Page 47 of Duke of Pride

“I am merely devising a plan. You were right to remind me that I have made a promise to secure you a husband.”

Victoria’s heart sank for a moment. Was she still just a nuisance he wanted to get rid of? Was he even thinking of the ‘incident,’ the ‘episode,’ or the ‘affair?’ Was he haunted like she was by the carriage ‘ruin?’

She looked up at him, and he returned the gaze. Indecipherable, dark despite the warm sun. She saw him absentmindedly put his fingers in the little pocket of his waistcoat and look away.

“Efficiency is key,” he continued. “Let’s assess your potential suitors.”

“I didn’t bring my ledger.”

“We can do preliminary research,” he half-joked. “So, Reginald is?—”

“Nope.”

“Miss Victoria,” he protested. “Surely, you must?—”

“Nope.”

Stephen scowled.

“Don’t scowl just because I rejected your top choice.”

“He wasn’t?—”

“Please. He is practically you if all you talked about was the breed of your horses.”

“They are majestic animals.”

“He should be marrying one of them, then.”

“Miss Victoria!” Stephen pretended to be shocked.

“What? Someone should tell the man that if it’s marriage he is after, he should just stand in a corner looking good. But, for the love of God, he needs to keep his mouth shut.”

Stephen shook his head in fake reprimand. “Fine. Theodore then.”

“Please. Theodore knows four dead languages and zero living ones.”

“Marital bliss at its finest. Arguments in ancient Sumerian tend to be resolved rather quickly.”

Victoria laughed with her whole body. She would never admit it, but she missed him the past few days. Yes, it was fun and great, but there was something missing.

“The list keeps getting smaller,” Stephen noted.

“It is not the size that is the problem here. It’s the quality.”

Stephen side-eyed her. “How about Edward?”

“Who?” Victoria raised an eyebrow.

“Edward Hardwick.”

“Again. Who?”

Stephen chuckled. “I know. The man has the personality of a wallpaper, but?—”

“There can’t be any redeeming quality after that comment, Your Grace.”

“Imagine that?—”