My Duke's Desire (Wicked Lords of London 4)

As they stepped out into the cool night air, he brought his free hand to cover hers. “I am sorry for the conversation you overheard. It was uncalled for.”

“Don’t apologize, Your Grace.”

She shook her head as she spoke, and try as he might, he couldn’t hear any sarcasm in her words. “It’s Theo to you. I think we’ve reached that point.” He honestly wanted to tuck her against his side, hold her close. “And I was not polite.”

Her eyes widened as she nibbled at her lip. “You were mostly right, and you were having an honest conversation with your family. Though I’m not a social climber.” She turned to look at him, her large brown eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “My husband doesn’t need to be titled. Just rich.” She gave a breathy laugh, though it held little humor. “But I’m sure you’d already puzzled out our need for funds.”

He had. But he scratched at the growth of hair on his face at her words. “Your honesty is refreshing.” Though it only reaffirmed his feelings on the matter. Even if he did intend to marry, which he didn’t, she was only interested in him for the purse he provided. And somehow, that hurt.

“I am simply following your lead.” Her eyebrows rose. “Not that you hadn’t already made it clear that you were not interested in marriage.”

“Had I?” He swallowed a lump in his throat. It bothered him to tell her he didn’t want to marry her. How strange.

This need to protect her, which he’d felt both last night and this morning, had redoubled. He wanted to hold her close and shield her from the world. And while she was in his embrace, he may as well kiss her. He gave his head a shake.

She nodded. “To continue to be direct, I need to make a match quickly, or I won’t have a dowry with which to make one. So you will understand that we’ll leave as soon as my mother is well enough to travel. I know it wasn’t the proposed schedule but—”

He couldn’t listen any longer. “You’ll rush to the next suitor in hopes of making a quick match? What of your happiness?”

He saw her shudder before she straightened again. “This isn’t about me. It’s what I have to do for my family. It’s my duty.”

Duty…it was the theme of the day. “Tell me about your family.”

“I have a sister. She is seventeen and a beauty. Everyone thinks she’d have a chance at an excellent match if she had the proper dowry.”

“You don’t?” He stopped, then clarified. Something in this conversation was unsettling him. “Have a chance at an excellent match?”

She shrugged. “I’m not nearly as lovely as my sister and—”

He couldn’t hold it back. Stepping forward he was close enough to smell her. “She must be the most beautiful woman in all of England because you are stunning by any measure.”

Her blush could be seen even in the darkness. She opened her mouth several times without saying a word and then finally cast her eyes to the floor. “My brother is fifteen and has recently become the earl of a failing earldom. He needs guidance my father never gave him and some method of rebuilding our family’s fortune.”

His chest ached. She’d lost her father recently too. And her brother had a much more difficult job than he had taking over the dukedom. The young earl didn’t yet have a brother-in-law or two to prop him up and show him the way. Nor did he have the funds to take an extended break and discover what type of man he wanted to be. “That is difficult, to be sure. There is no other answer? What if your husband won’t help your brother or your sister?”

But Violette was already shaking her head. “He has to. It’s the only way.”

Theo grimaced down at her. She was giving up her life for the hope that her new husband would save her family. He’d never felt more petty or selfish than he did in this moment. Was that the man he wanted to be? He’d come home swearing he was responsible, a leader. But his family still didn’t believe him, and somehow he needed to prove them and his late father wrong. He was a man of strength. He could make this dukedom great. But he needed not just to run it from England but travel far and wide to strengthen their holdings. How could they not understand that and how did a wife live that life with him?

* * *

Despite the terrible beginning to the evening, it went better than Violette had expected. Being honest with Theo was a help and the meal was excellent. She hadn’t eaten that well in a long time. She tried to ignore the fact that she’d leave in the morning and never see him again.

She also attempted to ignore the intensity of his stare, but it was difficult. Everyone else noticed it too and his family members glanced between the two of them often.

As the men left to have cigars, she followed Theo’s sisters into a salon. They’d been lovely all evening, but she honestly worried what they might ask or say. Clasping her hands, she took a seat across from the two women. Theo’s mother crossed to the window, seeming content to allow her daughters to conduct the interrogation.

She searched her mind for a conversation starter and finally settled on a topic she was actually most curious about. “Tell me,” she leaned forward, “How do you find married life?”

The two sisters gave her knowing smiles. “It suits us both nice

ly for many reasons,” Tricia gave her a wink.

Tabbie laughed. “Agreed. We both married well, and I don’t mean our husband’s titles. They love us.” Then Tabbie attempted to lean closer too, her belly mostly getting in the way. “I hope you find that for yourself.”

She shook her head. “I doubt—”

Tricia stood and crossed to sit next to her. “Forgive us, but we heard you mention leaving. Stay. Just a little longer. Teddy is interested in you and if you give him just a little time, I think you could be an excellent match for each other.”