Page 28 of Wedded to the Ruthless Duke

“I’ll leave you in peace to rest now. I shall write to you soon with the arrangements for the wedding and the special license.”

“Your Grace, it is usual for the bride’s family to pay for the wedding.”

“Let me,” Philip said in a rush. As Grace had no dowry at all, he didn’t doubt that the Marquess couldn’t afford a wedding. “We’ll arrange a small affair within my budget. If that is acceptable to you?”

“Very.” He nodded then sighed. “I just have to tell Grace of this now.”

“She knows. I may have mentioned it before I came to see you.”

“And how did she take that?” The Marquess’ upper lip raised in amusement.

Philip stiffened.

“She said nothing.”

“Then rest assured, Your Grace…” The Marquess nodded at the door. “…before you leave this house, she will very much have something to say to you on this matter.”

Philip nodded, thanking him for the warning.

“Good day, My Lord.”

“And to you.” The Marquess returned to his seat. He flopped down into the chair, evidently exhausted. He reached for a bell and rang it, perhaps intent on drinking tea or finding something stronger for his pain.

Philip took the opportunity to leave, slipping out of the door and heading back down the corridor. He was intent on leaving as swiftly as possible, not giving Grace the chance to stop him so they could talk of what had passed.

I do not need to see her. If I do…

The memory of her lips against his crashed through. He practically growled under his breath as his steps grew firmer and more intent, marching toward the door. It was maddening that the mere memory of her could be a temptation.

She is Eleanor’s irritating friend. That is all. It will be a marriage of convenience.

His hand closed around the front door handle when he heard her voice.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

CHAPTER10

“This way.” Grace closed a hand around the Duke’s arm and jerked him to the side. He stumbled, clearly in shock at what she had done though she didn’t stop. She dragged him all the way through the nearest open door into the music room then shut the door firmly behind them.

Confident that no one had seen what she had done, she turned to face the Duke. Her hands shot to her hips as she glared at him.

“What the hell was that about?” she snapped.

“What?” he asked innocently. “Before this conversation goes any further, Grace, do you think this is a wise idea?”

“What is?”

“Us being alone,” he murmured then his eyes traveled down her.

Grace stood taller, her jaw going slack at that look.

He cannot mean.

“It didn’t go well last time, did it?”

“Well!?” she spluttered. To her mind, it had gone well. It had gonetoowell. That was what had got them into this pickle in the first place.

“Forgive me if I put distance between us.” He purposefully rounded the large grand piano in the music room, putting an obstacle there. She followed him a little, stopping on the other side and planting her hands onto the back of the piano.