Lady Camelia turned swiftly to face him with an unreadable expression, nibbling on her bottom lip. Her beauty spot tempted him to take her lips in a searing kiss.
“Your Grace, before we begin, I must offer my thanks… delayed as they are. You saved my family yesterday, and I?—”
“Your thanks are noted, but my help will not be without cost,” Raph interrupted, his eyes locked on hers as he closed the gap between them.
She thinks this is charity? No, everything has a price.
Lady Camelia’s brow furrowed. “Cost? What do you mean? You’ve already agreed to pay our debts if I married you?—”
“And fulfilled your duty as my wife and Duchess. Yes, I have agreed to my side of the deal,” he spoke slowly. “But before you agree to yours, tell me, Lady Camelia—what do you know about me?”
She blinked. The question caught her off guard.
“About you? Well, you’re the Duke of Brentmere. Wealthy, influential. And… and you have a child with your…”
“Lover,” Raph finished for her.
She’s honest. At least she doesn’t shy away from the scandal.
“Yes… your lover,” Lady Camelia said.
Raph did not miss the hint of annoyance in her tone.
“Would that be a problem for you?” he asked curiously.
“Why would it be a problem, Your Grace?”
“Women tend to get… jealous.”
She laughed, and the sound took him off guard. “I assure you, I am not the jealous type.” She sat in an armchair before continuing. “Her name is Pamela, isn’t it? The ton whispers about her.”
“Yes, and Pamela bears my name,” Raph said resolutely. “Her mother is… not around anymore, and I’m the only one she has. I plan to present her to Society, but she needs to be trained into a proper young lady. That will be your responsibility as my Duchess.”
Lady Camelia stared at him with wide amber eyes.
“You seem surprised by this.”
“My responsibility is to train your… your child? Why me? I’m not a governess!”
“You’re my wife-to-be,” he pointed out, his gaze unwavering. “In my household, there is order and rules. Things are done in a specific and proper manner. If not, there are consequences. You will make sure the household runs smoothly.”
“Consequences?” she scoffed, her chin lifting as it had the day before.
What an infuriating, stubborn woman.
“What sort of consequences? And what about your habits, Your Grace? Visiting courtesans and impregnating them. Is that one of your ‘proper’ ways?”
Raph’s eyes darkened with irritation and a sudden urge to walk over to her and kiss her deeply so that she would remain silent.
“Youdare to bring that up? After your own recklessness?”
She was taken aback by his backhandedness.
“Pamela needs stability, not rebellion. The kind of stability I see between you and your sisters.”
Her expression softened.
“But defiance will not be tolerated in my household, Lady Camelia. I won’t allow you to be a bad influence on Pamela.”
