Extract
Mills Boon?
Coming next month
HOW THE WALLFLOWER WINS A DUKE
Lucy Morris
‘You forget. I said I would never marry.’
‘Yes, but you never said anything about being engaged!’
Was he being deliberately obtuse? ‘One follows the other normally, and besides, I will accept nothing less than what my parents have: love. And we—’ she gestured between them with a wave of one hand ‘—do not have that!’
‘Exactly!’ he declared, his knee brushing against hers. He added in a hushed voice, ‘But we both want independence. Why not have a long engagement with me? My mother will be happy, because I will be settled in her mind, and she will stop finding ways to keep me home. We could then cancel the engagement when I eventually return, or your family might choose to anyway if I’m gone long enough, or—’ he paused, scratching the stubble on his chin ‘—if you change your mind about marriage. I suppose I could marry you on my return, I will need a wife eventually, and it would save you any embarrassment.’
Marina shook her head, wondering if this whole thing were a dream—well, a cruel nightmare seemed more appropriate. ‘Are you mocking me?’
He shook his head vehemently, put aside his brandy glass and reached for her hands. ‘Never! In fact, the more I think on it, the more perfect I realize you are! We can both live independently and be free to choose our own path in life!’
‘Absolutely not!’
The eagerness in his expression was quickly dashed as if she had thrown cold water on him. But he didn’t let go of her—instead he stared down at her hands, her fingers wrapped protectively around the brandy glass and his hands cupping hers. ‘Then…perhaps—it doesn’t have to be too long an engagement? After I go travelling you could reject me. Claim you have heard some scandal of mine. I am sure there will be one or two, then we can part ways almost immediately.’
She tugged her hands away and set her glass on the table next to his. She noticed they were both empty. ‘You have had too much to drink. And I have let this—whatever this is—go on for far too long!’ She gestured to the empty library and her night attire, before turning away to leave.
A hand snapped out grabbing her wrist, the hold not painful, but firm as if he were pleading with her to stay.
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HOW THE WALLFLOWER WINS A DUKE
Lucy Morris
Available next month
Copyright ? 2024 Lucy Morris