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"Why?" she gasped out "I... I thought I was changing your mind

What changed?"

"I definitely enjoyed your companionship but Miss Charity remains the best bride for me taking into consideration my peculiar situation " he said stiffly

"What peculiar situation might that be?" she asked bitterly

"I require a lady that could help me repair the damage to my family's reputation. I require a lady, well loved by theton, If I marry a lady such as your sister who holds the admiration of theton, they might look more favorably on me."

"Don't tell me you are willing to marry a woman that does not love you on the slim chance that she might change the opinion of the ton about you."

"We all have to make sacrifices and the amount of responsibility on my shoulders means I cannot afford to make selfish decisions. At least for the best interest of any children I might have in the future and for the tenants in my estate"

"But that is a path to sure misery, your grace. Surely that is too steep a price to pay for some perceived responsibility. Surely you deserve to have a wife that love you. Everyone deserves that"

"I have never considered love as a criteria in my marriage. That is simply a silly emotion that school girls giggle about, it has no place in a marriage between two adults"

As if anybody would venture to profess love to the scarred Beastly duke.

After his betrothed Rose, had fainted on seeing him when he first returned from battle and had broken off their engagement. He had come to the realization that no lady would love the empty scarred shell that the war had turned him into

He remembered with a bitter smile, how beautiful blonde Rose had cried when he had received his commission, proclaiming that she would miss him and promising to write to him. She had kept her word writing to him. Her passionate letters had made the dark painful nights of the days of war pass faster. It was because of those letters he had fought through his pain when he got injuries. It was those letters that had led him to believe she would accept him when he returned.

If such a lady could take one look on his scarred face and reject him, he could never hope that another lady could look beyond his deformity. He was better off marrying for convenience with no such hope involved, that way he could preserve his tattered heart.

Squaring his shoulders, he turned back to Victoria

"I will call on your family home tomorrow at the earliest hour possible. I believe I have a lot to discuss with the viscount. I will bid you goodnight " he said and with a bow, he made to take his leave but was stopped by the feel of dainty fingers on his arm.

He turned back to her, askance.

" Is there any problem, Miss Hobbs?"

" I....I," she stuttered, seemingly at loss for words.

Looking down at her face, he saw the vulnerability and pain that he suffered reflected in her eyes. As much as this decision had hurt him, she suffered also.

He wished he could turn the situation around so that they could go back to having their easy camaraderie between them but if wishes were horses beggars would ride.

* * *

Victoria had experienced pain in her life but the heavy ache that had developed in her chest when Anthony announced his plan to marry her sister despite all her efforts to dissuade him had given her a new interpretation of pain

She had deluded herself that she was only going on dates with the Duke for her sister's sake but in that moment she realized a horrible truth, she had been doing it primarily for herself because she didn't want the duke to marry her sister who despised him at an elemental level. Not when she was here longing and pinning for the littlest scrap of his attention.

The realization was jolting, because she had always thought herself selfless but it seemed that when it came to matters pertaining to this particular duke she could be selfish and possessive to a degree she had never expected

When he turned to leave, she could never understood the desperation that stemmed from a horrible feeling of loss. This desperation had led her to try to stop his retreat, somewhere in her fevered brain she just wanted to stop him because she was sure that if he left that garden it would signify the end of all the joy she had found in the past few weeks. A reality she was not willing to accept.

Now that she stopped him, she could not find the words to express the jumble of emotions that rumbled in her chest. She just stood staring into his eyes watching the familiar pain she felt reflected in his dark eyes. She was totally at loss for what to do but she was definitely not ready to let him go anytime soon.

There was a roaring sound in her ears and it took her sometime but she realized that the sound was that of approaching footsteps.

At that point an idea appeared in her mind and no matter how much she tried to shake it. It lingered as the only plausible solution to her dilemma, never mind that it might be the most devious.

The footsteps were louder now and the duke seemed not to be aware, a lost expression on his face. So she did it. She threw herself on his body curving her arm on his neck to bring his head down for her kiss.

At first, he stiffened with shock, then he responded possessing her mouth ruthlessly. Soon she became lost in the kiss, the idea of the approaching footsteps completely faded in her mind.