Page 19 of A Duke Of Her Own
“If you will permit me to announce our engagement tonight, I will make a request of the marchioness.”
“That will start a scandal,” she said shakily.
“I am a duke,” he said arrogantly. “I can shelter us from any scandal. They will merely wonder where we met, and any fool can see that I am damn well in love with you.”
“I love you, too, Alexander, so very much,” she said shakily. “I want … I want a courtship for a few weeks. Then I want a grand wedding in Hanover Square.”
His silver eyes gleamed with pleasure. “Done. However, I ask that you marry me by special license in a couple days. We will keep it secret from the world, and then we will have a grand wedding.”
Francie smiled as he twirled her around. “Why?” she asked when he drew her close again.
“I do not want you to slip from me.”
Her heart twisted. “I promise you it is not possible. I love you. But I want you to wait … for you to woo me and understand my scandal so you do not regret choosing me.”
“Have you murdered someone?”
Horrified, she said, “No.”
“I would still marry you even if you were a murderess, so that is solved.”
Francie giggled, then sobered. “I … a few years ago, I ran away with my brother’s steward to Gretna Green. We got married over the anvil … and I thought we were married. I spent a night alone with him in a cottage before my brother found us.”
He lifted a brow. “You were a virgin, my love.”
She blushed and glared at him, to which he ruefully smiled.
“That I spent the night alone with him under the same roof was enough to ruin me. I truly cared for him and was excited at the notion of being his wife. Luckily, I was not very passionate about our few kisses to consummate our marriage. I wanted to wait until after a proper wedding before a priest. He hurt his ankle and was not very persistent in seduction hence our union was not consummated. My brother found us … and …”
Her words broke off, and they danced for a few beats in silence.
“You do not have to speak about it, Francie.”
“I just feel mortified about how silly I was and the mess I created,” she said softly. “The man I eloped with was already married, and the marriage was fake.”
“That cowardly snake,” Alexander snapped.
“What devastated me was knowing I could have been so wrong about his character. I thought he was smart and compassionate, but a kind man could not have left his sick wife alone to care for their children while he pretended to wed another.”
“Ah, Francie, I am so damn sorry.”
“What hurt more was that I shared these pains with a friend … and within a few days, the whispers started. She betrayed my confidence and gossiped about me. The scandal was so terrible there was even a mention in the scandal sheets. Though my brother rallied around me, the wagging tongues would not cease, and I grew discomfited whenever I ventured out. My mother had no choice but to send me away.”
“Wrong,” he said, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “She should have used the force of her reputation and influence to protect you at all costs. I will not forgive those who hurt you.”
She smiled tenderly at him. “Would you have fallen in love with me if we met in society?”
He frowned, then he smiled down at her. “Yes.”
His surety shocked her, and happiness swelled inside Francie’s chest.
“I am sorry I did not tell you of my background.”
“I did not tell you of mine either, Alexander. How can there be sorrows between us? We have a lifetime to learn everything about each other.”
“By God, I want to kiss you so badly.”
Francie laughed.