Page 28 of A Duke for Adela
She frowned at him. “Precisely my point. Eloise and Phoebe might demand that you marry me.”
“I fully expect they will whether I kiss you or not. So what’s it to be? A proposal with a kiss or without?”
Her eyes popped wide. “Are you suggesting you will bow to their demand?”
“Yes, although it is not merely a suggestion because I am stating it as fact.”
She shook her head and sighed. “You are not making any sense.”
“I am making perfect sense. I would much rather kiss you. And yes, it will be a thoroughly compromising one. I am going to ravish you until your body melts.”
“Oh.” Her gaze shot to his.
“Are you ready for it?” He cast her a tender smile. “I promise you will like it.”
“What happens if I do not like the kiss?”
“That could be a problem, because I am going to marry you whatever the outcome.”
She coughed. “Your Grace–”
“I am going to kiss you and then I am going to marry you. Stop fretting, Adela. You will adore the kiss.”
“I have no doubt. I am sure it is something you do rather well.”
He shrugged. “I like to think so, although someone in my position can never be too certain. People lie to me all the time in order to gain my favor.”
“I will tell you the truth.”
He cast her a wry smile. “I know. This is one of the reasons why I am determined to marry you. Would it be such a terrible thing if we were husband and wife?”
“No, certainly not for me. I expect it will be a dream come true. My heart is already beating rapidly in anticipation of our first kiss. If I am to go down in flames, I may as well enjoy it by kissing a breathtakingly handsome duke.”
His smile turned affectionate.
“But I am not certain about this marriage idea of yours. Is this your highhandedly honorable way of absolving me of all responsibility? Your Grace, do not be a fool.” She tried to stand and leave, but he kept hold of her hand and nudged her back down beside him. “What are you doing?”
“We are not through talking,” he said.
She frowned at him. “There is no turning back once you kiss me in front of these ladies. I can ride out a few months of scandal, but you cannot ride out a lifetime of an unhappy marriage.”
“Why do you think our marriage would be an unhappy one?”
“Oh, so many reasons.” She was now gaping at him. “Why can I not simply go into hiding? It is not such a bad idea. In fact, I could hide out at the Huntsford Academy library every day from morning till night. It is a magnificent place. Without these irritating social entertainments, I can be left in peace to reconstruct the work I have lost.”
“You can do that and be married to me, as well.”
“Why are you being so generous? And stubborn, I might add. I am trying to think of a way out of this predicament that doesn’t burden you.”
“And I am telling you that you are not a burden and I do not want a way out.”
She stared at him, looking utterly confused.
As for him, he was viewing their circumstances with more clarity than he had ever viewed any problem in his life. “There is only one way to make Lady Felicity Rose’s cruel jest blow up in her face and that is for us to marry. She will spend the rest of her life knowing her spiteful actions put me forever out of her reach. Quite the opposite effect she hoped.”
“So, you are willing to chain yourself to me for life just to get back at her? This is about your taking revenge?”
“Not really. I could care less about her. I am doing this for you.”
