Page 38 of Second Duke's the Charm

He shrugged. “Why would it? I never expected to inherit it myself.”

Tess supposed he had a point. A tiny part of her had expected him to react with jealousy at the thought of her with another man, but he seemed sincere in his assertion that their arrangement would not involve any emotions other than logic and passion.

Business and pleasure.

“One final question.IfI agree, when would we announce our engagement? There’s going to be an absurd amount of gossip and speculation as it is. I thinkwe should wait at least a month, attend the same social events, make sure people see a growing attraction between us and—”

“Tomorrow.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I’d announce our engagement tomorrow.”

“That’s ridiculous. We’ve only just met. We’ve danced twice in public. Everyone will know it’s not a love match.”

Thornton’s brows lifted in amusement but his gaze was hot as it rested on her face. “I thought you prescribed to that love-at-first-sight, thunderbolt-from-heaven, star-crossed lovers stuff the poets spout? Could that not have happened to us?”

Tess narrowed her eyes at his teasing. “It will take three weeks to have the banns read.”

Again, that head shake. “I’ll get a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury. We’ll be wed this time next week. Here, at Wansford House. After which we’ll travel immediately to Wansford Hall.”

Her head was spinning.

“But—”

“Nobody who knows me will be surprised. I have a reputation for wanting the best of everything. Why wouldn’t people think I’d want the most beautiful woman in England as my wife?”

Despite herself, Tess felt heat rise in her face. She’d heard such outrageous flattery before, of course, but he stated it as if it were a simple, irrefutable fact.

He also sounded as if he truly believed it.

He leaned forward in his seat. “Every man who hears it will understand my desire. Every married man will be seething with jealousy. And every bachelor will mourn that his chance to win you has evaporated.”

A ball of disappointment lodged in her chest, but shetried to keep her tone light. “It seems I’m only ever prized for my beauty.”

“Not at all. You’ll be praised for your ability to bring me to heel. For capturing not one, but two successive dukes, and quite sensibly securing your position.”

Tess let out a slow, steadying breath. “I only have one request left.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’ve had hard-nosed investors on Threadneedle Street give me less of an inquisition.”

She tried to look coy, and not simply terrified.

“I want to wait until we’re wed before we consummate the marriage.”

A brief frown crossed his face and she braced herself for a refusal.

“May I ask why?”

Tess cast around for a believable evasion.What would Daisy say in a situation like this?Inspiration struck.

“I just think that anticipation only increases the pleasure.” She sent him her best, most sultry look. The one a baronet had once claimed made her look like Venus and Salome rolled into one, or some such nonsense.

She rolled her shoulder in the faintest shrug, and was gratified when his gaze slid over her collarbone and then wandered helplessly down to her cleavage. For the first time in her life, she wasgladthat someone was admiring her breasts. When she thought of him touching her there again, the hint of roughness in her voice wasn’t feigned.

“There’s something so delicious about teasing out the moment. After all, anything hard to get always provides the most satisfaction.”

Thornton’s eyes narrowed in faint suspicion that he was being manipulated, and she prayed she hadn’t overplayed her hand. Was she making a fool of herself? How did one flirt?