Page 13 of The Duke's Twin
“I like him, Mama, and I believe he likes me.” Rebecca’s voice was so soft Miles wondered if he’d even heard it.
“Oh, Becca, dear, how could he? I know it might appear that way, but he doesn’t. You are intelligent and educated, my dear, but a man like the duke requires someone beautiful, outgoing, and witty.”
Miles’s stomach twisted. Mrs. Livingston truly believed her daughter wasn’t good enough. And the worst part was she wasn’t even being cruel, but rather pitying Rebecca for her perceived failings. It took every ounce of his will to stay hidden as Mrs. Livingston exited the room. He shrouded himself in the shadows as he watched her leave.
Once she was gone, he crept to the door and peered inside. Rebecca was lying across her bed, her face buried in a pillow. Her unbound chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders. A quiet little sob escaped her, and whatever invisible barrier that had been keeping him at bay crumbled. He slid inside and locked the door. She shifted on the bed and raised her tearstained face.
In that instant he knew he was in love with her. This quiet, unassuming woman who was not as blessed as her sister in parental love, despite the size of her own heart. In the few short days he’d been around her, he’d become her secret champion. And somehow along the way she’d won him over without even trying.
He moved to the bed. “Becca, love, you are killing me.”
She wiped at her eyes and turned her face away, a deep blush coloring her cheeks.
“My lord, you mustn’t be here. It isn’t proper. I know you cannot wish to be bound to me, so we should not continue this any longer. Please go.” The despair in her voice sent bolts of pain through him.
“No,” he growled. “I told you that I wished to court you. I meant it.”
She gazed up at him as he stalked over to her. “No?”
“I’m not leaving. Hell, woman, I mean to marry you.” He cupped her chin and tilted her face up to his.
Her eyes were twin pools, churning like seas shattered by storms. “What?”
“I know your hearing is better than that, Becca. I love you and want to marry you.” He softened his gaze. “But before you give me your answer, I first have a confession to make. Please promise me that you will hear me out. And know that my feelings for you will not change. And I hope that what you feel for me will not change either.”
She nodded slowly and licked her lips.
“I’m not…Justin. I’m Miles. My brother and I switched places before your family arrived. The real duke has been courting your sister all along.”
Rebecca swayed.Dizziness swamped her. She’d fallen in love with the second brother, not the first? Deep confusion flooded her along with another confusing feeling—relief. She had never wanted to be a duchess; she only knew she wanted to be withthisman, not the title attached to him. All that mattered was that he loved her.
But she did have questions.
“Why? Why would you switch places with Lord Wiltshire?” she asked as she wiped at her cheeks, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tears her mother had caused her. A horrible thought occurred to her. “This wasn’t part of some sort of joke, was it?”
Miles looked suddenly bashful and apologetic. “No. No joke. It wasn’t my idea, I assure you. Nor was it done for your benefit. Justin wanted to make sure Lydia could love a man like him without his having a title. Neither of us expected a consequence of this deception to be for me to fall in love with you. I never expected to love anyone.”
“You love me?” She had to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
He sat down on the bed and peeled off his boots. “Yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to get in this bed and compromise you so thoroughly that we’ll have to be married as soon as possible. I want there to be no doubts that I want you.” He flashed her a grin that was all sweetness and devilish charm. She couldn’t resist teasing him back.
“Are you certain I love you back?”
Miles chuckled. “If you didn’t, you’d have tossed me out of your bedchamber by now.”
She laughed. “True. I admit, I’m relieved you are not the duke. I never wanted to be a duchess. When I saw Beresford House today on our ride, I remember thinking it was the home I’d always longed for. Perhaps fate was trying to tell me something.”
She couldn’t stop smiling as what was happening finally sank in. Miles was in love with her, Lydia would become a duchess, and Rebecca would have a happily ever after all on her own.
Her heart jumped into her throat, and she grabbed the nearest pillow, using it as a shield as Miles began to undress. His naked body was a thing of beauty, with slopes and contours of muscles and that most masculine part of him she’d never seen before except on statues. He pried the pillow from her hands and tossed it to the floor. They both laughed, and her nerves eased a little as she tilted her head up and gazed deep into his eyes. This man had unlocked her heart and soul, and she couldn’t imagine anything more splendid than sharing the rest of her life with him. And she would start by sharing her bed tonight.
“My darling. My sweet. My wonderful Becca.” He dropped his head and kissed her.
His words gave her the courage to allow him to undress her. Once she was stripped bare of gown, stockings, boots, and underclothes, she sat on the bed, trembling beside him. He removed the pins from her hair and then ran his fingers through the strands before he kissed her shoulder and then her mouth as she turned to face him.
