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“And a marriage to me would be that?” He arched an eyebrow, but his smile did not falter.

“If you are fishing for compliments, you will not find them here. There are plenty of women only too happy to flatter you and I have no intention of being one of them.” Andrea narrowed her eyes at him.

“Are you this prickly with everyone or is that reserved just for me?” The Duke canted his head towards her.

“I am not prickly.” She snapped.

He gave her a disbelieving look and Andrea found herself slowing down. “And if that is not prickly behaviour, then I am a goat.”

For a moment, she hesitated and then she found herself saying, “It is just that you seem to have things so easy. You breeze in and out of situations and women throw themselves at you, clamouring to be married, meanwhile I am here chasing men with the slimmest hope of success.”

“My life is not so easy as all that.” He shook his head, his brow creasing. “Ever since grandmother’s announcement, I have been hunted by every eligible woman in the ton and her mother. This latest escapade is the fourth such instance I have avoided.”

He wrinkled his nose and then smiled at her, a twinkle in his eye. “Thank you, by the way.”

“I did not do it for you, I did it for her. And this is precisely what I am talking about. You act as though you are hard done by, when in truth you could have your pick of anyone in the ton. And even if you never married, you would face few repercussions.” Andrea gritted her teeth.

“Just my grandmother’s wrath. Besides, I do not have every woman in the ton throwing themselves at me.

Grandmother told me that you were searching for a husband and yet you have not thrown yourself at my feet.

” He gestured to himself, and gave her a mocking bow before adding.

“The struggle to find a husband is just the same as the struggle to avoid a wife. I spend my life having to look behind bushes and plant pots.”

“That must be so hard for you. How truly awful to have every eligible woman want your affection.” Andrea’s every word dripped with sarcasm as she shook her head, making a disgusted noise. “We truly live in different worlds.”

She stalked off. Of course, a man like that could not understand the situation she was in. He had choices. He would not lose anything through marriage, where she would.

Once more his footsteps followed behind her but she ignored him, speeding up instead...

“Leave me alone. If we are discovered, the scandal will be all the ton talks about for the next month! We will become social pariahs. Or worse, married.”

“You truly have no wish to marry me?” his footsteps faltered and the surprise in his tone stopped her in her footsteps.

She turned to face him, and found that he was looking at her with a serious expression on his face. She flexed and unflexed her fingers.

“It is nothing personal, in truth I have very little desire to get married at all. Yet I have no choice. My father… Well it does not matter, I have to marry”

“You say that as though it were a death sentence. I thought all women longed to be married.” He canted his head towards her, an earnest expression on his face, his lips pursed thoughtfully.

“You would think it a death sentence if you had to wed Lord Crossley.” The words tumbled from her mouth before Andrea could stop them.

She expected him to make some kind of joke or to shrug it off as though it were water off a duck’s back but instead he nodded. “Many women would. He is not a particularly pleasant man.”

“He is not.”

“That is why you are looking for a marriage of convenience. But surely you could find a love match? It is not as though you are hard on the eyes. Why, you are even pretty when you glower!” He grinned at her, the earnestness fading as he swept a hand through his hair.

She ignored the compliment, grateful that her blush would be hard to see in the moonlight. “I cannot afford a love match.”

“Why not?” His dark eyes searched her face, brows raised.

“Because marriage would rob me of everything. And love… Love does not guarantee I could keep my independence. My freedom.” A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed hard, the last thing she needed was to cry in front of this man. He has already managed to get me to share far more than I wish.

Duke Caverton’s eyes widened. “You are talking about your house, are you not? It will go to whoever you marry. It will be your husband's property.”

“As will I.”

The Duke nodded thoughtfully. “You should marry me then.”

“Marry you?” Andrea snorted. Of course, he would make such a joke.

“Think about it. Neither of us have any desire to be married, and I have more wealth than any one man needs – I am sure we could find a way of you keeping some things in your name or at least ensuring you have your independence.” He gave her a wry smile.

“It would certainly be nice not to have to spend every waking moment searching for traps.”

She studied him, searching his face for some sign that he might be lying, but she could find nothing. This cannot be happening. “You are serious?”

“Of course, I am.” He laughed, and she had to admit that the sound put her at ease.

“You would truly let me keep my home?” She narrowed her eyes. “You would not expect any… wifely duties of me?”

“No, it would be a marriage in name alone.” His cheeks coloured and he rubbed the back of his neck. “You could keep any portion of money you wished. After all, once we were married it would be mine, so why should I not bequeath it back to you?”

Andrea’s mouth was dry, excitement coursing through her, but she shook her head. “My father would never agree.”

The Duke’s eyes widened. “Why ever not? I am a duke! Most men would be delighted.”

“Not my father. He likes to be in control.” She clenched her fists. “My father likes to remind me of that.” This is his version of penance. Punishment for my behaviour; I have no doubt the man would cling to life longer if only to spite me.

There was a beat of silence, and Andrea felt a heaviness settle over her body, her shoulders slumping. The Duke clapped his hands together. “Then we must give him a reason he could not refuse for our marriage.”

He is serious. Andrea chewed on her bottom lip, trying to think of how she could convince her father that this match was his idea.

She began to pace. “It would require rather careful thought,” she rubbed her chin as her mind raced with all the potential ideas for their ruse to work.

“Definitely planning, after all we only get one shot at this.”

“Or perhaps a simple moment of serendipity.” He grinned like a schoolboy who had just stolen the answers to a particularly difficult exam.

“What –” her words were cut off as he took her hand in his.

The warmth of his fingers spread through her, and she looked at him. He was not smiling, simply looking at her with an intensity that sent an inexplicable shiver down her spine.

“You said it yourself, if we are discovered, we would have no choice but to marry.” He took a step towards her.

“It would have to be a big enough scandal to force my father’s hand. Just our discovery would not be enough.” She shook her head, though she did not dare move away from him, her heart picking up its tempo.

“Then we seal it with a kiss.” He pulled her close, an arm going around her back.

His touch was soft, as though she were something precious he could not bear hurting. The smell of amber filled the space between them. They were so close, she could feel his breath against her lips. The sound of voices drifted across the air.

“You swear this will be a marriage on paper alone?” she whispered.

“I swear it.” He breathed back.

Their eyes met. The beating of her heart echoed through the air around them. Or perhaps it was his heart. He tilted her chin up with just the tip of a fingertip, but he did not close the distance between them.

She knew she could stop this. He was giving her the choice.

“Kiss me.” She let the words out before she lost her nerve.

His lips touched hers, and all rational thought left her. Warmth spread through her, and for once, everything in her head stilled.

She was so lost in the experience, that she almost missed the startled cry from behind her, but the sound of clapping broke through the haze.

They broke apart, breathing heavily. She turned and found herself staring at the Dowager Duchess, who was smiling so broadly that you would think she had discovered a hidden treasure.

“Welcome to the family, my girl.” She clapped her hands in delight.

There was no going back now.