He exhaled. “Then you know why I’m here.” At Phoebe’s nod, he put his hands on his hips. “Obviously this isn’t an ideal situation,” Will continued. “But I’ve gone through every alternative and I think it’s best if we see your father directly. I should be able to put a notice in the papers for the end of the week. Do you have a preference for the church? Personally, I’m not keen on a large society affair, but if we had it at St. George’s that may effectively silence the rumors that will no doubt spread once the engagement announcement is printed.”
Phoebe blinked. “Are you talking about… a wedding?”
“Yes,” Will said impatiently. “Ours.”
Phoebe didn’t consider herself a particularly romantic person, but goodness, he hadn’t evenaskedher. “Oh,” she managed to say. Her lips suddenly felt numb.
Will crossed his arms. “Did the inspector not inform you that Fairbanks learned of your arrest?”
Lord, how she hated the return of this aloof, condescending manner of his. Phoebe mirrored his stance. “No, he did.”
Will raised a haughty eyebrow. “Well, you seem awfully unconcerned for a girl on the verge of public ruination.”
Phoebe nearly reared back.A girl?He was acting as if she was some simpleminded child.
Or just Alex’s annoying little sister.
Her jaw tightened at the ugly thought and the all too familiar feelings that accompanied it. “And yet I don’t recall you objecting when the ruination was private,” she shot back and was pleased to see him wince a little. “I am not unconcerned. I just never considered marriage toyouas the solution,” she answered honestly.
His eyes narrowed. “Neither did I,” he bit off.
Phoebe swallowed around the lump forming in her throat. She already suspected as much, but hearing him say it aloud, and with such derision, was undeniably painful. And to think, only hours ago she had actually dared to consider that he mightwantto marry her.
“But the man is threatening to name you as my mistress and this is the quickest and surest way to protect you,” Will continued. “There will still be gossip since you’re such an unconventional choice for my duchess, but it will fade in time.”
Her heart sank further.My duchess.He made it sound like she would simply be another possession: my carriage, my house, my dog. She would be stripped of all individuality. Her purpose reduced to the begetting of heirs and accompanying him to society functions. As much as a part of her wanted Will—desperately so—she could never agree to become his wife under such circumstances.Her own sense of honor simply wouldn’t allow it. She wasn’t some inconvenient little mess that needed cleaning up. Instead of treating her as an equal, as someone herespected, he thought he could dictate her future all in the name of salvation and she would just accept it.
To hell with that.
Her hands tightened into fists. “No.”
Will frowned. “No, what?”
His exasperated confusion only strengthened her resolve. The man really was anass. “No, I will not marry you,” she said slowly. “I told you I had no interest in marriage.”
“Yes, I know,” he huffed. “But that was before—”
“Well, my mind hasn’t changed.” If he was going to be condescending, then by God, so would she.
He shot her an imperious glare worthy of his title. “You’re being very stubborn, Phoebe.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “I’m sure you will have no trouble finding someone else to beyour duchess.”
“That is not what this is about and you know it,” he growled.
She lifted her chin. “Did you really expect me to begratefulthat you’re willing to lower yourself to marry me?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You readily admitted that I’m an inappropriate choice—”
“I didn’t saythateither—”
“Andthat a union between us will cause rampant speculation,” Phoebe insisted as her simmering anger now bubbled over.
“Do you expect me to ignore the obvious?” he snapped as he took a step closer. “No, Phoebe. The circumstances are not ideal here. In case you’ve forgotten, I am a bloodyduke. And dukes are expected to marry a certain kind of lady. While I admire the life you have made for yourself, we both know you are not exactlyduchess material and I will not insult your intelligence by pretending otherwise.”
Phoebe flinched as his words tore open an old wound. The one that marked her as different. As not up to snuff in the eyes of society. For she had never been considered elegant or well-mannered enough. At least, not when well-mannered meant smiling at every stupid or offensive remark a gentleman made. No, Will may have played at being an outsider these last few weeks, but in the end he was just as concerned with status as the rest of them. Whatever small kernel of affection she had been holding on to was ground to dust under the heel of his freshly polished shoe.
