Page 98 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

“You said the agreement was off.”

“And that was what prompted you to pack your things and go back to the most despicable person on earth? Am I that repulsive to you?”

“No, I thought I was repulsive to you.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because you took back the deal! Because you said you didn’t need an heir anymore!”

Brandon stared at her; his mouth opened and then closed.

“You said I was free,” Marigold added, her fingers clenching on her skirt. “Did you want to let me go?”

His breaths came in deep pants. Overpowering emotions came over him, pushing each other, unable to settle on one. But he finally made his decision. He pulled closer, still on his knees before her, and cupped her face in his hands. They were dirty and bloodied and troubling, but Marigold welcomed his touch, the one she thought she had lost forever.

“I took back the deal,” he said, wanting to make sure that she heard him clearly, “because to me, you’re not a transaction. You’re not a deal. You’re not an agreement. You are not information or a womb. And I didn’t want you to stay because you owed me something. I wanted you to be free to choose to stay with me.”

“Oh,” Marigold was at a loss for words.

“I was expecting a little more than a simple ‘oh’ after this confession, but maybe I should try harder.”

“Perhaps you should, Your Grace,” she said, her lips trembling and tears ready.

Brandon chuckled, his thumb caressing her jaw, his body impossibly close. The world was raging around them, people were screaming, and this building was on fire, but she did not care.

“Marigold,” he said softly over her lips. “I do not need information or an heir. I do not need a duchess to run my estate. I need you. No, that is not enough. I do not simply need you.”

He caressed her face and looked deep into her eyes, his breath warming her lips. Marigold felt her heart leap so hard into her chest that she was sure he could hear it.

“Marigold,” his voice almost broke, “I love you.”

She gasped and leaned back to look upon his face to make sure that he was telling the truth.

“You…?”

“I love you, Marigold,” he confessed again. “I regret it took me facing danger to realize what was in my heart all along. Will you ever forgive me?”

Marigold looked at him as if she were in a dream.

“So, I guess the only answers I get are either an ‘oh’ or nothing,” Brandon said and tried to move away, giving her space.

But she was not ready to let him go. She let her fingers go to the nape of his neck, and then, she pulled him closer. It was Brandon’s turn to gasp at feeling her so close.

“I love you too,” she said firmly.

Brandon’s jaw dropped, and then, a smile bloomed on his lips.

“Is that a satisfactory answer, Your Grace?” Marigold teased him.

Brandon chuckled and moved even closer. His eyes took all of her in, as if looking upon her for the first time, with utter adoration.

“I believe I would need a repetition to reach more certain conclusions,” Brandon teased her.

Marigold smiled and shook her head. She let her arms weave around his neck, without caring about propriety or what the ton would think of this open display of affection.

“It would be my pleasure, Your Grace,” she said over his lips. “I love you.”

“Once more,” Brandon said, letting his fingers in her hair.