Page 49 of No Duke of Mine

Her expression remained serious as she reached for his hand. “I understand.”

“Good.” Algernon breathed a sigh of relief. He could not lose this woman. Not yet.

It was hardly proper for a duke to hire a female secretary, but he had no regrets about the bad example he was setting. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d defied convention, or a member of his family had done so either. For now, hiring Maggie as his secretary was the only way to keep her busy, and in his life, and ensure she was treated with the utmost respect.

He glanced at Maggie now, studying her familiar face and expression. She seemed resigned to becoming a servant, and he hated that future for her. She deserved more, especially after all she’d been denied in her life.

She could have made a good match if her father had protected her better and provided funds for a dowry.

Clearly, Maggie had not noticed the same, or if she had, she was letting her past disappointment color her view of the future. He hung on her every word. Even Sims had remarked on Algernon’s fascination with her.

He twined their fingers together. It was only when Maggie squeezed his hand back that he felt better about the future. “What plans have you made for me this week?”

She drew the appointment book toward her and studied the page. “You are long overdue to speak with Lord Thompson to discuss a matter currently before parliament. He’s desperate for your support. I propose a dinner with him here tomorrow night would help you decide one way or another.”

“Yes, he’s been writing to me for weeks.” He glanced at Maggie. “A dinner here at home is acceptable, but it will set tongues wagging and signify an alliance in the making. Though he will have my support in the end, I suppose. He also has a wife about your age.”

“Jane,” Maggie supplied.

“Yes, Jane. She might have come along with her husband, had I any family here to dine with us.”

“Or if you were married,” Maggie murmured.

He tensed and glanced at her. “Let us not discuss marriage today.”

Not when he had significant fears about his bride’s character.

“It is not a subject that can be avoided forever.” Maggie glanced down at their joined hands. “I will have to add her name to your appointment book, and of course, the wedding date must be recorded in the family bible. Will you honeymoon with her as well?”

“Maggie,” he growled, breaking away from her. He did not want to think of marriage, or his life after marriage. It would be so empty without Maggie’s warmth and humor. The brush of her hand and lips against his.

He turned to look at Maggie. He knew why he was so filled with doubts about one woman, and not the other.

Maggie was the woman he wanted to wed. To share his life with. To take on slow journeys.

The longing for that was unbearable for a moment, and he swallowed back a curse.

He’d fallen in love with Maggie Black.

Twice, in fact. Once as the boy who’d been charmed by the fearless girl dumped at Ravenswood, and now by the woman who teased and liked kissing him. Nothing of that had anything to do with his title, his position in society, his family, or his quest for funds.

His heart wanted Maggie, but sometimes the heart didn’t want what was good for the estate.

His estate, his family, his people depended on him to make a wise choice.

“Some women expect a fuss made of them when they wed,” Maggie suggested, unaware of his inner turmoil. “A trip together could be a good start to getting to know each other better.”

Yes, it had been in Maggie’s case.

But Lady Kent still had a question hanging over her head. “I know Lady Kent well, and will soon know the rest about her. After I marry, we will return immediately to Ravenswood and settle into married life there.”

Maggie nodded, and she tried to extract her hand from his. Algernon could not seem to let her go, though.

“Please, you’re hurting me,” she whispered.

Algernon released Maggie immediately and watched her rub her hand. He’d known that the discussion of marrying Lady Kent made him tense, but not that much.

“Forgive me,” he begged. “It is a painful realization that my father still controls my life from the grave. In his last years, he deliberately ran the estate into the ground because I refused to marry his choice.”