Page 78 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

CHAPTER 23

DISSOLUTION

A few days later…

Brandon was sitting in his office at the House of Lords, gazing at the window. Despite being in the midst of passing a very important law, he was still wrapped around Marigold’s honey body, still tasting her essence in his mouth, her gasps in his ears. It was all he could ever think about after that night they spent together.

No, that was not true. There was something else gnawing at his brain.

“I am supposed to provide you with an heir.”

She had said those words so casually, but he couldn’t even be mad with her because it was he who put this transaction between them. It was he who regarded her as a means to an end and nothing more. But Marigold was more. She was brave, resilient, brilliant, beautiful, and kind despite all that had happened to her. And he had reduced her to less.

Right when he was ready to despair more, dropping everything and going back home, the door of his office in the House of Lords opened without a single knock. Owen stepped in with his bright smile and his shining eyes.

Brandon got up and poured himself a large glass of whiskey. Owen walked in and made himself comfortable on the chair on the other side of the desk.

“I see you started without me,” Owen commented and demanded a drink for himself.

Brandon said nothing and looked ahead. And still, all he could think of was Marigold.

“I know this is boring, but we have to do this to help.” Owen misunderstood his silence. “A little figurative arm-twisting never hurt. It’s part of our job as the Lords in the House.”

“It’s not about that.”

Owen raised his eyebrow and turned to him with a sly smile on his face. Brandon knew that he was being unfair, calling his friend a simple rake. He knew well that Owen was much more than he hid under his charming smile.

“Marigold got under your skin,” Owen said, proving Brandon’s assumptions correct.

“This was supposed to be a simple deal,” Brandon hissed, almost angry. “A simple transaction for both of us. I thought it would be better this way.”

“And let me guess,” Owen seemed too happy about this. “You married Marigold for information and a convenient heir, but she effortlessly became so much more. And instead of telling her this, you have been brooding in your study for the past few days. Stop me when I lie.”

Brandon pinned Owen with a harsh look that only said that his friend had correctly read the situation.

“That is an oversimplification,” Brandon said.

“And yet absolutely accurate.”

Brandon emptied his glass and got up to fill it more. He knew that saying some things out loud would make them more real, yet it would be childish of him to deny the current truth of the situation.

“What do you want, Brandon?” Owen asked in a more sympathetic tone.

Brandon hadn’t thought about it for a long time. He thought he knew what he wanted. Avenge Greta. Destroy Johnny. It was a simple one-track life, emotionless and silent.

And then he had to walk into that alley and meet the one person who would overturn everything he knew as normal. Marigold uprooted his old life the same way she uprooted that corner of his garden. And in her own marvelous way, she planted something beautiful.

“Brandon?”

“I want her.”

“Finally!” Owen was overjoyed.

“Can you please stop doing this?” Brandon growled at him.

“I am just celebrating the fact that my best friend has finally come to his senses.”

“I sincerely hope you do the same.”