Jane squinted at him, unsure of how to feel about this; was it a subtle insult or what?
“My father's determination. Not mine,” she corrected him with something that resembled a frown.
“Ah. Right.” He slapped his forehead in a way that was clearly sarcastic. “However, I am not a man who fancies being an option,” he said to her.
Nor am I a woman who fancies being belittled.
She cast a stern glare at him but he couldn't care less.
He walked up closer to her with gentle steps as she glowered at him faintly.
“Now, you have two choices,” he began.
How arrogant!
“You can either agree to marry me, or go with whoever the other man is. The choice is yours,” he concluded.
His nerves though. The man before her was speaking with the audacity that came with his title. This was enough to get her all riled up but she knew he wasn't as bad as his competitor.
“There's something you should know about me, Lady Jane,” he said to her.
Jane was instantly intrigued, curious to know what he had to say.
“Shall I dare to ask what that is?”
“I hate to compete with anyone. Nevertheless, peradventure I find myself in such a situation…I never lose,” the slight pause came when he leaned closer to say the last words.
He stepped back a bit and watched the look on her face.
Colin was so like her father and Graham in a manner of speaking. But he was somewhat different. Cold but different.
“I can offer you three times what the other man is offering; wealth, jewelry, status in society…name it.”
She scoffed and was tempted to roll her eyes at him but refrained from doing so.
“You have me mistaken, my lord. I'm not moved by all of that,” Confidence was palpable in her speech and her demeanor.“Should I eventually accept your proposal, it shan't be because of all you have to offer, but because it shall bemydecision,” she straightened him out.
He was quiet for some time before finally speaking.
“Fair enough. I have to inform you, however, that should you decide to marry me, you will have my nieces to deal with. And believe you me…theyarea handful.”
She was drawn to him regardless of his arrogance and pride. Jane wanted to accept him anyway because she felt like he was a better match for her than Graham.
“Surely they can’t be so much trouble that you feel the need to deliver such warning,” she said, her voice faltering.
The Duke shook his head.
“Oh dear, you have no idea” A smirk appeared on his face. “The girls have been left without a mother’s guidance for quite some time and it might take a while before they are used to your authority. However, they are truly wonderful children.”
Jane paused in her walk. His face as he spoke of them had told her all she needed to know. He loved them. She had watched as his face softened and the twinkle in his eyes grew, lighting up the dark pools a tad bit. It was the first sign of true human compassion he had shown since he spoke to her and althoughthat should not be enough to tie her to him in marriage, it made her curious.
Besides, what other choice do I have? I can either be with him or be forced into marriage with Lord Pennington.
She shuddered once more. She’d been doing a lot of that since her father brought up the topic of her marriage to Pennington in the garden party.
“I am certain that the girls are lovely,” she said with a smile.
The Duke returned her smile with one of his own. “Raising them has been quite an adventure and they are a menace, however, I am certain that you can handle them.”
His knowing smile as he said that caused a small one to appear on her face. She was curious to meet these girls whom he was so certain she could raise. She also felt quite sorry for them. She knew what it felt like to lose a parent and they had lost both.
With a deep intake of breath, she made her decision. She only hoped she would be exactly what the girls needed as he was so inclined to believe.
“I accept your proposal.”
