Page 34 of Winning Her Duke

This earned another laugh from the viscount. When Hale only waited the man sobered quickly.

“You can’t mean marriage.”

Hale simply raised an eyebrow in a very duke-like way. Why was he pushing this?

“But you are a duke and she is a…” His brows came together in confusion. “I know my daughter is a treasure, but I am her father and as such I see her in a way others do not. Are not able to. You are a duke. If you decided to marry—and I have not heard that you plan to do so anytime soon—you surely wouldn’t select a horse-mad spinster to be your duchess. As lovely as my daughter is, you have your choice of anyone.”

After delivering that very reasonable explanation, Lord Waverly turned and left.

But Hale couldn’t let it go. As the man had said, Hale was not looking for a wife. He had the luxury of not needing to worry over such things. In fact, he felt no real duty to carry on the title at all. It wasn’t as if his father had personally tasked him with such a responsibility.

Still, at some point he thought he should at least attempt to sire an heir. And he knew, as did Lord Waverly, that Hale was considered a catch.

As a duke, with reasonably good looks and healthy finances, he only managed to keep the mothers and their eager debutantes at bay with his seedy reputation and Scottish grumblings. That was the reason he’d gone to such great lengths to fabricate such a reputation in the first place.

But someday, when he made it known he was ready to take a wife, his past transgressions would be forgiven and any available female of marriageable age living in or around the king’s realm would be thrust upon him for his selection.

So why, after hearing and agreeing with everything the man said, did he suddenly want to disregard rational thought and pursue Gia with intent to marry?

Surely it was only an effort to rebel against the man’s preconceived notions. To prove that he was capable of choosing an unconventional wife that would shock the ton?

He didn’t think he cared what anyone thought. Was he wrong?

Or did he simply want the one person he was not expected to want?

Whatever the reason, he found himself looking forward to seeing Gia the next day for their journey to Wiltshire for Godspell’s first race even more than he had initially.

Chapter Ten

To say Gia was excited about their adventure was an understatement. Not only would she spend the day around horses and watching them race, but she would get to share her excitement with Hale as well.

Except when Hale arrived, he didn’t seem excited at all.

He’d walked over to Tomison House and frowned as the carriage was brought around.

Why did he look disappointed? Perhaps he was upset that Godspell wasn’t ready to race yet.

“I’m sure Godspell will be ready for Epsom. And I will cheer for him, of course. Even though Dante will also be racing, and my loyalties are split.” She offered a smile and he returned it though it did not hold the same warmth as it normally did.

That must not have been the problem.

She cleared her throat, feeling strange that she was nervous.

“I apologize for the early start. Owen prefers to get on the road before the crowds.”

In truth, Owen had grumbled a bit about the addition of the duke to their party, but since he didn’t say any actual words that could be debated, she simply ignored her groom.

“Of course.” He offered a nod and watched as Bess exited the house.

Gia’s maid would need to ride with them because it wasn’t proper to ride alone in the carriage with the duke. Though the duke would most likely prefer riding a horse like Owen rather than sitting in the carriage.

Oh. That must be the issue.

“If you would prefer to take a horse rather than ride in the carriage, I can have one of my mounts readied for you.”

“The carriage is fine.”

Gia let out a breath as her irritation grew. This was supposed to be fun. She’d thought of traveling all night. And now here he was, the man she’d looked forward to spending the next few days with and he was… brooding.