Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
They lay on the sofa, afterwards, limbs entwined. Her fingers toyed with the ends of his hair, burnished gold in the firelight. “I confess to following you about London, Your Grace.”
“Call me Marcus.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I enjoyed it. Secretly. Also, I’m difficult to miss, given my size. Couldn’t have been that much work.”
Josephine curled up against him with a soft laugh.
“I promise to be a good and kind husband.” His breath ruffled her hair. “I have already sowed every wild oat in existence, so you’ve no fear I will stray. I want no one else. An annoyance when one is called Lustful Lavisham.”
“Good, because I can wield a rapier.”
A great booming sound came from him. Laughter. “Fair enough, duchess.”
“Not yet.” Though Josephine knew it a foregone conclusion.
“Close enough. I’ll speak to your brother immediately. If he doesn’t challenge me to a duel instead. There is the matter of you being naked in my study, and I’ve compromised you.” Marcus shrugged. “And will possibly do so again before we leave this room. You should have had a proper courtship.”
Josephine didn’t need one. Nor did she think it would have suited Lavisham. “Let us just say to Charles that we had an unconventional courtship. And I’ll send a note to Willa. She’ll find my maid and bring me something to wear.”
“A solid plan. But there will be something of a scandal. You came through the front door this time, not the garden.”
“Hmm. I’m not afraid of scandal.”
“Also this”—he reached over and plucked the brooch from the table—“is yours. I had a great deal of fun making you chase me for it. But the chicken belongs to you. Claim your inheritance.”
“It’s a peacock.” Josephine muffled her laughter against his chest. “And worth nothing.”
“Oh…” Marcus stroked her cheek. “I believe it to be worth a great deal. As are you.”
Josephine snuggled closer, content and happy as she had never been before.
She and Marcus were brought together because her father had wagered that a scandalous duke would make a suitable husband for his daughter.
He took a gamble on Lavisham and her. Part of her thought she should be angry with her father, yet, she was not.
“I think you are correct, Your Grace. The late Duke of Kenbrooks made an excellent wager.”
I hope you loved reading the unconventional courtship of Josephine and Marcus as much as I enjoyed writing it. I like to think of my story as a little bite of candy….just enough to whet your appetite for something sweet and sexy.