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Nicholas placed his hands in her soft hands. It felt so good to touch her even this small amount. “I know, concentrate on love.”
“Yes.”
Blocking everything else from his mind, he thought only of Sophie. He wanted her to know that she was the only woman for him.
“Nicholas, stop that and think of love.”
“What do you see?”
“You are only trying to hinder my progress. Now think only of love.”
“I am,” he whispered as he closed his eyes again and thought of her.
“No,” she said, drawing her hands away from his. “I am not the one you are supposed to love.”
He leaned back in his chair and watched as she walked away from the table. “Do you realize that you are the only one who believes that?”
“What are you talking about, Nicholas?”
“I believe you are the woman for me. Our friends believe we should be together. My cousin and your brother also believe we should marry.” He folded his arms over his chest. “So exactly why do you think we are not suited?”
Sophie paced in front of the fireplace. This conversation was mad. She had to get him out of her house now. “You know why and if that is all you came here for then you should take your leave.”
Slowly, he scraped back his chair and stood. She glanced over at him and then resumed her pacing.
“Tell me, what would a man have to do to convince you that he was your true love?”
She shook her head. “There is nothing. If I can’t see him then how can I trust that he is my true love?”
He inhaled sharply. “Sophie, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. How do you think the majority of people in the world fall in love? Do you think they wait until they can ‘see’ the person in their mind?”
“Of course not,” she replied sharply. “But they don’t have the ability and I do.”
“But maybe you don’t.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Perhaps you cannot see your future, only the future for others.”
“It doesn’t change anything,” she mumbled. “You have a young lady to marry.”
“Say the word and I will break the engagement.” He stared at her for a long moment while she comprehended the implications.
“I cannot do that to you.” She blinked and looked at the ceiling. “Marrying Miss Littlebury is the right thing to do. She will be good for your reputation—”
“I don’t give a bloody damn about my reputation.”
“As I was saying,” she said with force. “Marrying her will give you the duke’s blessing. He won’t leave you penniless.”
Nicholas stepped forward. “I do not need my father’s money, Sophie. While my father thought I was out gambling and whoring away my allowance, I was investing it.”
She bit down on her lower lip and blinked in rapid succession. “I would only cause you irreparable harm, Nicholas.”
“No, you would not.” He took the final step closer to her.
Sophie moved away and behind a chair. “I will only bring shame upon your name. I am not good enough to be your duchess or any duchess. My father won’t even claim me.”
“What if your father spoke out and claimed you as his child? Would that change your mind?” He walked closer to her until only a chair kept them apart.
