AllFreeNovel
Share Us
William took a bracing breath. “It is more than that. She might be with child. If she is, I could not permit her to be cast off by society and my child ostracized for his birth…”
The duke stilled. “Hell!”
Precisely William’s sentiments.Bloody hell.
The duke gazed at him with an expression of reproach. “Despite what many believe, I know you are not that kind of damn libertine who seduces innocents and then casts them to the wolves.”
“Hence the reason for my imminent marriage,” he said with icy civility.
Hartford grimaced. “Could you not have resisted the damn temptation?”
A strained chuckle escaped William. “I think if my damn life depended on it, I could not have resisted Pippa. She is…” he scrubbed a hand over his face. “Lady Pippa is unlike any woman I have ever met, Hartford. She wraps me in knots I do not understand. I do know I do not damn well like it, but those knots are there nonetheless drawing tighter daily.”
When he glanced at the duke, the damn man was smiling.
“Care to share the source of amusement?”
“It shall hit you in the arse soon enough,” came the duke’s enigmatic reply. “Heed my advice, Trent, if you are only marrying her out of obligation, it makes for a cold and bitter alliance. Give it time and let your offer come from another place inside you.”
What in God’s name did that even mean?
They chatted some more about mutual investments before the duke departed to be with his wife, whom he clearly adored and was not afraid for the world to know it. William shook his head in bemusement. Marriage alliances had little to do with love and were more practical arrangements. Surely the duke knew this, and William certainly did not understand this message that their arrangement might be bitter without this romantic claptrap.
He raked his fingers through his hair, feeling an invisible knot tightening along his throat. Ruthlessly pushing aside all misgivings, he went toward the main estate, and sent a maid to request an audience with Lady Phillipa.
* * *
Pippa smoothedher hand over her lime green day gown, opened the door to the intimate parlor where the marquess waited and sauntered inside. He turned from the window where he stood, his gaze sweeping over her in a heated and very thorough caress.
“I am sorry I kept you waiting,” she said with a small smile.
“You look beautiful, Pippa. I daresay it was worth it.”
Pleasure warmed her cheeks. Not wanting to court too much speculation with the other ladies, she left the door slightly ajar and padded over to him. “Thank you, William,” Pippa replied, searching his expression. Why did he seem so forbidding?
He walked over to her, and she clasped her hands around her middle. “I thought you would have returned to your cottage. Your request for a meeting surprised me.”
A mocking smile slanted his mouth, and he lifted his hand, skimming his fingers over her cheek, that touch tender yet at odds with the closed look in his eyes. “We will need to get married by special license as soon as possible. I wanted to discuss it with you.”
Pippa stiffened, a stricken feeling stabbing at her heart. “I beg your pardon?” She hadn’t even considered this was why he requested an audience. William wanted to marry her? “Please explain yourself, my lord.”
His expression veiled. “I will procure a special license, and we will get married as soon as possible. Perhaps within a week.”
“A week!”
“Yes. The duke and duchess will be our witnesses. I’ll send an announcement to the papers and a letter to your father. It is best to act now instead—”
“Your arrogance is astounding,” Pippa gasped, jerking back a step. “Nothing would induce me to accept such a proposal, William!”
He arched a brow, cynical humor touching in his golden gaze. “My first ever offer of marriage and it is to be so summarily rejected?”
She swallowed past the ache rising in her throat, her fingers shaking. “Yes!”
“Why?”
This was supposed to be everything she wanted, yet it was not. Pippa felt hollow instead of thrilled. “Whydo you offer for me? I’ve even heard from your lips that you never planned to marry, my lord. Your offer just now was devoid of all feelings or sentiments!”
Disbelief flashed in his golden eyes. “Have you forgotten that I took you in the cottage?”
