“How do you know I do not wish to get married?” Bridget asked.
“Well, you are a strong-willed, opinionated, and independent woman, for one.”
“I shall take that as a compliment,” Bridget said, stepping closer to him.
“As you should. Your personality makes me think there is not a man out there who can handle you. When you couple that with your beauty, it makes sense.”
“What do you mean?”
The Duke craned his neck to look at her. “Well, just look at you. You are a beautiful woman, and any man would be happy to have you as his wife. I know I would if I were inclined to marry.”
Bridget wished he would stop saying things like that. She enjoyed his compliments far too much.
“If a man has not managed to tie you down by now, then it can only be because you have not let it happen. If you were to attend events in London, you would have a husband by the end of the Season. And, you must be twenty-five?”
“Twenty-six,” she corrected him.
“Twenty-six and not married. If you have not married by that age, it is unlikely you ever will. All of that leads me to believe you are not interested in marriage.”
“Well, you happen to be right,” Bridget conceded. “I have no intention of getting married, but that does not mean I have not thought about it. If I find a man who loves and respects me as I deserve, then I might consider it.”
“You might want to lower your standards,” the Duke said.
“I don’t need to. I don’t need or want a man, and I am quite happy to live my life as a spinster. There are other things to do in life besides making a home for a man and raising a family.”
“We are in full agreement there,” the Duke relented. “Please, will you come and sit with me? I feel awkward being down here with you standing over me.”
“My goodness, you can be so persistent, Your Grace,” Bridget huffed. “I shall sit, but not by your side.”
The Duke laughed and then patted the spot beside him. Bridget finally relented but sat five feet away from him.
“How about you?” she asked. “You mentioned that we are both not interested in marriage. How didyoucome to the realization?”
“It sounds far too boring,” the Duke replied.
Bridget rolled her eyes at his answer.
“There is so much fun to be had in life that I don’t have time to keep a woman at home, raising my children. And she would surely frown upon my lifestyle. No, there is so much to experience in life to get married.”
“Yet, you are a duke,” Bridget pointed out. “Should you not have an heir?”
“Ah, now you are starting to sound like my mother. She would love nothing more than for me to get married and have children, but she will have to contend with Michael. I am sure he will produce enough children for the two of us. I shall pass the dukedom on to one of my nephews when the time comes. The bloodline will continue, and I can continue my life of freedom.”
“Thereisa certain freedom in it,” Bridget agreed. “I sometimes wonder if I am missing out, but there are enough good times to experience that I know I am not.”
“Exactly!” the Duke stated. “I am sure there would be good times with a wife and children, but one path in life is not necessarily better than another. If we are happy, that is all that matters.”
“Yes,” Bridget agreed. “That is all that matters.” She paused for a moment. “This is nice.”
The Duke was unusually quiet.
Bridget realized her mistake, and when she looked at him, his smug grin had returned.
“I—” she started.
“You are having a good time with me,” he interrupted.
“I said nothing of the sort. I said,this is nice. I was clearly referring to the view and nothing else.”
