An Unlikely Duchess (31 page)

She looked at the cover. “Plato.”

“Better not, then,” he said. “Put it back and I’ll tell you that I love you. Shall I?”

She put the book back with a great deal of care, turning to face full against the shelf.

“I know why you came,” she said. “You think you compromised me, and now you have come to do your duty.”

“
Think
?” he said. “
Think,
Josephine? Good Lord, we traveled half over England in a curricle together. We spent—how many nights?—in a room together. We have indulged in embraces that have no business being indulged in outside of a marriage bed, and that would doubtless be considered highly improper even there by any delicately nurtured female. And you think I think I have compromised you?”

”I am saying no,” she said. “You are released from your obligation, sir—your grace.”

“Paul,” he said.

“Your grace,” she said firmly.

“What will your father say?” he asked. “And your grandfather? Didn’t you promise them?”

“Oh, dear,” she said.

“And how will I face my mother and my grandfather?” he said. “They think you a proper and dutiful and demure young lady, you know.”

Josephine snorted.

“Precisely,” he said. “Let us try it again, shall we?” He set firm hands on her shoulders and turned her to him. Then he went down on one knee before her.

“Miss Middleton,” he said, “will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and my duchess? On the understanding that I love you dearly, of course, and am willing to be plagued by you for the rest of a lifetime?”

Josephine giggled. “You do look remarkably silly,” she said.

“I know,” he said. “And I am living in agony at the possibility that our fond relatives are going to walk through that door at any moment and see me at it.”

“Oh,” she said, a hand flying to her mouth as she looked about her. “And just look at the mess in here, Paul. They will wonder what on earth has been going on. Oh, Papa will kill me.”

The next few minutes found them rushing about the library, setting all to rights again. And not a moment too soon. There was some throatclearing outside the door, and it opened to admit a smiling Countess of Newman, an anxious looking Viscount Cheamley, a beaming Lord Ainsbury, and an equally beaming Earl of Rutland.

The Duke of Mitford took Josephine’s hand in his.

“Well?” Lord Ainsbury said, rubbing his hands together, “Am I to congratulate you, boy?”

“What a very charming couple you make,” the countess said, smiling warmly. “And so well suited. Such a quiet and lovely girl, my lord.” She smiled at the viscount.

“We have been so busy getting acquainted,” the Duke of Mitford said, smiling down at Josephine, “that I have not been given my answer yet. What do you say, Miss Middleton? Will you marry me?” He raised her hand to his lips.

And looked down into her upturned face and held his breath. For if she said no this time, he would accept it and go away from her. And his life could be quiet and predictable and decorous again. And very dull.

There would be no more adventures if Josephine Middleton were not there to share them with him. He smiled at her.

He was very sly. She had noticed that about him before. Very sly. For all his quiet, unassuming manner, he had a way of getting what he wanted. She had the feeling that if she married this man, she would find herself also obeying him for what remained of her life. And she had never really obeyed any man, or thought ever to do so. The alternative was freedom. But freedom without Paul. A life without Paul? It sounded very dreary.

“Yes, I will, your grace,” she said. And she could feel herself blushing. Noise broke out around them and everyone seemed to be laughing and slapping everyone else’s back. And Paul’s eyes smiled all the way into hers, and his hand still held hers. And she felt safe. And at home.

There would be time enough later, she thought, as Lady Newman swept her into a warm hug—oh, plenty of time—to punish him for that totally mortifying deception he had perpetrated against her.

The Duke of Mitford was forced to relinquish the hand of his betrothed so that the Earl of Rutland might pump his and attempt to break every bone in it. But there would be time enough—a lifetime of time—to hold her and kiss her and love her to his heart’s content. And to try to make her into something resembling a duchess.

Though not too closely resembling, he thought as he recovered his hand only to have it seized anew by the grandfather. No, not too close at all. He had had one adventure with Josephine, and he had, he realized with some surprise, enjoyed it quite immensely.

Perhaps they would have more adventures together. Perhaps, after all, she was just the duchess for him. Just exactly as she was. And when she next took to hurling books at his head, well then, he would imprison her against him again and kiss her into submission.

He caught her eye across a press of relatives’ bodies and a babble of hearty congratulations, and smiled ruefully.

He could hardly wait.

And then he found himself closing his eyes briefly as she smiled back at him and—yes, actually, the hussy winked. His future duchess!

His smile broadened and he stretched out a hand toward hers.

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Mary Balogh
was born and educated in Wales and now lives with her husband in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than thirty of which have been
New York Times
bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, and the seven-part Survivors’ Club series.

Also by Mary Balogh

The Survivors’ Club Septet

The Proposal

The Suitor

The Arrangement

The Escape

Only Enchanting

Only a Promise

Only a Kiss

Only Beloved

The Huxtable Quintet

First Comes Marriage

Then Comes Seduction

At Last Comes Love

Seducing An Angel

A Secret Affair

The Simply Quartet

Simply Unforgettable

Simply Love

Simply Magic

Simply Perfect

The Bedwyn Saga

Slightly Married

Slightly Wicked

Slightly Scandalous

Slightly Tempted

Slightly Sinful

Slightly Dangerous

The Bedwyn Prequels

One Night For Love

A Summer to Remember

The Mistress Trilogy

More Than A Mistress

No Man’s Mistress

The Secret Mistress

The Horsemen Trilogy

Indiscreet

Unforgiven

Irresistible

The Web Trilogy

The Gilded Web

Web of Love

The Devil’s Web

A Promise of Spring

Standalone Novels

A Certain Magic

An Unlikely Duchess

Lady with a Black Umbrella

Red Rose

Christmas Miracles

Christmas Gifts

Silent Melody

Heartless

Beyond the Sunrise

Longing

A Christmas Promise

The Trysting Place

A Counterfeit Betrothal

The Notorious Rake

A Christmas Bride

Christmas Beau

A Matter of Class

Dark Angel

Lord Carew’s Bride

The Famous Heroine

The Plumed Bonnet

The Temporary Wife

Thief of Dreams

The Last Waltz

Courting Julia

Dancing With Clara

Tempting Harriet

Truly

Tangled

Deceived

The Ideal Wife

A Precious Jewel

The First Snowdrop

Christmas Belle

The Incurable Matchmaker

Snow Angel

The Secret Pearl

The Obedient Bride

A Gift of Daisies

Daring Masquerade

The Ungrateful Governess

An Unacceptable Offer

Secrets of the Heart

Gentle Conquest

The Constant Heart

A Chance Encounter

The Wood Nymph

A Masked Deception

The Double Wager