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Chapter Five
His hands shot out to help her but it turned out she did not need his help.
“I am asking you to marry me.”
“I haven't seen you in six years, Nicholas, and you’re asking me to marry you. Have you forgotten that I heardeverythingyou said to your grandmother?” She chuckled darkly. “You were quite adamant in your opposition to the idea.” She looked wounded as she spoke.
“I wasn’t thinking clearly, Jenny.” He defended. “I hadn’t considered the advantages.”
“Advantages?” Her voice went up a notch and fire blazed in the depths of her eyes. “Don’t tell me you are looking to gain from my father’s influence in the House of Lords.”
“No, never!” he said quickly. “That is the furthest thing from my mind. I want a life with a friend rather than a stranger. And your father’s debts will be cleared, I assure you.”
His words—likely his last statement—seemed to anger her further and she rose to her feet.
“I beg your pardon,Your Grace,” she bit out, reverting to formal address, “but I do not fancy a marriage born out of pity.” She began to walk away from him. “And my father is capable of paying his debts himself,” she added.
Nicholas was forced to follow her deeper into the garden. He needed to make her see what good could come out of a marriage between them. Mentioning her father’s debts had been wrong.
He took her arm and pulled her to a stop under a tree decorated with lanterns. “Think about it, Jenny,” he implored, “Your future would be secured and at no cost to your family. Our marriage does not have to be real. I shall expect nothing from you and promise to not get in your way.”
Nicholas was saying all the wrong things because Jenny regarded him as though he’d just struck her. She took a step away from him, shaking her head. Then she tripped on the hem of her dress and started falling backward. Instinctively, he darted forward and circled his arms about her waist, steadying her and pulling her against him at the same time. Her breath came in short gasps and her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, drawing his attention to them.
He swallowed as he felt himself beginning to harden. Every sensible fiber of his being was screaming for him to release her, yet he was too transfixed to move. He even shamelessly relished the softness of her bosom against his chest.
“Marrying me won’t be too bad,” he murmured, unable to stop his head from descending.
* * *
Nicholas was going to kiss her, she could swear it. The hazy look in his eyes spoke volumes of his intention and she longed for him to do it. For as long as she could remember, she’d imagined what it would feel like to be in his arms, anticipating his kiss.
She didn’t like him, she reminded herself. That single fact made what she was about to allow him to do very wrong. But it felt so right. Tucking a finger under her chin, he tilted her face up to his. Her eyes fluttered shut and she parted her lips.
She nearly melted when their lips touched, his warm and soft, hers yearning and welcoming. He drew her against him, her body molding naturally to his as though this was what it was meant to do. His mouth dominated hers as the heat of their kiss grew and his hands began to inch lower from her waist.
If you continue to do this, you will be ruining your fragile heart,a voice warned.
Her eyes flew open and she broke their kiss, pushing him away. “I can’t.” Her voice shook. “I can’tevermarry you, Nicholas.”
And with that, she ran back to the ball not knowing the unfortunate encounter that was waiting for her on the terrace steps until a cane stopped her short. “Your Grace,” she said to the dowager, curtsying.
“What are you running from, child?” The dowager asked, sounding so solicitous it was almost convincing.
“I am running from Nicholas,” she said. She had never been able to lie. Her father always said that she was honest to a fault. Her body still burned from his touch and her lips, the treacherous things that they were, ached for another kiss.
The dowager inclined her head and raised her grey brows. “And why would you run away from my grandson?”
“I don’t want to marry him,” she said.
“Don’t you, now?” She let out an ironic-sounding laugh. “Do you think you have a choice in this matter? This is not an alliance between you and Nicholas. It is an alliance between Hanover and Seaton. You will thank me once you become duchess.”
Jenny’s throat tightened and she thought of what to say to discourage the woman. She stuck her chin out and squared her shoulders. “You heard what your grandson said. I am like a sister to him. That feeling is mutual.”
“Oh, child, you are far too naïve for your own good. Do you think your feelings matter here?”
“I won’t make a good duchess,” she insisted, growing desperate. “I had poor instruction growing up without a mother.”
“Your aunt, Lady Annabel, has done a fine job, and you attended the best seminary for girls in England.Youwill do.”
