Chapter 4 #2
He could confidently say that Miss Cordelia Debrett was the most beautiful woman of his acquaintance, and tonight proved it.
That gown of hers made him want to reach for her and feel her curves slide against the palms of his hands.
In fact, he would very much like to peel that gown from her lovely skin, made even lovelier by the light of the fireplace.
A hunger rose in him that he had not felt in a long while.
Her face looked as though it was on fire.
“I did not realize I was using your name in such a way. Forgive me,” she said stiffly, crossing her arms. “This is certainly turning out to be quite a proposal. You make a woman an offer and then proceed to tell the very same woman that her gown shows too much and that she has made a social faux pas by the use of a duke’s Christian name.
Not exactly the sort of proposal a woman hopes for. ”
Nicholas laughed aloud, feeling lighter than he had in the past month. “Well, you have never received a proposal from me. As you know, I can’t bear to be serious more than is absolutely necessary. And I did not say I did not like your gown or the use of my Christian name.”
She swallowed, looking him in the eye again.
“Well, go on then, he prodded her, “what else is it that concerns you? I know it cannot just be that you did not expect to marry me, for you were here this evening attempting to take any poor sod who would have you.” She blushed again, and even though he continued to smirk, he took pity on her.
“It can be a marriage in name only, a white marriage, Cordelia, if that is what you are thinking of that is bringing that lovely shade of pink to your cheeks.”
Her lips parted. “You would do that? I confess I did not expect to find such honor and dignity in you.”
It was a moment, however brief, but Nicholas thought he saw the slightest bit of respect in her eyes for him. It might have lingered longer, but Nicholas knew he could not let that happen. He had a reputation to uphold after all.
“Well, I can remedy that very quickly and at any time.” He moved closer, this time, close enough that she needed to crane her neck a little to look up at him.
Licking his lips, he noticed that Cordelia’s eyes flicked to his mouth however briefly, and he added, “But when you are finally ready to beg for me, I will gladly reconsider the whole arrangement.”
Cordelia groaned and moved away again, reaching out to take hold of the back of one of the armchairs again.
“How could we possibly be married, Your Grace? We will kill each other!”
“I think it could be rather fun.” He had not expected to say those words, but he found he meant them. Marriage to Cordelia Debrett would certainly never be dull.
“Of course you do. You think everything is fun! While the children grow up having to listen to our constant bickering.”
“Well,” he said, trying hard not to laugh. “You could concede and simply listen to whatever I say and believe everything I tell you.”
At that, she let out a sharp bark of laughter. “As if that could ever happen, Your Grace,” she said in a sarcastic sweet tone. She took a deep breath. “If I agree to this, it is because of the children and because I have no other choice.”
Nicholas put a hand to his chest, feigning a wound. “You deal me a heavy blow, Miss Debrett.”
She ignored him. “And there must be rules. If you are to step into the role of a sort of parent, then you must be a good role model. David and Helen would have wanted that.”
He nodded slowly. “What are these rules, I might ask?”
“You cannot embarrass me or the children with any of your…indiscretions.”
“Playing the jealous wife already, I see,” he teased, but she held up a hand.
“All decisions concerning the children’s well-being and future must be made after discussing them together. We must work together in this matter.”
“But of course. How very reasonable.”
“Lastly…about your business. It is not an appropriate occupation for a gentleman in your position.”
A little flicker of anger rose up in him. “Now, Miss Debrett, there I must stop you. I will not destroy the only thing I built with my own two hands when I had nothing. The business stays, but it will not interfere with the children’s lives. I will agree to your other requests. Is that all?”
She nodded stiffly, but he could tell she was a little surprised at his strong tone.
“We are in agreement,” she told him, reaching out a hand to shake his, as gentlemen do. “Do not make me regret this.”
Taking up that challenge, Nicholas took her hand softly, and grasping it, pulled her closer. Her lips parted again, and he kept his gaze on her as he bent over her hand and laid a kiss upon it. She blushed once more, and Nicholas was satisfied.
But he couldn’t resist pulling her close, his one hand still holding hers, and his other on her waist. He could feel her tense against him as he whispered, “We are in agreement then, and I will take care of the rest.”
She shivered against him, and with a smile, he pulled back, dropping her hand as he did. “I suppose it is time that we return to the ball.” He turned away and went to the door, pausing briefly. “You forgot to make one important rule.”
“Oh? And what is that?” she asked, not having moved from the fire.
“You did not forbid us to become more…intimate during our marriage. Therefore, I am willing to wait for you to beg. Whenever you are ready, I will happily be the one to finally tame the shrew.”
“Oh, you insufferable beast!” she cried, and he moved out of the way as a pillow came his way, and he quickly shot out of the library, a smile on his lips.
Pulling on his coat lapels to smooth his jacket, Nicholas slowly made his way back to the ball.
He was feeling victorious at their interaction, and suddenly, thoughts of Cordelia Debrett beneath him, her dark hair splayed out on the bedclothes, her lovely lips parted and breathing his name was an image shockingly stronger than he expected.
He cleared his throat, turning his mind to something, anything else. Perhaps a night with one of his mistresses? As soon as he entered the ball, he reached for the first glass of wine he saw and was soon accosted by Lady Rosemere, as if she’d been seeking him out, ready to pounce.
“Your Grace, how good to see you again. It has been some time.” Her fan was moving gently over her deep decolletage, and her gown was a deep green that drew the eye.
“Yes, it has, my lady,” Nicholas replied, staring down at the beautiful woman, attempting to replace Cordelia with her in his mind’s eye.
“Perhaps you and I should like to go somewhere more private,” she whispered. “Like old times. It has been so very long.”
The answer had been on the tip of his tongue, but he spied Cordelia across the room, her gaze narrow as she watched the interaction. The sight of it made him want to laugh.
“I’m afraid that cannot be possible,” he said, surprising himself as he spoke. “And you should not expect to hear from me any time soon.”
“Whyever not?” Lady Rosemere asked sharply, all attempts at flirtation gone. “What has happened?”
“Because, my dear, I will be getting married.”