Page 32 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
Paper crinkled as her father folded up his newspaper and set it aside. “So what’s troubling you?”
His dogged determination, which had resulted in his achievements, seldom allowed his children to escape his scrutiny when he suspected they were hiding something. While it was an admirable trait, when it was directed her way, she didn’t much like it. Still, she knew he wouldn’t give up until he had his answer. “I think it’s time to admit I’m not the sort men marry.”
His unwavering gaze on her, he sat still and silent for a moment. “Should I increase the amount of your dowry?”
She laughed lightly. “Dear God, no, Papa. Mine’s large enough to attract fortune hunters from across the pond. No, it’s more to do with me. I’m not the type with whom men can fall madly in love. They don’t find me very biddable.”
“If they don’t appreciate you, they can rot. Don’t change for a single one of them.”
He would defend his children to the death. She loved him for it. “I wasn’t planning to. Here’s an example, though. Last night at the Dragons, I challenged Lady Hyacinth to a bout in the boxing ring.”
He arched a thick eyebrow, gave a curt nod of approval. “You’d draw a crowd. What were you going to charge for admittance into the room?”
Any other man might have been mocking her, but she knew him well enough to know he was serious. He never turned down an opportunity to add money to his coffers. Any other father might have been appalled. But he valued strength, courage, and fortitude. “I had no plans to charge anything. It was an empty dare that I wasn’t going to see through. She said something unkind, and I reacted very poorly.”
“I’ll have a chat with her father this morning. She’ll be apologizing this afternoon.”
His influence was such that any confrontation yielded results. Terrified some when Jack Dodger showed up at their door. “That’s not necessary. I handled it.”
He studied her for a moment, no doubt trying to discern if it was handled to his satisfaction. “What did she say?”
“I don’t remember exactly. Something about the reason I’m a spinster. It’s not important. What matters is that ladies don’t engage in fisticuffs, and yet I tossed the possibility out there as though it were perfectly normal and acceptable. I come across as being masculine, a hoyden, instead of dainty and feminine.”
“You come across as a woman with the wherewithal to take care of herself.”
“Not everyone values that in a lady.”
“You don’t want someone who doesn’t.”
“And therein lies the problem. I don’t think a man who can accept me as I am exists. At least not among the aristocracy. Not where proper behavior is so regarded, and ladies are expected to yield to their husbands on all matters. I haven’t a talent for yielding.”
“Then don’t marry among the aristocracy.”
Until this moment, marrying a commoner wasn’t something she’d even considered. “But wouldn’t you be disappointed? It would be a feather in your cap—a son of the streets whose daughter marries nobility.”
“I’ve never much fancied feathers.” He gave her an understanding smile. “Marry a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker. Don’t marry at all. I don’t care. Neither does your mother. All we’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy.”
If she weren’t so practical, she’d weep. For all his gruffness, there were times when he said things that below the surface were incredibly sentimental and sweet. “And if my happiness rests in doing something I ought not?”
“Like stealing my cigars?”
Her eyes widened. “You knew?”
“I can count inventory.”
“Could have been my brothers.”
He gave her a stern look. “They’ve never been as daring as you.”
That was true enough, but then they’d never wrapped their father around their little finger either. She could get away with a good deal more, and they were smart enough to recognize it. “All right then, I’ve been caught. But back to my original concern, about doing something I ought not.”
“Your mother ought not to have married me.” He picked up his newspaper, shook it out, buried his nose in it. “That didn’t turn out so badly.”
Which she supposed was his way of saying he’d stand behind her no matter what sort of trouble she got herself into.
“WHAT the bloody hell do you mean that my financial situation is in dire straits?” Ashe bellowed as he tore his gaze from the ledger of dancing numbers that his man of business had set before him.
“It’s the investments, Your Grace. As you can see, based on what I’ve outlined there, they are not doing as well as we’d hoped.”
