Page 12 of Sincerely, the Duke
He took his time to digest that bit of news. “Having a son is always important to a man, Miss Fine.”
Edwina clasped her hands tightly together in front of her. That was a worry for her. Though a powerful man such as a duke would have a much better chance gettingher sisters married, she had to be up front with him about her situation. Some of it anyway.
“I have no doubt that’s true, and because of it you may want to consider someone whose lineage has been more fortunate in the prospects of sons.”
“I wantyou, Miss Fine.”
A breathless surprise like she’d never experienced before washed over her. It felt as if her heart started spinning somersaults in her chest at his profound words that she was the one for him.
The duke leaned in closer to her. “I think it’s time for a son to be born in your family, is it not?”
He smiled so pleasingly at her she wanted to throw her arms around his broad shoulders and hold him close to her. Suddenly, she wanted to believe she could unburden all her buried fears about keeping the vow to her father, of being a triplet, and of the possibility of having multiple babes at the same time and opening her husband up to scorn and suspicions. But, of course, she couldn’t do that. She had to remain on course and keep focused on her only goal: seeing her sisters married and living normal lives in Society as her father had wished. Only nature could determine if she had one babe or more and that worry should be hers alone to bear.
“I would like to think so,” she added. “But I have no way of promising such a feat.”
“Nor does any other lady, Miss Fine. You accepted my proposal with stipulations for our marriage taking place. What are they?”
If this agreement with him proceeded, she’d have to get used to his direct manner. She hadn’t been around a great number of different men in her near twenty years,but enough to know most of them were more solicitous, and gentle in disposition when speaking to a lady. No doubt, if he and his butler had ever been taught manners, they’d forgotten them. They both could have used a lesson or two from her father.
The duke wasn’t the kind, gentle soul she’d envisioned, but he would do. Her gaze swept up and down him once again, taking in the imposing man he was. Oh, yes. He would do.
Clearing her throat, she answered, “I don’t just need one husband, Your Grace. I need three.”
With the lines around his eyes tightening, the duke’s gaze raked slowly over her face. “That wouldn’t be possible, Miss Fine. Men don’t like to share.”
Matching him stare for stare, she retorted, “In case you are unaware of it, women don’t either.”
He took a moment to deliberate over what she said and agreed it was probably true with a slight nod.
“I didn’t mean for me, of course,” she added in a softer tone. “I have two older sisters, and I’d like for you to agree to help find them husbands who are not debauched, rakish, or wastrels.”
“Consider it done. What else?”
His brusque answer was a little too short for her so she went on. “They should also come from good families and not be given too much to drink or gambling.”
He murmured a curse under his breath. “That’s not what I was referring to. You’ve made it clear what kind of man you’d approve of for your sisters.” Glancing around, he saw his drink on the desk and went over to pick it up. After having a hefty swallow, he said, “I don’t know what the devil is going on here. It shouldn’t be your responsibility to see your sisters make a good match. Or that you doeither. Where is Viscount Quintingham? He or his representative should be handling this.”
“I assume he’s at his estate. I’ve never met him but have been told he’s a recluse. After Papa fell ill, he wrote to the viscount asking for help. He met with Aunt Pauline and agreed to accept guardianship of us after Papa passed, add to our dowries, and sponsor me for a Season since neither of my older sisters would agree to attend. My aunt was given the task of helping me find a suitable husband.”
The duke’s brow rose and he looked as if he might speak, but then thought better of it. She wondered what he was thinking but because he remained quiet, so did she.
Finally, he set his drink back on the desk and nodded as if he understood before asking, “As guardian, why is the viscount not handling this proposal for you and your sisters?”
Edwina expected some contention from the duke, but surely he could see she was handling this situation with him perfectly well and needed no other help until they had a promise to each other.
“The viscount made it clear he had no desire to become entangled with three ladies of marriageable age. Financial help and doing what was needed to accomplish my entrance into Society was all he was willing to do. We are appreciative, of course. He told my aunt that his solicitor, Mr. Richard Lewis, would handle the details of the marriage contract for the first sister to marry.”
“I’ll make sure my solicitor is in touch with him, but why isn’t he here representing you in this matter?”
She hesitated by moistening her lips. “He doesn’t know about your offer yet. After I received your proposal, Auntie and I decided we’d rather approach you ourselvesand establish whether your intentions were good and honorable before we engaged with Mr. Lewis.”
“From what little I’ve gleaned about you, Miss Fine, I don’t find it surprising at all that you wanted to take care of this yourself.”
She took his words as a compliment and that made her smile. “I’m quite capable even though Society and the law dictate I must seek Mr. Lewis’s help if our arrangement continues.”
The duke strode back over to her and stopped in front of her again. “It will, Miss Fine.”
There was no reservation in his statement but that was all right. Edwina had enough for both. Handsome as he was, and despite the unanticipated sensations he made her feel at times, she wasn’t sure at all that she was going to marry this duke.
