But what do I expect? A marriage of convenience, obviously – which he promised to give me. But that can mean so many things, and before I step across that threshold, I need answers. I need… I need to know what I have gotten myself into.
“When you agreed to marry me, you said this was to be a marriage of convenience,” she said to him.
“I did.”
“And…” She clicked her tongue. “Well, I wish to confirm what that means.”
He frowned down at her, still amused by her antics, still not taking her seriously. It made her feel uneasy, the sense that this was all a game to him. And when considering his reputation, she wondered if this was how he treated all the women he had seduced.Lure them in with false security and then pounce.
“What would you like it to mean?”
She blinked. “That – that’s not what I asked.”
“Yes, it is.” He was standing back three feet, room for her to step forward and through the doorway. Only then, moving quickly, he stepped into her so that they were less than a foot apart. He stood a foot taller than she did, towering above and looking down while blocking her off from the world. She gasped and thought to step back, but her feet hit the top of the stairs, trapping her. “I told you already what is expected of our marriage, yet you are the one who seems unwilling to accept it.”
“I…” Her heart started to race to feel him so close to her. She was forced to crane her neck to meet his eyes, and that same heart tried to leap through her throat as he locked her into his mischievous stare. “I… I do not know you…”
“Which we have the rest of our lives to fix.”
“And based on everything I have heard –”
“Do you not know by now not to listen to rumors?”
She swallowed, her heart beating faster. “I just want to confirm what you said about this marriage. That…” She swallowed again, wanting to look away but unable. “That this is merely a marriage of convenience.”
“Is that all?”
“It… it is what was promised.”
He smirked, the look in his eyes as wicked as it was suggestive. And as he did, his hand moved to her waist. She gasped and then caught her breath as his grip tightened around her. “Are promises not made to be broken?”
“I…”
“Things were promised, I do not deny that. But Your Grace…” He purred as he gently pulled her closer. And Margot, unable to fight it, allowed herself to be pulled so that their bodies were touching. “We are man and wife. And as I am sure you know, certain things are expected…”
“Th – things?” she stammered, unable to think about anything other than his hand around her waist. “What… what do you mean?”
“Do not play coy with me.” He flashed his eyes and licked his lips. “You know exactly what I mean…”
Oh no…Margot caught her breath as her mind raced toward the obvious. It was just as she had feared! This rake! This scoundrel! He had duped her. Lured her into a marriage under false pretenses, and now that he had her, he meant to do what he did best – what everyone said about him! He was so charming, so smooth, so confident in how he lowered her guard so that she was his to mold and do with as he pleased.
Worse, too, Margot was nowhere near as combative of the duke’s advances as she had hoped she would be.Not even close…
She felt a tingle spread up her limbs and through her body. She felt her pulse quicken as a warmth swept her. Her knees began to tremble. And her mouth salivated as her eyes flicked toward his lips, which were so close, all it would take was the slightest movement and he would be on her. She knew it was wrong. She hated this man! The last thing she wanted was to give in to her urges. Urges which she did not fully understand. And yet…
In the moment, common sense did not seem so common, and she knew, as she knew anything, that if he wanted it, he could do as he pleased.
“Not that you have to worry about such things.” Suddenly, the duke released her and stepped away. “As I told you, this is a marriage of convenience, and we are bound together by little more than a signature on a piece of paper.”
“Wh – what…” Margot stumbled, and her breath caught in her throat. She was leaning forward, lips puckered, and she had not even realized she was doing it!
“As I told you, there are no expectations.” The duke could not look more pleased with himself. “We are married in name only. And where we must live together, it will be as if we are…” He shrugged and then winked. “Friends. Why? What did you think I was going to say?”
Her mouth was hanging open. Her body was still flushed and running hot. Margot’s first instinct was embarrassment, because she could see now that the duke had been toying with her. But as was so often her way, that was quickly replaced by anger.
“How dare you!”
“What?” he asked innocently. “What did I do?”
