Page 17 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

“If you are looking for your betrothed, you will find her in the garden. She needed some air,” Miss Danae told him.

“Too thrilled with all this, is she?” he teased, and Danae chuckled. The other sister, Emma, did not appear to be amused.

“I shall take my leave of you ladies, then.” He bowed and left, finding his own way to the garden at the back of the house.

He found Cordelia leaning over a bed of roses, lifting one to her nose. He stopped when he saw her close her eyes, clearly enjoying the scent, and the unfortunate image once again appeared in his mind: A naked Cordelia at pleasure, her hair sprawled over a silk pillow, her pink lips parting as she took in a breath, her skin smooth and soft.

“My dear,” he said, startling Cordelia so that she dropped the flower and let out a little shriek.

“Goodness,” she said, putting a hand to her chest.

“Who did you think it could be?” he laughed. “You don’t think that I would come all this way and not wish to speak with you.”

“Why should I not think that?” she asked, walking away from him down the garden path. “We are not lovers, Your Grace. It is only a sort of business arrangement.”

He followed after her, his hands behind his back and said nothing for a few moments. The path was lovely but not overly large. They were in London after all. But in that garden, one could forget it with flowers and long grass covering most of it. There was a bench by a chestnut tree, and a little meandering path throughout, all surrounded by stone walls.

Once they were halfway down the path, Cordelia turned around. She did not shy back from looking into his eyes.

“Why did you even bother being kind to my family? You do not need to impress them. I have already agreed to the engagement. The deal has been made.”

“You are becoming far too unromantic, I think. I was simply following the natural order of things, and I came to ask your mother’s permission.”

“You…what? Why would you do that?”

“Well, you see,” he said, walking forward and leading the way instead, while she hurried to walk next to him, “I have a way with women of all ages. I knew I could charm your family with ease, and why not? They are to become my family, and we should endeavor to like one another. It is only sensible.”

“You are too much!” she cried, shaking her head. “A rake through and through. Is this what you will teach Timothy? How to bend women to your will merely with handsome smiles and broad shoulders?”

Nicholas stopped to look at her. They were standing near the far edge of the garden by the stone wall, partially hidden from the house by an oak tree.

Cordelia was shifting uncomfortably on her feet, and she could barely meet his eyes.

“So, you think my smiles are handsome and my shoulders broad? What a delightful development.”

She rolled her eyes. “Anyone would think such a thing, Your Grace. It is not something that I alone might say.”

He laughed, enjoying that sweet shade of pink that was beginning to crawl up her neck.

“Another compliment. Well, it is rather convenient that my own soon-to-be wife thinks such a thing.”

“I do not—” she paused, opening and shutting her mouth and stamping her foot again. “Will you ever stop being a rake?”

“Perhaps one day.” He smiled. “I should like to apprise you of some new information.”

Her face fell, and she looked fearful. “Is it the twins? The duke? What has he done?”

“No, no, calm yourself,” he said, taking her hand briefly and giving it a squeeze. “I merely wished to tell you that I will provide for your family as well as yourself.”

“You –” she frowned, and the same stern look her mother had used on him now appeared on her daughter’s face. “That will not be necessary. I will simply help them from the allowance I will be afforded as your wife.”

“I cannot leave such financial responsibilities to my duchess, my dear. It is done. There is no use in arguing with me about it.”

“It sounds as though you are trying to be honorable.”

Her voice was soft and surprised, and Nicholas knew he could not let her think such tender things. He needed her anger. It held him up, kept his mind whirring and his grief at bay.

This time, he rolled his eyes. “You are continually trying to pin honorable on me, but it will not work. I simply mean that it does not look good for a man in my position to have in-laws who are struggling so. I have a reputation to maintain as well as a business.”