Page 63 of She Tempts the Duke
“You do not believe him capable of moral shortcomings and yet you question mine?”
Not only offended, but hurt him as well. “I’m sorry. I know you’re a good man.”
“Apparently you don’t.”
“I do. I’d have not accepted your offer of marriage if I doubted the sort of man you are. I thought perhaps you’d done it in a misguided well-meaning attempt to protect my honor.”
“I assure you that I’m not in the habit of being misguided in any of my actions.”
“Of course you’re not. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive my impertinence.”
“I wish I could say that I would forgive you anything, but I must confess to growing wearisome of constantly finding Keswick in our lives. He will not be there once we are married, I should hope. I’ll have your word on that.”
What was he saying? That she would never see him again?
“I don’t suppose you would do what you could to help quash these rumors that he took unfair advantage of me,” she said quietly.
He turned away. “If I did that, it would be to imply that you kissed him willingly. Do you understand how that would make me appear? Cuckolded before we’re even wed. I believe silence is the better part of valor here. The rumors will die out of their own accord if tinder is not constantly thrown on them.”
He was correct, of course. If the rumors garnered no reaction, people would soon lose interest in them. But what damage to Sebastian’s reputation might be done in the meantime?
Fitzwilliam faced her. “I can’t help but admire your loyalty to the man. I simply wished it extended to me.”
She suddenly felt as though she didn’t deserve this man. “It does. I’ll be such a devoted wife you’ll never have cause to doubt me.”
“I’m counting on that. So shall we put this behind us?”
Not quite yet. “Lady Hermione told me that she overheard you encouraging her father to convince others not to allow Keswick into proper homes.”
“He asked for my opinion and I gave it to him. They’ve caused nothing but trouble since they arrived. I told him they will not be welcomed in mine. What he chooses to do is his business.”
“It’s so unfair.”
“Perhaps in time when they’ve learned to behave with a bit more decorum, when they realize the value of conformity, people will be more at ease with them.”
They would never conform. Of that she was certain. Perhaps she’d been hasty in trying to lure them into Society. Fitzwilliam was correct: they needed to make their own way in their own time.
Reaching out, he touched her damp hair. “You were very naughty to come here without a chaperone.”
She wondered if he might take advantage, might in fact use the opportunity to kiss her. She couldn’t imagine that Sebastian would let such a moment pass if he found himself alone in the presence of a woman he intended to marry. She didn’t like thinking of him as being barbaric. He was simply blatantly sensual, even if he didn’t see himself as such.
Fitzwilliam skimmed his knuckles along her cheek, gave her a look of fondness. “We have a dinner tonight at Lord and Lady Moreland’s. Allow me to escort you to your carriage so that you may return home and begin preparing for it. I shall bring my carriage around at half past seven.”
The moment shouldn’t have ended with her being disappointed that he’d not sought to take advantage. Her reputation was on perilous enough ground as it was. She had no need to have him further doubt her ability to act as a lady.
He extended his arm and she slipped hers through the crook of his elbow. She walked so close that her skirt brushed against his trousers but the nearness didn’t seem at all scandalous. Shouldn’t she want to lean into him, press her entire side against his?
Why was she questioning so much of late? He was good for her. They were well suited.
A footman with an umbrella followed them out to the carriage and Fitzwilliam handed her up. “I shall see you soon. Remember your promise to me. No Keswick. Men’s reputations are hardly as important as ladies’. It’s the reason so many of us excel at being rakes: no one really cares what we do. This nasty business about the kiss will die soon, especially after we are wed.”
She nodded. “Again, I’m sorry that I thought you sought to do him harm.”
He tucked her beneath her chin as though she were a child. “I would not be marrying you if you were any different.”
Slamming the door closed, he instructed the driver to return her home. The carriage bolted up the drive. Glancing back out the window, she saw Fitzwilliam still standing there, watching her. He worried over her.
But who worried over Sebastian? If he heard the rumors, if he thought she were responsible for spreading them—
