she amended with a small smile, “acted as a gentleman in your interactions with me.”
“Then, there’s nothing else to consider.” He touched his forehead to hers. “Mr. Drummond loses, and we spend the rest of our days together, naked.”
The delightful blush he loved exploded across her face.
“We can’t spend every moment nude,” she gasped, glancing over her shoulder as though she expected her brother to come charging into the parlor. “No one will visit us.”
“I’m not hearing an argument against foregoing clothing.” He wiggled his eyebrows, mentally cataloging the order of rooms in which he intended to take her, but when he thought of the upstairs bedchambers, his heart stopped, his good humor vanishing. “There’s something I must tell you as well.”
She drew back, trembling. “I don’t need to know any more secrets, Your Grace.”
He growled, rankled by her formal tone.
“Unfortunately, Eveline,” he said, placing a great deal of emphasis on her name, “since I desire my wife to live with me after our wedding, this issue will affect you as well.”
“I have a lease on this house under Ernest Braddock,” she said, the words tumbling over themselves. “I’m certain he could be coaxed into staying on after the wedding until the contract expires. He may even forgive me for borrowing his name.”
Levi set her on the floor, climbed to his feet, and paced the room. He made three complete passes before stopping in front of her and crouching.
“You may wish to remain here longer.” He drew a hand through his hair, exhaling a deep sigh. “The exorcism didn’t work. Mr. Philbert is still very much my guest.”
“Did you see his ghost?” Miss Braddock asked, her eyes widening to saucers.
“Earlier today, Warwick and I heard a door slam and a chair scrape across the floor in the chamber above us.” Levi took her hand and squeezed, willing her to understand his concern. “I don’t want you to live in my house until I’m certain Mr. Philbert is gone. I can fight a man, but I cannot protect you from the supernatural.”
And if he didn’t figure out how to rid his home of Mr. Philbert’s spirit soon, he’d be spending his wedding night in the chamber beside his wife’s brother.
“Of course,” she replied, visible tension easing from her body. “You can stay here as long as you like.”
