Page 22 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“I believe any man ye choose would be happy to provide children.”

Seeming unsettled, he stood and began pushing the chair again. It was yet again one of those improper things. They surely shouldn’t speak of children and definitely not how a man might want to get his wife with child.

She might have let it go, but she shook her head.

“No. I don’t just want a man to sire children. I want a man who will be a real father. Like my own father. The duke did not leave us in our nursery, only calling upon the heir when needed. But he loves all of us. Many times he would be out in the fields playing next to us. I want that love for my children as well.”

“So it is revealed. Your list was somewhat sensible, but now you speak of a love match.”

She let out an annoyed sigh and tried to twist to look at him, but he was looking away. She let out a sigh.

“Of course, the first mention of emotions and the man begins to cast stones. I am not a silly girl, my lord. I understand finding a match is difficult enough and that demanding love be involved is a fantasy. Requiring love would diminish my chances to nothing, I would think. No, I do not require love between me and my husband, but friendship and respect. What I hope is that he would love his children, for it seems the simplest thing to do.”

Reese had stopped pushing the chair and after a long silence he cleared his throat. “I don’t think you have noticed the flowers over here at all. I’ll take you closer.”

She didn’t know what she had said that had rattled the earl, but it was clear enough she had. Perhaps the man realized he had more attributes on her list than first thought.

Not that it mattered, for his proposal had been wrought by duty and honor rather than any real desire to take her as his wife. Lord Breckenridge might meet all the criteria she’d wished for, but there was another she’d not mentioned for it was most important.

The man she married would want to do so, and it was clear Reese did not.