Something flickered in his dark eyes—surprise, perhaps, that she had not immediately delivered her answer without further discussion. He had clearly expected either immediate acceptance driven by desperation or outright rejection based on maidenly sensibilities, not this calm request for additional information.
"What aspects, specifically, require clarification?" he asked, moving with that careful, controlled gait to position himself behind his massive desk, maintaining the barrier of mahogany and leather-bound ledgers between them.
"The matter of settlements, for instance," Evangeline said with the directness that had so clearly disconcerted him the previous day. "While I bring no dowry to speak of, I am nonetheless a gentleman's daughter with certain expectations regarding my future security. Should I accept your proposal, what provisions would be made for my maintenance as your widow, should such a circumstance arise?"
The practical nature of her inquiry seemed to catch him off guard, though he recovered his equilibrium with admirable speed. "You would receive the traditional dower house and income befitting a dowager duchess, naturally. The estate is not entailed in such matters, and I would ensure your comfort for the remainder of your days."
"And should our union be blessed with children; what arrangements would govern their upbringing and education?"
"Sons would be raised according to their station, with appropriate tutors and eventual enrollment at Eton and Oxford. Daughters would receive the education befitting young ladies of the highest rank, with suitable marriages arranged when they reached appropriate age."
His answers were delivered with the same businesslike precision he might have employed when discussing agricultural improvements or investment strategies, devoid of any warmth or personal investment in the outcomes he described. Yet Evangeline detected beneath his calculated indifference a kind of desperate hope, as though he feared that too much enthusiasm might somehow jinx the negotiations.
"I see," she said, moving to examine a collection of leather-bound volumes near the window, her fingers trailing along their gilt spines as she considered her next words carefully. "And what of the more personal aspects of such a union? You spoke yesterday of the eventual necessity of providing an heir, but surely you must realise that such matters cannot be approached with the same detachment one might employ when purchasing breeding stock."
A flush of color crept up his neck, and she noticed that his knuckles had whitened where they gripped the edge of his desk. "I am aware that the intimate aspects of marriage require adjustment particularly given my current circumstances. I would naturally approach such matters with appropriate consideration for your sensibilities and comfort."
"How very thoughtful of you, Your Grace," she replied with a hint of irony that made his jaw tighten visibly. "And I suppose you have given considerable thought to the practical challenges of sharing a household with a woman who might hold opinions that occasionally conflict with your own?"
"I have given thought to many aspects of this arrangement, Miss Hartwell, including the likelihood that a woman of yourevident intelligence and independence would require a certain degree of accommodation. I am prepared to make such adjustments as prove necessary for the smooth functioning of our household."
The careful phrasing revealed more than he perhaps intended about his expectations and concerns. He clearly anticipated resistance to his authority, yet seemed willing to negotiate rather than simply impose his will through the legal rights that marriage would grant him. The admission suggested a flexibility of character that his harsh exterior belied, and Evangeline found herself wondering what other surprises might lurk beneath his carefully maintained facade.
"Your Grace," she said, turning from her examination of his books to face him directly, "may I speak with perfect frankness regarding my situation and the decision I am required to make?"
"I would welcome such frankness, Miss Hartwell. Pretense serves neither of us in these circumstances."
"Very well. I find myself in the position of a woman with no alternatives save those you have offered. I possess neither fortune nor powerful connections that might secure me a position in some household where my breeding and education would be valued. I have no relatives willing or able to provide me with a home, and the prospect of seeking employment as a governess or companion holds little appeal, particularly given the circumstances under which I would be entering such service."
He listened to her recitation of her difficulties without interruption, his expression revealing neither satisfaction at her desperate circumstances nor sympathy for her plight. She found his neutrality oddly comforting, as it suggested he would not attempt to exploit her vulnerability for emotional advantage.
"At the same time," she continued, "I am not so foolish as to imagine that marriage to you would be a simple matterof financial security in exchange for domestic compliance. You are clearly a man of strong opinions and complex character, wounded by experiences I can only begin to imagine. Living in close proximity to such intensity would require considerable fortitude."
"Are you attempting to discourage yourself from accepting my proposal, Miss Hartwell?" he asked with what might have been amusement, though his tone remained carefully controlled.
"I am attempting to ensure that we both understand precisely what we would be undertaking," she replied firmly. "Marriage, even a marriage of convenience, creates bonds and obligations that extend far beyond mere financial arrangement. We would be bound together for the remainder of our natural lives, forced to navigate disagreements and disappointments without the possibility of retreat to separate establishments."
"And does the prospect of such permanent entanglement concern you?"
"It concerns me less than the alternative, Your Grace, which should perhaps alarm us both."
This time his amusement was unmistakable, though quickly suppressed. "You have a remarkable capacity for uncomfortable honesty, Miss Hartwell."
"I find that difficult circumstances have little patience for comfortable delusions. If we are to enter into this arrangement, we might as well do so with our eyes fully open to its complexities and challenges."
"And having opened your eyes so thoroughly to those complexities, what conclusion have you reached regarding my proposal?"
The moment had arrived, the point of no return that would determine the entire course of her future. Evangeline drew herself up to her full height and met his gaze with the steady directness that had characterized all their interactions.
"I accept your proposal, Your Grace, with the understanding that this will be a marriage of mutual convenience rather than romantic attachment. I will endeavour to fulfill my duties as your duchess with appropriate dignity and competence, and I trust you will extend me the courtesy and respect due to my position, regardless of the circumstances that brought us together."
For a moment, the Duke stood perfectly still, as though her acceptance had somehow surprised him despite the inevitability of her decision. Then something shifted in his expression—relief, perhaps, or satisfaction at having successfully navigated what must have been an uncomfortable necessity for a man of his pride.
"Very well, Miss Hartwell. I am pleased that we have reached an understanding." He moved from behind his desk, approaching her with that careful gait that spoke of ongoing pain but determined dignity. "If you are amenable, we might proceed immediately with the ceremony. I have taken the liberty of securing a special license, and the vicar awaits our convenience in the morning room."
The efficiency of his preparations left her momentarily breathless, though she supposed she should have anticipated such thoroughness from a man who had clearly given considerable thought to the practical aspects of their arrangement. Still, the idea of proceeding immediately from acceptance to ceremony felt rather precipitous, even by the unconventional standards they had already established.
"Immediately?" she managed, hoping her voice conveyed calm inquiry rather than panic at the speed with which events were proceeding.
