She couldn’t really feel angry with the Duke for being startled—at least, she knew she wasn’t justified in feeling that way. He couldn’t have known about her scar.
And yet, she found, shewasangry.No one had asked him to come over here at all. No one had asked him to approach her last night. And now he dared to look at her as if there was something objectionable about her appearance. Now he dared to make her feel unworthy somehow.
She knew he was probably expecting her to feel grateful for the offer of marriage. Well, she refused to feel that way. It wouldn’t have been necessary for him to make the offer if not for his own actions.
He recovered from his shock at her appearance and rose to his feet. “Lady Madeleine?” he asked.
“What were you expecting?” she asked him. “Someone fairer of face, I suppose?”
“Madeleine!” Uncle Joseph exclaimed.
But the Duke laughed. “Perhaps not someone so sharp of tongue!”
“She usually isn’t like this,” Uncle Joseph said.
“Yes, I am,” Madeleine objected. “He might as well know that now, Uncle Joseph. It’s not the sort of thing that would remain a secret for long, after all.”
“It’s not a problem,” the Duke said. “I appreciate a lady who can speak up for herself.”
“If you really felt that way, you would have left me alone last night,” Madeleine said.
“Madeleine, you’re going to be the death of me,” Uncle Joseph said. “I beg you. If you can’t be charming, at least be silent!”
The Duke was laughing now. It made Madeleine even angrier than she had been—he didn’t need to laugh at her on top of everything else.
“What do you want?” she asked him, although she knew. Better to get this conversation over and done with.
“I’m here to ask for your hand in marriage,” the Duke said, raising his eyebrows at her directness.
“Well, I refuse.”
The amused expression dropped off his face. “I beg your pardon?”
“I refuse,” she said. “I won’t marry you.”
“Yes, she will,” Uncle Joseph said. “She and I have discussed this, Your Grace, and we’ve come to an agreement. She’s being difficult now out of a desire to thwart me. You mustn’t think it has anything to do with you.”
The Duke looked at Madeleine. “Is this true?”
“I will do as my uncle wishes,” Madeleine said.
“There, you see?” Uncle Joseph said. “She has a mouth on her, but she’s a cooperative young lady in the end. I knew she could be counted upon.”
“But you don’t wish to marry me,” the Duke said to Madeleine.
“I don’t wish to marry at all,” Madeleine said.
The Duke turned back to Uncle Joseph. “Is she always so contrary?”
“Ever since she came to live with me,” Uncle Joseph said. “I suppose it’s just her nature.”
“Well, perhaps a good strong husband could break her of it.”
“I suppose that’s possible, Your Grace.” Uncle Joseph looked doubtful, and Madeleine was glad.
“I suppose you thought I would be falling on my knees with gratitude when you presented yourself,” Lady Madeleine said. “I suppose you thought there was nothing I’d like better than an offer of marriage from you. Is that the mindset you’re hoping to see in me?”
The Duke glowered. The cheerful man standing here just a moment ago seemed to have disappeared. “All I want is to repay my debt to you.”
