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“I shall marry you, of course.”

She gaped at him. “Have you gone insane?”

He looked affronted by her accusation. “I assure you that I am in perfect control of my mental faculties.”

“Then why would you consider such an outrageous thing!?”

Daniel simply pressed his lips into a grim line and looked at her. “I believe this is a discussion to have in private.”

Evie opened her mouth to argue that no, she would very much like to discuss something that could very well affect her future, when she noted that several of the passersby had begun to look at them in interest.

How could I have forgotten that gossip is the main source of entertainment of the ton?

She almost wanted to slap herself for her silliness, but then she decided that it would be in her best interest to follow what he said.

For now.

“Oh, good. They have not murdered each other yet!”

Evie glowered at Ethan, who sounded much too cheerful as he strode back to them with Phoebe and Scarlett on either side of him. Indeed, he portrayed the charming rascal with very little effort, while the two young ladies looked at her with concern.

“Any acts of physical violence should be considered in private,” Daniel replied with a smirk.

“Indeed, any physical act should,” his friend averred with an impenitent grin.

This statement, however, had the opposite effect, as Daniel simply strode off wordlessly towards the carriage.

Evie turned to her friends with a long-suffering look in her eyes and was about to walk with them to where Scarlett’s carriage awaited them when she heard a cold voice call out, “Well, what is taking you so long?”

She turned to find Daniel standing by the open door of the carriage with an impatient look on his face.

“Are you sure you will be all right with him?” Phoebe asked her anxiously.

Evie managed a weak smile to reassure her best friend. “Do not worry about me, dearest. His Grace might be many things, but I truly believe he is not capable of violence towards women. Besides,” she added with an attempt at levity, “if he does try anything, I shall make sure that he sorely regrets it!”

Scarlett laughed softly. “That’s the spirit. You know, Alice often said the exact same thing about the Duke of Blackthorn, and look at them now…” she trailed off when she saw the murderous look in Evie’s eyes.

“I shall go with Evie,” Phoebe told them quickly.

Ethan smiled at her. “And I shall accompany you. The more, the merrier, eh?”

Somehow, Evie had the distinct feeling that they were simply volunteering to prevent any unnecessary bloodshed on the ride back to Ashton Hall. It simply would not do for news of murder to break out immediately after the Duke of Ashton declared his betrothal to Lady Evelyn Fitzroy. After all, he could still be considered one of the most eligible bachelors in England, and she was the most sought-after debutante of the Season.

It was already a foregone conclusion that the rest of thetonwas waiting on tenterhooks to see just who would manage to marry into two of the most prominent families in the kingdom.

I suppose no Society mama has ever considered this could happen.

After all, Daniel had never expressed the desire to marry. On the contrary, he seemed to be expressly avoiding any reference to matrimony.

Who would have thought thatshewould be the unfortunate young lady to receive his attention?

Somehow, that does not sound like a good thing.Not even remotely.

And her grandmama? What was she going to tell her?

Howwas she going to tell her?

Daniel certainly had a lot of explaining to do, and she could scarcely wait for them to get back to Ashton Hall so he could begin doing so.