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She scoffed. He was aristocratic, but not rich. She’d heard he spent all his time managing his estates, hardly the pastime of a wealthy aristocrat. “When did you start calling me sweetheart?”

The word made it difficult to concentrate on the dance and her task tonight.

“When you started needing a husband because your father put your finances in a deep trench.” His hand lingered a bit longer at her waist, a bit closer. Possessive, her brain said. The thought thrilled along her arteries. Life-giving bright red blood. She tamped it down.

This was the arrogant, older Duke of Newton. A notorious rake, not a candidate for marriage.

“Ugh. Well, even if you could afford it, which I doubt, it won’t solve my problems. There’s the whole of my family to consider, and only a rich marriage would help with that.” It wasn’t just her studies on the line. Much as it was tempting to only consider herself, her younger siblings didn’t have the options she did. Her father had abdicated his responsibility. Her mother had tasked her with helping. Tam would not let her down.

“We can make that part of the wager, if you like. Marriage, and a generous bride settlement.” He spun her around.

“I’m not marrying you.”

“Come on, Tam. Be reasonable.”

“Miss Patterson,” she corrected him instinctively, but she couldn’t focus. He twirled her around again and she was starting to feel giddy. Dizzy. The fast pace of the dance and the bouncing steps were heady, yes, but it was the feel of his arm around her.

“Come and play with me. If you win, I’ll pay for you to complete your training and your family’s security. No strings attached.”

“And if you win?” She didn’t know what she was hoping for.

“You’ll marry me.”

“That’s preposterous. You don’t like me.” And she didn’t like him. Did she? “We wouldn’tsuit.”

“Mmm.” His hand boldly squeezed her waist. “We’ll check if that will be a problem, first.”

“What? You can’t mean…” Her brain had stopped functioning, it seemed. Check if they suited? They knew they didn’t, unless he meant in the carnal sense… Was he really asking her to fornicate with him?

“Tam. If you insist on being shocked, I’m going to have to suggest you aren’t a doctor, because believe it or not, these are the things people say. And worse.”

“But not thingsyousay tome.”

He turned them in the dance, guiding them. She’d never felt him leading their dance so strongly before. Usually the tide of the dance seemed to be what moved them, but as they moved to the edge of the dance floor, she noticed that the Duke had always been controlling where they’d gone, every time they’d danced.

And god help her, she liked it.

“They are now, sweetheart.” He slowed their bouncing steps until they were walking, his arm around her, through the crowd, even as the music and dancing continued behind them.

“Your Grace, what’s going on?” What was he doing, and why wasn’t she stopping him?

“We need a bit of privacy to sort this out,” he said as he turned them up the staircase, smooth and confident as though they had every right to invade the private spaces of the house.

“But my mother has men she wants me to meet. I have to marry,” she insisted as he led her down a corridor, trying handles as he went. And at the end, one turned. He poked his head in, nodded with satisfaction at what he saw, and ushered her inside.

The door snicked shut and the Duke pushed her back against it. Her heart hammered in her chest and she stared in shock. His body pressed against every line of hers, insistent.

He looked intent and fierce and something inside her trilled in response.

“If you’re going to marry,” he growled, “you’re going to marry me.”

CHAPTER4

Tam looked up at him,pupils large and black, her body tiny despite the layers of petticoat and the bustle. They were pressed together all the way down their fronts, and he was holding her trapped against the door. She was small and perfect, and going to behisif she was anyone’s.

He looked down and their mouths were close enough he could feel her breath on his lips. Her expression was aroused, curious, and a little confused.

His body responded. His cock pulsed at the feel of her in his arms. Finally. Would she accept his kiss? Could they dispense with this whole charade if he told her he loved her, wanted to marry her and have a family together, and that whatever the price of that financially, he’d pay it and consider he got a bargain.