Page 13 of The Odyssean Duke

“That is it?” Evelina scoffed.

Now, the duke was simply mocking her.

“If I wished to marry, I would have done that!” she exclaimed.

Evelina chose not to mention that her initial planhadbeen to marry a man, just one of a lower class than she was. If she could not have the advantage which came to the male sex, she had thought that she might, at least, have her title and wealth.

“You have not heard the rest,” the duke said.

“Oh, is theremore?” she asked, laughing incredulously.

“There is,” His Grace replied, a note of irritation creeping into his voice. “I will give you forty-eight hours to consider my proposal. If you marry me, I promise that you will have the baby you want. I will not leave your bed until we are certain that you are pregnant.”

Evelina’s breath hitched involuntarily. A part of her—the part which had been brought up as a proper lady—found the suggestion scandalous and vulgar. Even if she wished to have a child, she would prefer not to be spoken of as though she was a brood-mare.

His Grace leaned closer and let his forearms rest on his knees. The man smirked, as though he found the idea of being so often in her bedroom to be a delightful prospect. “Since you have made it clear that you do not want a husband in your life, I want to assure you that I neither want nor need a wife,” he said. “Regrettably, I need an heir and quickly. Once I have my heir, you will be welcome to raise the child wherever you please. London, the countryside, even China! I care not.”

Evelina pursed her lips together, silently thinking through the offer. Of course, all dukes were supposed to marry and produce heirs. That was the most likely reason for His Grace’s proposal, but Evelina wondered why he would be so quick to extend the offer toher.

His Grace was not an old man; he had more than sufficient time to produce an heir. Why did he need one so quickly? It could not be that he deeply wished to be a father, or else, he would have shown more care about where the child would be raised. The terms were compelling, though.

“We will not be involved in one another’s lives,” Evelina said, “just to make certain that I understand you properly.”

“You have.”

Evelina hummed. “It is an unexpected offer.”

“I do not doubt it.”

He stood, and Evelina shivered. A marriage to His Grace could solve some of her plan’s complications. She had a man who had promised to try as many times as required to produce a child, and although Evelina was not well-studied in the law, she imagined that some clever solicitor would make bearing a child a condition of the marriage. In truth, this arrangement would be quite close to following her initial plan. The one deviation was His Grace. A duke was not some common man.

“I will return in two days’ time for your answer,” he said.

“I may have some additional conditions,” Evelina said.

She rose, so he was not towering over him. Even so, the top of her head barely reached his chin. Evelina stood so near that she was forced to crane her neck and tip her head back to meet his eyes. His Grace smiled. Evelina told herself that it was too dark for her to discern much of the man’s expression, but she thought that it might bedesiredarkening the man’s expression. If she wished, she could reach out and touch him with ease.

“I might humor them,” His Grace said. “You have two days to consider what I offer and to decide if we are to proceed with this negotiation.”

“Very well.”

Her heart was in her throat. Could it truly be so easy?

The duke bowed. “Until then, my lady.”

Evelina barely remembered to curtsey. It did not even occur to her to escort the Duke of Rothbury out, but she heard the door open and close. Through the window, she saw him enter the hackney. A moment later, he was gone from sight.

Evelina sank onto the sofa and drew a shaking breath. Her plan might truly succeed! A newfound energy burst inside her, like the sun emerging after a long and tumultuous thunderstorm. Evelina took a deep breath, and slowly, her nerves calmed. She had two days to think about the duke’s proposal and to present him with her conditions.

Evelina must proceed very, very carefully.

CHAPTER 6

“You have a visitor, Your Grace.”

Stephan slowly lifted his eyes from the ledger and folded his hands over his desk. A sense of foreboding swept over him, his grandmother’s warning ringing in his ears. “Is that so?”

Nathanial stood in the doorway of the study, seemingly pleased with himself. “It is a gentleman, Your Grace.” Nathanial withdrew a small card from his jacket and squinted at it, as if he was having some difficulty in reading. “Lord Edward Dowling, Earl of Murrayton.”