Page 20 of Defying the Duke
“As much as I enjoyed kissing you, and the other—” Dinah blushed as she said that, “I can’t continue to do so.”
“I’m going about this all wrong. You misunderstand me,” Jack said. “I wish to marry you.”
“You what?” Dinah stared at him, disbelieving. “That’s ridiculous. You know it would never work. I’m not suited to be a duchess.”
“Maybe not, but you’re perfect to be my wife. I don’t need someone to plan a ball or have the patronesses from Almack’s around for tea. I need someone who can love me with all my flaws and who’ll raise my children to be good people. We can hire a governess to teach our daughters to dance and play the pianoforte. But I can’t hire someone to teach my wife to look at me the way you do when I’m about to kiss you.”
She had no idea how she was looking at him as he leaned closer. He brushed his lips across hers and then pressed against them with more certainty as if he feared she would pull away.
But she couldn’t pull away. She wanted this, wanted him. She wouldn’t be the same without him in her life.
The front door opened, and Dinah sat back, breaking the kiss but not looking away from Jack.
“Well?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Yes,” she said louder, then threw her arms around his neck, nearly toppling him.
“Is this a happy occasion?” Grandmama asked.
Jack rose, pulling Dinah up with him. “Your granddaughter has consented to be my wife,” he said happily.
“Consented,” Chrissy said with a snort.
Grandmama shushed her with a sharp glare.
“It’s true. It’s real,” Dinah said, mostly to convince herself.
Chrissy ran to hug her, and that made it real. Her family was happy for her, with her, and she was going to become Jack’s wife.
It was only later, as she was drifting off to sleep, that she realized nothing had been said about love.
CHAPTER 10
Becoming engaged to Dinah gave Jack the weapon he needed with the Duke of Greenborough. Upon hearing the duke had arrived in Town, Jack wasted no time in calling on him.
The older man welcomed Jack into his study wholeheartedly. “I knew you’d come around, my boy. Now we can settle the details of the wedding agreement.”
“Your Grace, I merely came to inform you of my engagement to someone else. Since you chose to announce the incorrect arrangement with your daughter, I thought I’d give you some time to compose your reaction when others hear about my upcoming wedding to Miss Dinah Westfall.”
“What?” The old man sputtered, followed by broken utterings not resembling total words. “You can’t! We have an agreement.”
“As I’ve written several times and had my attorney reiterate, I had no such agreement with you.”
Greenborough’s complexion reddened, and Jack wondered if he should be concerned for the man’s health. “The agreement was with your father, and you know it.”
“He mentioned a wish that your daughter and I might marry, but it sounded more like a bond between good friends. In my letters, I’ve given you multiple reasons why Lady Joyce would be better off with another man. But all of that is moot now. I shall take up no more of your time.” Jack bowed his head and left as quickly as he could without breaking into a run.
With that bit of ugliness behind him, he could clean up whatever remained of his mess at Sutcliffe’s. When he arrived at the club, Nomansland was interviewing a man for Dinah’s position. Jack went to Dainsfield’s office.
“I wasn’t certain you would come in,” Dainsfield said.
“Today, or ever?”
“The latter, to be honest. I don’t know what to make of your moods lately. You’ve been distracted ever since you caught Peter with Miss Westfall.”
Yes, Jack thought, that lined up just about exactly with when his world shifted. He’d spoken with Dinah on occasion since she began working with her father, but spending time with her opened his eyes to truly see her. “I did wonder for a moment if I’d be allowed in,” he said lightheartedly.
There was no sign of humor in Dainsfield’s expression.