“Thank heavens for small mercies,” he murmured under his breath.
He turned from the window to face her. The Duke looked older than she remembered him. Perhaps he was not the shallow rake they claimed he was. His face bore the evidence of his guilt.
“Before I called for you, I told your uncle of the events of the night prior. He understands now, wise man that he is, that you were lured away byanotherman—a man who was not me.” The Duke paused for a moment, perhaps wondering whether he should say her attacker’s name. “I explained that I subsequently found you, by wicked chance, at which point you collapsed.”
It was a foolish thing to feel—embarrassment—but that was what came over Amelia like a cold wave.
“It is all true,” she murmured for her uncle’s benefit, staring at the floor. “His Grace did not touch me.”
The floorboards creaked under her uncle’s boots as he stepped forward. “For that, if nothing else, I am grateful.”
“Miss Tate, look at me.”
Both Amelia and her uncle stirred at his command. She raised her eyes timidly, her face flaming as she met his piercing gaze.
“I had hoped our encounter last night would be interpreted correctly by those who dislike us most,” the Duke carried on. “But what little I have heard already suggests otherwise, much to my dismay.
“I had returned to Oxford hoping precisely to avoid drawing the attention of society. And yet, I cannot allow my wishes for a simple life to cloud my judgment, as tempting as that prospect is and forever has been.”
Amelia nodded, mostly in confusion.
“Though all within this room know what truly occurred, those without will not be convinced of the truth, even if they should be confronted directly with it. That is to say, we will not recover from this scandal—forthatis what it has become—by trying to appeal to the better natures of people who see you and me as the worst phantoms of ourselves.”
“Then… then what do you propose?” she asked, falteringly.
The Duke hesitated.
“Well, Miss Tate. I propose to take your hand in marriage.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Nicholas watched the color drain out of Miss Tate’s face.
She froze in her armchair, and he worried she would collapse again like the night prior. Out of the corner of his eye, he perceived her uncle moving toward her. But Miss Tate remained seated and upright.
So long as she remains in good health, I must explain my idea to her. I will never be able to convince herwhyshe should accept, so long as her uncle is still here watching…
“Baron Spencer,” Nicholas began, stopping the man in his tracks. “Would you allow me a moment alone to speak with your niece?”
He half-expected the man to refuse. But circumstances being what they were, it seemed nothing worse could happen than already had. With an eventual nod, the uncle retreated, closing the door behind him.
“You must be as mad as they say I am,” Miss Tate whispered once they were alone. Her nails dug into the upholstery of the chair. “Why would you ever suggest such a thing? Is this another trick of yours?”
“I assure you, this is not a trick. And there are more pressing matters than my previous deception—”
“It is one and the same.” Miss Tate rose suddenly out of her chair, and the energy of the movement both alarmed and captivated him. “If you had not lied to me in the first place about who you were—”
“Now, now,” Nicholas interjected, holding up a hand. “There is much I may be rightfully accused of, but this mad chain of events would have ensued regardless of our first meeting.”
He wondered how true that was. He had, after all, been trying to flee from her at the Bodleian ball. And that was precisely how she had landed in his arms.
“I will not apologize for stumbling upon that dismal scene last night, no matter the cost to us now. Had I not appeared outdoors and caught you with…”
He sighed, ran a hand over his mouth. She did not need to be told what would have happened to her if De Rees had not been interrupted.
“No. We need speak of that moment no longer. What matters now, what we must speak of, is what is to come next.”
“Amarriage.” Miss Tate scoffed, but there was no mirth in the sound. “That is the future you would see for us?”
