Page 66 of The Duke’s Matchmaker

She didn’t sound as if she was blaming him, exactly, but Nathaniel knew he had a responsibility for what had occurred. “Perhaps I should have come earlier,” he said. “It wasn’t my intention to keep you waiting.”

“No, it’s all right,” Lady Abigail said. “We’re just glad you came at all.”

Dorothy still hadn’t moved. On closer inspection, he saw that she was trembling slightly. Was she frightened? Had he done something to upset her?

Apart from the obvious, that is. What was he thinking? He knew exactly what he had done to upset her. She was right to have avoided him last night, because he had proven that he couldn’t be trusted. And when she had tried to put a distance between the two of them, he hadn’t respected her wishes. He’d chased after her and taken what he wanted, even knowing that she didn’t want the same thing.

He was ashamed of himself.

He cleared his throat. “Lady Dorothy,” he said.

She looked up at him for the first time, and he was taken aback.

He’d had the wrong idea. She wasn’t upset at all. Or rather, she was, but not in the way he’d thought. He’d expected to see her on the verge of tears, but instead, her eyes blazed with anger.

“Your Grace,” she said.

He was unaccustomed to the formality, and it felt like a slap—but then, he had been the one to start it when he had called her Lady Dorothy. He couldn’t reasonably be upset about it now.

“I wonder if you and I might speak privately?” he asked.

Lady Honora cleared her throat. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea, Your Grace,” she said. “Surely you can understand. After what happened last night…I would prefer that my sister and I remain here while the two of you have your conversation.”

It was a reasonable request. Nathaniel nodded, even though he was disappointed. “All right,” he agreed.

“You should probably just go, Your Grace,” Dorothy said.

Why was she so angry? Was it because of the kiss? Because he had brought this scandal down upon her? That would stand to reason, but for the fact that she had kissed him back. She had enjoyed it. He was as sure of that as he had ever been of anything.

It had been nothing like the time she’d been at his house, when he had found himself suddenly and strangely drawn to her. She had pulled away then, and he had respected her wishes, so she’d have known that the outcome would be the same if she had pulled away again. She hadn’t felt unsafe or uncertain. She had given in because she’d wanted to.

Still, it was me that started it. If I hadn’t followed her out of the ballroom, she wouldn’t be in this mess.

And there was only one thing to do now. There was only one way that he could possibly make it right with her, and for her.

He cleared his throat. “I’m not going to go,” he said. “I’m not going to turn my back on you, Dorothy.”

Lady Abigail gave a little gasp.

“I want…” He hesitated. Dorothy looked so displeased. Surely she must have anticipated what he was going to do. Did she want something else from him? Nothing to do but try, he supposed. “I want you to marry me, Dorothy. I’m here to ask you for your hand.”

He didn’t know what he had expected. He supposed he’d hoped she would brighten at the words, that she would be relieved to be spared from the scandal.

Instead, she seemed to deflate slightly. She slumped back against the settee and looked away from him.

“I think that’s very good of you, Your Grace,” Honora said. “Dorothy is very grateful, as are we all. We’ll begin the arrangements at once—perhaps we can get a dispensation to have the wedding quickly. Or would you prefer a bit of a courtship?”

“No,” Dorothy said quietly.

“You don’t want to have a courtship?” Lady Honora asked her. “I suppose that’s all right. But you might consider it, Dorothy. You’ve never been properly courted, after all, and it is an enjoyable time in a lady’s life. I’m sure the duke would be willing. There’s no reason you have to get married at once. If we can announce an engagement, that’s good enough.”

“No—I’m saying no,” Dorothy said. “No to the proposal.” She rose to her feet now and looked Nathaniel in the eyes. “You were kind to come here today, Your Grace, but my answer is no. I won’t marry you.”

The room was silent. No one seemed to know how to respond to that.

It was Lady Abigail who found her voice first. “She doesn’t mean that, Your Grace,” she said. “She will. She needs a moment to process all this, that’s all, but once she’s had it, she’ll recognize that a marriage is the right thing.”

“No,” Dorothy said again, this time to her sister. “I won’t, Abigail. I won’t change my mind when I’ve thought about it. I won’t marry him.” She turned back to Nathaniel. “Your Grace, it’s honorable of you to ask, but I don’t want this, and you don’t want this either.”