Page 14 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction (Dukes of Passion #3)

CHAPTER 14

“ Y our Grace, the steward wishes to know if you’ll be reviewing the quarterly accounts this afternoon as planned,” Henderson, Leo’s longtime butler, inquired as he entered the study where Leo had retreated after showing Marina the house.

“Yes, send him in an hour,” Leo replied, not looking up from the document before him—a deed transferring ownership of the Mount Street townhouse to Marina. Though she would no longer live there, he thought it prudent to secure the property in her name. “And Henderson, has the duchess settled in?”

“I believe so, Your Grace. Miss Betty seems to have matters well in hand.” Henderson hesitated then cleared his throat—a rare show of uncertainty. “The staff is most eager to ensure Her Grace feels at home.”

Leo glanced up, noticing the cautious curiosity in his butler’s gaze. Clearly, the suddenness of the marriage had already set the servants whispering. “The Duchess will be making changes to the household routine. I expect everyone to accommodate her wishes.”

“Of course, Your Grace.” Henderson bowed. “Will there be anything else?”

“Send a message to Giles. I wish to see him tomorrow morning regarding the late Lord Asquith’s debts.” Leo’s jaw tightened at the thought of the man who had attempted to blackmail Marina. “And arrange for the modiste to call tomorrow afternoon. The Duchess will need a wardrobe appropriate to her new station.”

After Henderson closed the door, Leo set aside the deed and leaned back in his chair. He allowed himself a moment to process the events of the day.

He was married.

The realization still struck him as faintly absurd. After nearly a decade of avoiding any romantic entanglement that might lead to permanence, he had bound himself to a woman he’d known for less than a month.

And not just any woman—a widow with substantial debts who wrote scandalous stories about him for profit.

Leo ran a hand through his hair, disheveling the careful styling.

But the image of Marina facing Giles alone, refusing his help out of stubborn pride even as she dismissed her loyal servants, had stirred something protective in him. Something he hadn’t felt since before William’s disappearance. The urge to protect someone so vulnerable yet fiercely independent—someone who would never willingly admit she needed him—tugged at him more than he’d anticipated.

But beneath that instinct lay another feeling, one he wasn’t ready to fully admit, even to himself. Admiration.

He admired her resilience and the stubborn courage with which she faced her circumstances and stood up even to him. And then there was her cleverness, sharp and clear in every scandalous line she wrote.

It drew him closer, fascinated him far more than he’d ever intended.

Their kiss in the Ellinsworths’ library had only confirmed what he’d suspected from their first meeting. There was an undeniable attraction between them, a spark that could easily ignite into something more consuming if given the chance.

A knock at the study door interrupted his thoughts.

“Enter,” he called, half-expecting Henderson with another query about household matters.

Instead, Marina herself appeared, still wearing the simple day dress she’d changed into after the ceremony. “I hope I’m not intruding?”

Leo stood immediately. “Not at all. Please, come in.”

“Your expectations.” Marina met his gaze directly. “Beyond my ceasing to write about you.”

Leo weighed her question. “I expect you to fulfill the social duties of a duchess, naturally. There will be invitations now that we’ve returned to society. I would like you to accompany me when appropriate.”

“I understand.” She nodded. “And the household? I assume you would want me to oversee the running of the house?”

“Yes, though as I mentioned earlier, there’s no rush. The staff is well-trained.” Leo leaned forward slightly. “Marina, I do not intend to dictate your every move. You will have considerable freedom to spend your days as you see fit.”

“Including my writing?” she asked, a challenge in her blue eyes.

“I would prefer you find another hero for your writing, but I won’t stop you from writing altogether.” Leo held her gaze. “However, I do expect discretion.”

Marina seemed surprised by this concession. “I had assumed you would insist I stop entirely.”

“I am not your jailer,” Leo replied. “I have no wish to stifle your talents, only to direct them away from my personal affairs.”

A small smile touched her lips. “That’s… unexpectedly generous.”

“I can be generous when it suits me.” Leo allowed himself a slight smile in return. “Though, I’m curious what you might create when not constrained by Lupton’s demands for scandal.”

Marina glanced away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “I have always wanted to write something more substantial. Stories with depth beyond mere… physical encounters.”

“Then perhaps this arrangement will prove beneficial to your literary aspirations after all.” Leo watched her closely, fascinated by this glimpse of vulnerability beneath her composure.

“Perhaps.” She looked back at him, her expression turning businesslike once more. “There’s also the matter of…living arrangements.”

“Your chambers are your own,” Leo stated firmly, wanting to reassure her on this point. “I will not intrude uninvited.”

Relief flashed briefly in her eyes before she masked it. “Thank you. And regarding social appearances…?”

“We should present a united front to society,” Leo said, understanding her concern. “The circumstances of our marriage are private.”

“Agreed.” Marina hesitated then asked the question that clearly troubled her most. “And what will you tell your friends? Lord Blytheton, the Dukes of Irondale and Ashthorne… they must wonder at the suddenness of our union.”

Leo considered this. Noah already knew some of the truth, having been present when Leo learned of Marina’s authorship.

“They need not know everything. A mutual attraction, a decision not to waste time with a lengthy courtship—it’s not entirely untrue.”

“A rather sanitized version of events,” Marina observed dryly.

“The truth often needs refining for public consumption,” Leo replied. “Isn’t that what you do in your stories? Transform reality into something more palatable?”

“Not precisely.” A spark of her usual spirit flashed in her eyes. “I transform reality into something more exciting.”

Leo chuckled at her quick retort. “A fair correction.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock as Henderson entered with a silver tray.

“Tea, Your Grace. I assumed the Duchess might wish for refreshment.”

“Thank you, Henderson.” Leo nodded approval at his butler’s initiative.

Marina smiled at the older man. “How thoughtful. I would indeed appreciate some tea.”

As Henderson poured, Leo noted the immediate ease with which Marina addressed the servant—neither condescending nor overly familiar but with the natural grace of someone accustomed to managing a household. It boded well for her transition to her new role.

“I have arranged for the modiste to visit tomorrow,” Leo said after Henderson departed. “You’ll need a wardrobe suitable for a duchess.”

Marina’s expression tightened slightly. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to begin our marriage by owing you more money.”

“You’re my wife,” Leo said firmly. “Your appearance reflects on our house now. Besides, I can well afford it.”

“Even so?—”

“Marina.” Leo cut her off gently. “This isn’t about control or obligation. It’s practical. You’ll be expected to attend functions appropriate to your station, and you’ll need the proper attire.” He softened his tone. “Consider it part of our arrangement if you must.”

She seemed to struggle with this for a moment before nodding. “Very well. But nothing extravagant.”

“As you wish.” Leo hid his amusement.

Most women of his acquaintance would have seized the opportunity to order an entirely new wardrobe without hesitation. Marina’s hesitation about accepting what she saw as charity revealed just how fiercely she guarded her independence.

“Oh, and I should let you know,” Leo added, “I plan to meet with Mr. Giles tomorrow morning.”

Marina stiffened. “Why?”

“To settle your late husband’s debt of course.”

“I would prefer not to be here for that meeting,” she said quickly. “The man is odious.”

“You needn’t be,” Leo assured her. “In fact, I would rather handle him alone. Men like Giles respond best to direct threats from those they perceive as equals or superiors.”

Marina raised an eyebrow. “Threats, Your Grace?”

“Merely a firm reminder of the consequences should he ever think to approach you again,” Leo clarified though in truth, he looked forward to putting fear into the man who had caused Marina such distress.

“I see.” Marina’s lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. “In that case, I wish you success with your reminder.”

Leo returned her smile and was struck by the sense of shared purpose in their exchange.

For a brief moment, it felt almost like a real marriage—two people united against a common enemy.

The thought bothered him more than he liked. This was only a marriage of convenience, nothing else. He needed to keep that clear.

“There’s something else,” Leo said, taking the deed from his desk. “I have transferred the Mount Street house into your name.”

Marina’s eyes widened as she accepted the paper. “But why? I don’t need it anymore.”

“It’s yours now. Lease it for extra income, use it as a quiet place to write—whatever you wish. Or just keep it as security.”

She stared down at the document, clearly taken aback. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything.” Leo stood abruptly, turning toward the window, uneasy with the emotion in her voice. “It’s merely practical.”

“Still, I’m grateful,” Marina said quietly. “Few men would be so… considerate under the circumstances.”

Leo turned back to her, struck by the genuine appreciation in her expression. “I am not most men, Marina. I think you’ve discovered that already.”

“Yes,” she agreed, meeting his gaze steadily. “I believe I have.”

The moment stretched between them, filled with unspoken acknowledgments. Then Marina rose, carefully folding the deed.

“I should rest before dinner,” she said. “The day has been rather overwhelming.”

“Of course.” Leo moved to open the door for her. “I’ll see you at seven.”

As she passed him, the subtle scent of roses drifted from her hair and stirred memories of their encounter in the library.

For an instant, Leo was tempted to reach for her and draw her close. He wanted to know if the passion they’d shared that night could be rekindled.

Instead, he stepped back, maintaining a proper distance. “Until dinner, Duchess.”

Marina paused at the threshold, her blue eyes studying him with an unreadable expression. “Until dinner, Duke.”

After she left, Leo returned to his desk and tried to focus on the correspondence awaiting his attention, but his thoughts kept drifting to his new bride and the unexpected direction his life had taken.

He had married to protect his reputation and to save Marina from ruin. It solved a mutual problem. Nothing more.

Yet as he recalled the flash of spirit in her eyes when she spoke of her writing, the graceful way she’d handled their wedding guests, the pride that prevented her from easily accepting his help, Leo wondered if he’d underestimated the complexity of their arrangement.

Perhaps marrying Marina would prove more consequential than he’d expected.

The question was whether that would prove to be for better or worse.