Page 27 of The Odyssean Duke

“I suppose,” Evelina replied.

Given the circumstances, that was the best solution she could find to her dilemma. She would agree with conditions, and as long as His Grace accepted her answer, he would have to honor his word.

“Are you certain that is the only reason you do not wish to wait?” Anna asked slyly.

Evelina blinked, equally concerned and confused by the mischief in Anna’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I am simply thinking of everything that might occur between a man and woman,” Anna said. “Alone in the gardens.”

“Nothing happened,” Evelina said.

“Not even a kiss?” asked Maria. “Or something else more compromising?”

Her friends were not being unkind. Evelina knew that they were curious, and even if she said that she and His Grace had engaged in an amorous congress in the gardens, her friends would not think worse of her for it. But her face burned, the memory of the kiss so enticing.

Evelina stood abruptly and hurried away, accompanied by Maria’s delighted cackle and Anna’s laughter. In all likelihood, her reaction would only drive their curiosity. They would demand answers the next time she saw them, and Evelina had foolishly left in a manner that aroused considerable curiosity. It was foolish and irrational, but she found that she was simply not ready to explain the kiss to anyone, not even her dearest friends.

CHAPTER 11

Andrew Smythe must have the patience of Job,Stephan thought, as he surveyed the documents before him.

Already, Stephan had read the document so many times that he had committed a few passages to memory. It was something which, in his experience, would have left a solicitor feeling impatient or insulted. Andrew was neither. He sat patiently across the desk from Stephan, seemingly unbothered by how long it was taking for him to approve the documents.

Stephan seldom felt the need to explain himself to anyone, but that uncomfortable urge rose inside him. “I am being thorough,” he said by way of explanation.

“Of course,” Andrew agreed. “Your fastidiousness is admirable, Your Grace.”

Stephan grimaced, his eyes drifting once more to the document.

“I have never prepared any papers for you,” Andrew added. “It makes sense that you would wish to inspect my work.”

“If you are sufficient for Murrayton, you are sufficient for me,” Stephan grumbled.

“Of course, Your Grace.”

As admirable as the solicitor’s patience was, Stephan had begun to find it grating. If he had not already arranged to meet with the Dowager Countess of Thornwall that evening, Stephan would have already sent Andrew away and insisted on resuming their conversation another time.

“The contract is adequate,” Stephan said at last. “And even if it was inadequate, I suppose I would have little choice but to agree, would I?”

The solicitor furrowed his brow. “Not necessarily, Your Grace.”

“What do you mean?” Stephan scoffed. “I only have a year to marry and produce an heir.”

“Ten months,” Andrew spoke with the air of someone who was being forced to deliver terrible news that he would rather keep to himself. “Ten months to marry and produce an heir.”

“Why do you say that?”

Andrew took a deep breath and folded his hands in his lap. The man seemed to have difficulty meeting Stephan’s eyes. “The contract says that you will have a year from being named the Duke of Rothbury to marry and produce a child. However, you were unable to return to London until two monthsafteryou were named as the duke, Your Grace. Therefore, you have ten months left.”

“To marry and produce an heir!” Stephan exclaimed, frustration growing inside him. “If I succeed, it will indicate only that I am lucky—not that I am worthy of being the Duke of Rothbury!”

That was the reason given for the accursed condition, after all. His father had believed he was unsuitable as an heir, and that impression was undoubtedly because of the Dowager Duchess whispering poison into his father’s ear.

“It is a difficult condition to meet,” Andrew said.

The man’s admirable calm was becoming infuriating. “It is, Your Grace. But there are many solicitors in London who can work very quickly. If you wish for someone else to draw up the documents or to examine my work, I can offer a recommendation.”

Stephan considered it. He was an intelligent and educated man, but he also knew his limitations. He was no lawyer and had never even seen a marriage contract before Andrew Smythe handed him what he had written. This was no ordinary contract either, but one filled with unusual conditions, meant to assuage the Dowager Countess of Thornwall. Stephan did not knoweverything she might desire, but he was trying to guess. If the agreement was properly made, it might be just the thing to convince her to marry him. Evelina had become accustomed to her freedom as a widow; he would assure her that her freedom would not need to be relinquished for their marriage to work.