“Why work in the library? I’m sure you have your choice of rooms.” Luke watched as the duke’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
“It holds most of the reference materials I need.” The Duke cleared his throat looking away.
Just then, a door opened to the left and Tricia appeared. Her eyes also went wide at the sight of him. “Forgive me, Papa,” she murmured as she backed out of the room.
Luke grinned. “You don’t work in the library because your family enters and exits often?”
The duke cleared his throat. “What is your point?”
“She misses you already. And she’s torn up with worry that she won’t have a relationship with you.”
He saw the duke’s face spasm in pain. The man was a horse’s ass about having every detail go his way, but he clearly loved his daughter. “She should have thought of that before she eloped.”
“She did. But Crummell was an intolerable choice.”
Waverly’s lip curled. “A week ago, you were an intolerable choice. That girl refuses to heel.”
“She is a woman and her refusal to heel is now my concern. I have removed the duty from you.” Luke winced. That argument was a double-edged sword. It reminded the duke of his own disobedience in stealing the man’s daughter. “I understand Tabbie far better than Crummell ever could.”
“She called you a rake and a debaucher—”
“Both were true.” Luke leaned back in his chair, unfazed.
“And what will you do when she catches you in the act? She’s got quite the temper.” The duke’s hands were spread across his desk as though he were steadying himself.
“I am aware of her temper and I’ve no intention of participating in such behavior. I love your daughter. She makes me want to be a better man.”
The duke pushed up slightly in his seat. “So you stole her away from her family?”
Luke grimaced. “You’ve every right to think that. I want to make amends.” He cleared his throat. “Perhaps we can marry again in the Church of England. I can only assume you’ve kept our trip secret. Post the banns and we’ll marry for all of society to see.”
Waverly sat back in his chair, his hands relaxing on the desk. “I would consider that acceptable. She will move back in to my home and will act the part of an unmarried woman.”
Luke felt a twinge of fear. Tabbie was a schemer by nature and that trait likely came from her father. “I will agree to that if you post the banns today and we are married in two weeks’ time.”
“Absolutely not. I will post the banns but the wedding will take place in three months. I don’t want anyone to assume you’ve ruined her.”
“A month, no more. It’s possible she is carrying my child, I won’t wait any longer.”
The duke released a rumble from deep in his chest. “A month. But during that time she will attend all social engagements with us.”
“I will agree to that as long as I am in attendance as well.” No one knew better than him how base men could be. He’d be damned if he’d let another man touch her.
“Very well,” Waverly pushed the marriage contract across the desk. Luke scanned it for any changes.
“I have one more provision,” Luke set the paper and pen aside. “Place her dowry in a fund in her name. It’s hers to do whatever she’d like with. I will match the funds. In exchange, I’d like to stay here for the next month.”
The duke’s eyes opened wide. “If you think to visit her room at night while I sleep—”
Luke shook his head. “I won’t. But you know that Tabbie is concerned about my previous reputation. She will be eaten with worry if I am staying in my own townhouse. I can assure you, you won’t even know I am here.”
The duke assessed him. “I have a room in the servants’ quarters—”
“Fine,” Luke fired back.
“You would sleep in the servants’ quarters?” Surprise laced the other man’s voice.
Luke pinned the duke with his stare. “I would stay in hell if Tabbie needed me to.”