Page 74 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke

“Why?” He hated how childish he sounded. “Why would you want me?”

Rose laughed softly but not unkindly, bringing her other hand to his face so that she could cradle it. “How could anyone who has known the wonderful, brave, loyal man that you are want anything else?”

Alexander’s eyes flitted to his portrait. “But I am scarred.”

Rose traced his scar with her fingers. “So?”

“I am broken. Ugly. Unworthy.” His shame seeped into each of his words. “Not like Lord Verimoor.”

“It is true. You are nothing like Lord Verimoor.” Rose smiled. “You are one hundred times the man he is. If anyone is ugly and unworthy, it is him.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow at her.

“I have seen the way the ladies of the ton look at him. And I am not blind, I know he is handsome. And yet he has the most boorish personality.” Rose shuddered.

“Then why did you dance with him?” Alexander couldn’t help but ask.

“If you had not been so overcome with hysterics, you would have seen that I stopped dancing with him.” Rose let her hands drop from his face. “In fact, I left him halfway through the dance and came to find you. Though without your stature, it was much harder to move through the crowds.”

“You left him in the middle of the dance floor?” Alexander smiled to himself, imagining the handsome man jilted in front of the entire ton.

Petty, but I am by no means a saint.

“I am almost sad I missed it.”

Rose laughed. “Well, perhaps next time, you will not flee as soon as you see me dancing with another man.”

“Do you plan on dancing with many other handsome men?” Alexander raised an eyebrow.

“I only plan on dancing with you.” Rose glanced at him, and a hint of mischief flickered across her face. “Besides, I find that Lord Verimoor’s looks are not to my taste.”

Alexander chuckled dryly. “Oh, really? And, pray tell, what is to your taste?”

Rose grinned wickedly. “Well, I happen to have a particular weakness for tall men with dark hair and eyes that become pools of molten amber in the sunlight. And scars. I do love a man with a good scar.”

“You love me?” Alexander asked jokingly even as his heart raced.

Rose smiled at him. “Of course, I do. I love you, Alexander.”

The words hung in the air between them, and Alexander shook his head, unable to believe she had really said them.

She loves me.Rose loves me.

Silence stretched between them as he wrestled with this revelation.

Love is what most people want.

Nigel’s words ran in his head.

“You know, I believe it is customary to saysomethingwhen a woman professes her love.” Rose’s voice was teasing, but Alexander could sense the nervous edge to it.

You fool, she thinks you do not love her.

His heart thundered in his chest. He felt like it might explode at any minute. He took a step towards her, unsure of himself.

“I love you too, Rose.” He smiled. “I did not believe I could feel love like this. Did not know how loving someone else wouldconsume me. I did not dare hope that my feelings would be reciprocated. That someone could love me as deeply as I love you.” He sighed. “I love you with all that I am. And I cannot believe that you love me.”

“I do. I love you. I love you so much that it scares me. I love you so deeply that I had not thought it possible.” Rose’s voice was soft, her eyes full of warmth and tenderness. “I love you. I love everything about you.”