Page 29 of Sincerely, the Duke
“It is unusual. Most ladies don’t want to worry about matters having to do with money, properties, and such.”
She inhaled a deep, confident breath as she watched him study her intently—as if he couldn’t figure her out. “Perhaps some haven’t been as well-schooled as I. I’m quite capable of understanding difficult-worded documents. Thankfully, my father taught me to be diligent in all my studies.”
“So you’ve mentioned before.”
Perhaps she had commented on her father’s forward-thinking attitude in wanting his daughters well-read a time or two. “You sound as if it upsets you that I want to read what is being settled about my future.”
A slow, devilishly attractive smile eased across his face. “It doesn’t bother me at all.”
His words made the fluttering return to her chest and her heart beat faster again. He was good at making herfeel wonderfully delicious sensations that were new and exciting. She wanted to always be proper and in control, but with the duke that was impossible. Like now, she wanted to enjoy every improper feeling and thought he was causing her to experience.
“I find it unnecessary, Miss Fine,” he continued in a reasonable tone. “You have three men doing it for you.” He took a step closer to her. “The problem is that at this rate, with you holding up the contracts for your own satisfaction, we won’t be married for a month.”
She didn’t see that as a problem. “Most engagements are far longer.”
With resolute determination, he crossed his arms. “I’m not willing to wait that long, Miss Fine. I need an heir and that takes time. You may look at all the documents you want and take as long as you want to read them. Some of them can even be changed if you wish, but we will marry Friday morning at my house.”
Her throat tightened as she tried to swallow. She knew the duke had said he needed to marry soon but she’d hoped to put off the wedding longer than that. At least to the end of the Season. Autumn or Christmastide would be better. When she’d first come to London, she’d also thought it would take her the entire Season to find a husband and get him to agree to help her sisters. The duke’s letter had catapulted her into something she’d always known she wasn’t ready for. Marriage.
But she had to do this for her father. It shouldn’t surprise her the impatient duke was moving everything so fast. Her father could teach the duke a thing or two about slowing down and being a proper gentleman. Besides, she needed her sisters here to remind her how important this marriage to the duke was to all of them.
“What if my sisters haven’t arrived by then? I would really like to wait until they do and then set a date. They would be disappointed to miss my wedding.”
His eyes flashed with displeasure as his brows and forehead creased into a tight frown at her news. “They should already be here.”
“You have lofty expectations, sir, which are, no doubt, common to your title. There’s been hardly time for them to get here.”
He didn’t move an inch from his uncompromising stance and his gaze didn’t leave her face. “It’s been several days since I was here and you assured me the letter was mailed the day before I arrived.”
“It was,” she insisted, bristling. “But as you said, York is a long way from London. Besides, they would have needed time to prepare for an extended stay…”
“Then let’s hope they arrive on time. I’ve been quietly making inquiries about possible husbands. Gentlemen I think they will consider as quite suitable and attentive. I want to make introductions at the first ball of the Season.”
His tone, words, and softened expression swept the breath from her lungs and compelled her to soften toward him too. “It’s good to hear you’ve made progress, but I don’t think you should count on them being there. If they come to London at all, it will be difficult to get them to attend balls.”
“We’ll find a way, Miss Fine.”
Without warning, he reached out and brushed his fingertips through the length of her hair. His arm brushed ever so lightly across her breasts. She quietly inhaled a startled breath. Tingles rushed over her body. She couldn’t have been more stimulated by him if he’d been caressing her cheeks or neck.
He bent closer, his face mere inches from hers. “When I kissed you the other day,” he said huskily, lightly trailing his finger pads down her cheek, “was it your first?”
His nearness and touch caused a feeling of expectancy to tremor inside her. Edwina was barely breathing but found enough air to whisper a raspy, “Yes.”
A twitch of a grin lifted his mouth. “I admit it was rash of me to kiss you the way I did.”
“Rash indeed, sir,” she managed to say, as a shudder of delight shook through her at the remembrance. It couldn’t be natural for her to be so beguiled by him. She took a step back.
He straightened but kept his gaze tightly on her face. “I had to so you could experience rakish behavior. Otherwise, you would have never written to your sisters how dire your situation was.” He moved closer to her again. “I regret it had to be that way.” His expression softened as he picked up her hand and kissed her fingers.
His movement startled her at first but the warmth of his touch sizzled through her and seemed to settle in her soul as his lips pressed firmly against her skin. His apology, his kindness was so unexpected her breathing became even fainter. Not sure what to do, she pulled her hand away from his and clasped it in her other.
“You do understand there are different ways to kiss, don’t you?” he asked.
A tremble started in her limbs. His voice was husky, low, and seducing. His gaze swept up and down her face until it lingered on her lips, causing her insides to tighten with anticipation of what he was going to say or do next.
“My knowledge of kissing is quite limited but from the poetry I’ve read, I would assume there is a softer way.”
He gave her a brief smile. “There is. I think I should show you what a tender kiss is and how it feels.”
