Page 16 of The Duke Who Claimed Her

“It is the best you are going to get,” she responded. “At least for now. I do not know you, so why would I share my secrets with you?”

Timothy appeared delighted by the response. “I have secrets too!”

“Oh?” she laughed. “And is it too soon to ask for them?”

His wicked grin returned. “You may try, but I will not give them.”

“Ah, so it is up to me to get them from you.” She pumped her eyebrows. “How fun.”

“Timothy, that will be all,” Caspian spoke up before Timothy had a chance to say anything else. He spun about, and Caspian raised an eyebrow at him. “Go and find Miss White; no doubt she is looking for you.”

“She will never find me.”

“Which is why you will find her.” He fixed the boy with a look that gave no room for argument. “Go. Quickly now.”

Timothy nodded his head. He turned and looked at Arabella one more time, then ducked down and hurried out of the library. It all happened quickly, in the blink of an eye, and Arabella suspected that was common for the young child.

“That was well done,” Caspian said, nodding his head as if impressed. “He is not good with new people, but he loves games, as he loves proving how much smarter he is than everyone. I suspect the two of you will get along rather well.”

“Get along?” Arabella cried. “What is going on? Who was that?”

The Duke frowned. “I told you, his name is Timothy.”

Her face dropped. Anger flared inside of her. He was playing with her, testing her patience. Worse, he seemed to be doing it on purpose!

“That is not…” She took a deep breath. “Is that the reason you have been so insistent on repeatedly reminding me that I must obey you at all costs? That you have…” She narrowed her eyes at him. “That you have a child, one whom it seems you want me to raise. That was not part of the deal.”

“I was not aware we had made a deal.”

“Nor will we. Not until you are honest with me.” She folded her arms and held her glare on him.

“Again, we return to the same point where we started. You, acting as if you have a choice. I suppose you do,” he scoffed. “Marry me or return to your father so that he may do as he wishes with you. Although, from what I saw of the man, that is not much of a choice at all.”

“So, it is threats now that you make.”

“Not a threat, just a statement of fact.”

Arabella held her glare, needing to appear as if she was not only angry, but seriously considering her position.

However, as frustrating as it was to admit, the Duke was right. If she did not agree to this marriage, it would fall to her father to decide her fate. And that, she was sure, was a destiny not worth pursuing.

But then what is? How will this marriage be any different?

“I just want to know what is expected of me,” she said, almost pleading. “That is all I have ever wanted. Is the child yours? Do you expect me to raise him? Is this whole thing…” She threw up her arms. “Is it all just so you might find a wife to look after your son?”

The Duke said nothing at first.

He studied her. No emotion on his face. No indication that he cared about her plight. He simply watched, curious in his stare, no doubt deciding what to say… and how much he was willing to give away.

“He is not my son,” he said finally. “Timothy is my sister’s child, but she and her husband passed away a year ago.”

“Oh…” Arabella blinked in surprise, and she felt a stab of guilt. “That is… I am… I did not know.”

“I have taken him in him as my own,” the Duke continued. “I have set out to raise him, promising him and my sister’s memory that I will do everything I can to give him the life he deserves. Unfortunately, Timothy is…” He smiled and shook his head. “He is rebellious, a bit rambunctious, and he has yet to fully come to terms with his parents’ death.”

“That is awful,” Arabella said, knowing a thing or two about losing a parent. “I cannot even imagine…”

“He is a good child,” Caspian said next, firmly. “And I believe that what he needs is that which I cannot give him.” His look was knowing. “A mother. Someone to help guide him, to provide warmth and love and…” He sighed. “Essentially, those things that I struggle with. I did not intend to trap you, Miss Witherington. Nor was this some trick.”