Page 33 of Lady Mariel’s Scandalous Love

“I very much doubt that Mariel will see it that way, Father. She is most independent of mind. And no matter what you think I should do, I would never attempt to force her to marry, if she did not wish to do so. And I have no indication that she wishes it. Or that she would wish it with me, if she did.”

Liar, he thought to himself. She told you that she had never wanted to do such things with any man other than you. Surely that was some indication that she would not reject him for himself? But the larger question was whether she truly wished to marry.

“But you must! I cannot allow you to have so corrupted an innocent young woman and not marry her!”

“You cannot force her to marry me.”

The Duke looked at him sternly.

“I may not have that authority, true, but I can certainly bring pressure to bear. I suggest that you think about this very carefully. There will be quite enough scandal once you open that damned Museum, even if that puts a polish on it – marry her before that breaks, or she’ll be ruined anyway, mark my words.”

“I… I’ll think about it.”

“Good. And it’s just occurred to me – there is one way that we can make your damned collection and Museum more acceptable to Society – invite the Prince Regent for a private viewing before the opening, then ask him to officially open it. Everyone knows that he is fond of anything erotic – his private rooms are decorated with the most scandalous and licentious paintings imaginable.”

“Father, that is brilliant!”

~~~~~

After Chalmers had left the office, as Mariel watched from the parlour door, she waited until the hall was empty, then slipped back to stand with her ear shamelessly pressed to that door, listening. It was not hard to hear, for the Duke’s voice was raised significantly.

She heard it all, although the latter part of it was quieter, and harder to hear every word clearly. But what she heard sent her spinning into shock. The Duke wanted Dash to marry her? Just because she had seen his book, and discussed its contents? That was rather silly! Although, if the Duke ever discovered what they had done, upstairs… then his insistence might become overwhelming!

But what did Dash really think? He had not sounded happy with the suggestion, but his rejection of it had been as much on her behalf as his own. Her heart had warmed at his defence of her right to make her own decision. But… what would that decision be, if it was put to her? Would she want to marry him? She loved him, that was true, as she had only just realised, but she had hoped for a match with a man who loved her – did he care for her? Or had his actions just been born of lust, as he had implied might be the case?

What was she to do, if he did ask her? How could she discover if he cared for her, or was just acting out of a misplaced sense of duty?

She slipped back to the parlour, shaken to her core.