Page 15 of Sincerely, the Duke
“Then why bother to upset them? Let them be old maids in peace.”
Edwina gasped. His question made it appear he hadn’t been listening to a thing she’d said. Edwina advanced on him with purpose and determination. “I told you it was my father’s dying wish we all marry. I will not rest until I accomplish that for him. And I do miss not having them here with me.” Her chest felt heavy from her rapidly beating heart. “We’ve never been apart and it’s been difficult.”
His features softened. “I agree they should have come with you.” His tone grew softer too.
She raised her head a little and met his eyes, letting him know she appreciated his softness. Doing so made her want to get closer to him and feel his warmth, catch the scent of his clothing and shaving soap again, but she quickly dismissed those feelings and took a step back for good measure.
“Though they want no part of the Season, I would think they wouldn’t want to miss your debut.”
Debut?He had mentioned that before. Taking new interest in that, she said, “I’m not actually making a debut, Your Grace. Only attending the Season. I don’t pretendto know what all the viscount did for me, but he was the one who arranged for proper clothing and the invitations I’ve received to various parties, balls, and other events so that I might meet eligible gentlemen.”
The way his eyes narrowed was clear he was questioning something she said. But what? She tamped down the slowly rising fear that this match might not be arranged after all.
“Your name was on the list.”
“I don’t know what list you are referring to,” she answered with a troubled frown. “I suppose it’s the same one you mentioned before. Perhaps the viscount had my name added to it. In any case, I’ve tried to get my sisters to come.”
“Then try harder, Miss Fine,” he countered, his voice on edge again. “Get them to London by any means necessary.”
“They would already be here if I could compel them or if I had the power or ability to force them to come,” she argued, hoping the words didn’t sound as stubborn to him as they did to her. She really wasn’t the disagreeable person she was sounding like. His willfulness and her worry were making her seem so. “Can’t you just arrange a marriage for them with suitable men and use your power as a duke to make them say ‘I do’? Maybe a poet or a painter. Men who have good souls and would appreciate a lady with an adequate dowry to share his life, ambitions, and children.”
His eyes widened and his mouth twitched up. “You would want me to do that for you?”
“No.” She shook her head adamantly. “Not for me. For my father. This is his wish. I’m trying to fulfill it. I didn’t say it would be easy to get them here or married.I said it was a stipulation to me marrying you or anyone else. Securing my sisters’ futures must come first. If it makes a difference as to whether we marry, I understand. I told you I didn’t come to London in hopes of marrying a duke. Believe me, if you want to withdraw your offer to me and go to one of the ladies on that list you spoke of earlier, you may do so with no regrets or settlements.”
“By the devil, Miss Fine. You try my patience.”
“You have none,” she came right back, unable to keep her voice as low as his. He was the most infuriating person she’d ever met, and that included her starry-eyed sister, Eileen, who had heretofore held that honor with great distinction.
How many women would ever have the opportunity to become a duchess? Only a handful in any given generation. She was about to throw her chance out the window because she couldn’t pretend to be the proper, dutiful, and grateful young lady her aunt insisted she be when talking to a man. Perhaps she was simply being irrational. More than likely, it was her own fears of the wedding night, having a babe, and the duke or anyone in London figuring out she was one of triplets. The same worries that had kept her awake many nights since her father died.
Perhaps in some perverted way she was subconsciously trying to thwart her own goal? She believed if she didn’t persuade her sisters to marry before this Season ended, they would be so set in their ways they never would.
The duke slowly moved to stand toe to toe with her as he gazed tightly into her eyes. The tension sparking between them was so lively it felt as if lightning were cracking all around. “You are not getting rid of me that easily, Miss Fine. You fascinate me, and I don’t feel thatwill wane anytime soon. No matter how it came about, I chose you to marry, and I stand by that choice.”
His words gave her strength, hope, and urgency. “My sisters are in York. So, tell me, Your Grace, can you arrange marriages for them by the end of the Season or not?”
CHAPTER 6
THE ART OF BEING A FINE GENTLEMAN
SIR DUDLEY SAMSON PEMBERTON FINE
A gentleman with a fine sense of what is acceptable would never kiss a lady without first asking permission.
It was more a battle of wills than words, Edwina thought. However, she wouldn’t give up no matter which, or both.
“Every father wants his daughter to marry the first Season, but for many it just doesn’t happen. However, if I can’t do it, no one can,” the duke stated without a hint of arrogance. Just assurance.
Edwina swallowed hard as her chest heaved with emotion. She wanted to believe him, but once again fear held her back. “So, I have your promise you can do it?”
“Sometimes it seems as if it’s impossible for you to see reason, Miss Fine.”
“And that seems true of you all the time,” she countered. “You are obstinate too.”
His brow furrowed deeper than it had since she’d been there, and he gave her a look that said he would do what she asked of him or he would die trying. But he only said, “You can be sassy.”
“You can be mulish.”
