Page 91 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
“Ecstatically so. But she has been hounded by fortune hunters, and she believes it is her dowry that drew me to her.”
“And it wasn’t?”
“No.”
“What was?”
Ashe wondered if, when he heard the answer, Jack Dodger would break his jaw or blacken his eye. He was likely to do both. “Her legs.”
“And how is it that you happened to see her legs?”
“That’s between her and me. Her legs drew me, but her boldness, her spunk, her cleverness, her character held me. She is quite simply the most remarkable woman I’ve ever known. I love her. Beyond all imagining, beyond any capacity that I thought I had to love. But she will always doubt my veracity if, when she gives me her hand, it holds a pouch of coins.”
“Her dowry is much more than a pouch, boy.”
“I’m well aware. It was a figure of speech.”
“I’ve made inquiries. I know your financial situation. She’ll do without.”
“Never. I can sell a good many of the treasures that I amassed during my travels. They’ll provide us with a tidy sum. Not as much as her dowry, but it gives us a start. Working together, we can build it into something grand for our children. I want her to be my partner. Equal.”
“To come to you with nothing?”
“Dear God, how can you possibly believe there is any part of her that is equal tonothing?”
Ashe saw newfound respect and admiration enter Jack Dodger’s dark eyes, eyes he’d passed on to his daughter, and he knew on this matter at least, he’dwon.
MINERVA was sitting in the morning room scribbling down an array of notes when her parents entered.
“We’d like to have a word,” her mother said.
“Now is an absolutely perfect time as I need to speak with you as well. I’ve given it a good deal of thought, and I’ve decided to go to Texas to look more closely into this cattle venture that I want to convince the fellows is worth investing in with me. I’ve worked it all out. I’ll hire a companion and—”
“Minerva,” her mother said, settling onto the sofa beside her while her father took a nearby chair. “Texas is so far away.”
“I’m not moving there forever. I shall be home by Christmas. It’s just that based on my numbers, it’s a wonderful opportunity to branch out, to not be so dependent upon what we can earn here in Britain.”
“You’ll have to talk with your father about that. He’s the one with the head for business.”
She looked at the man lounging in the chair as though he hadn’t a care in the world. Jack Dodger had never been one for formality. “Would you be interested in investing, Father?”
“Will it make money?”
“It should, yes. A good deal, as a matter of fact.”
“I’ll think about it, but first I need to speak with you about a decision I’ve made—with your mother’s blessing.”
She released a laugh that didn’t sound quite like herself. “All right, but you both look so deadly serious. Has something happened?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes,” her father said. “I’ve decided to rescind the offer of a dowry.”
It felt as though he’d punched her. “Why?”
“Well, for one thing, you said you weren’t going to marry, so it’s not as though you need it.”
“That’s true enough. Don’t suppose you’ll see your way clear to loan me some money so I can invest in this cattle venture I’m so set on?”
He waved a hand. “If you want it, you can have it. I’m talking only about your dowry.” Leaning forward, he planted his elbows on his thighs. “I may have done you a disservice by offering it, by making it so large. I’m afraid men haven’t been able to see beyond it to you.”
