Page 7 of Stolen By the Duke of Stone

Which made William a child out of wedlock.

But Andrew had an extensive family, and he could easily find a married cousin, close enough in blood, who had died and left the child in Andrew’s care. Close enough to make William his closest male relative, and future heir.

“A man may appreciate those things you have to offer,” Lady Jessamine said, “but he is my kin just as much as yours, and I can provide for a baby. He knows nothing of your generosity now, but he knows my arms. I’m as much of a mother to him as Rebecca.”

“You are being ridiculous. A nursemaid can do what you can.”

“A nursemaid will never love him the way I do.” She glared at Andrew defiantly. “And you will not take him from me, Your Grace. You will not.”

As though responding to the anger in her voice, William began to cry. Lady Jessamine immediately hushed him, rocking him gently in her arms and singing under her breath, the lullabies familiar and nostalgic.

In a matter of moments, William settled and went back to sleep.

Second cousin.

This made Andrew halt.

Rebecca had never had the family she deserved. How could he deny her son someone who truly loved him?

Perhaps he did indeed pretend to be stone-hearted, but when it came to his family, to those whom he loved…

He would do anything for them.

Anything including…

The idea was ridiculous. Foolish. But once it had taken root in his mind, he found it impossible to remove.

A nursemaid might feed and care for the boy until he reached the age for a governess. But no one had cared for Rebecca, and Andrew did not intend to leave her child to the mercies of hired help. The boy needed someone bound to the family, someone who would not leave him for a better opportunity.

And Andrew would need someone to care for William and provide him with the gentleness and love that Andrew would not be able to provide completely. He was not entirely certain he could provide it at all.

Here and now, he could kill two birds with the one metaphorical stone.

She was the daughter of an earl. A disreputable earl on trial for murder, admittedly, but she was still gently bred.

“Very well,” he said, looking directly at her. “You may keep the boy.” A line appeared between her brows in confusion, but she said nothing, merely staring at him. “Because,” he continued, “I shall take you both.”

Jessamine’s mouth opened. “You will… what?”

“Marry me, Lady Jessamine. Then you may go wherever William does.”

Chapter Three

“Marry you?” she repeated, hoping hearing the words would have him recoiling in horror at the prospect.

Jessamine stared at the Duke of Knightford as though he had lost his mind. Perhaps he had. Or perhaps she had, which would explain why she had hallucinated this duke asking her to marry him as though it were the most reasonable solution in the world.

But he merely nodded. “Yes, Lady Jessamine. I believe it solves both our predicaments.”

“I will not marry you! I hardly know you. And moreover, I don’t trust you.”

If she had expected him to be offended by this pronouncement, she was disappointed. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face; it was as if he cared nothing for her opinion, and that only infuriated her more.

How dare he ask for her hand in marriage when he clearly had so little regard for her?

“I understand this was not part of your original plan,” he said calmly. “However, I do think it is for the best. Regardless of your agreement, William needs a home where he is protected and legitimate. I can provide that. You wish to be part of his life, and this facilitates that. I could, I suppose, hire you to be his nursemaid, but that would be an insult to both of us.”

“Perhaps, then, you could just give me your blessing,” Jessamine said, but she already knew she was fighting a losing battle.