All the Reasons to Wed Katherine
The most recent events were disastrous in every way; Katherine’s offer, and his acceptance would only upset the carefully protected world Jasper had built for himself.#p#分页标题#e#
And yet…
He smiled in remembrance.
Guilford choked on a mouthful of brandy. “I say, are you smiling now?” He glanced over at the wide floor-length windows, and squinted. “Surely there are horses flying. There must be.”
Jasper set his glass down hard enough to send droplets of moisture spraying over the rim of the glass and onto the rose-inlaid table. He’d had enough of Guilford having fun at his expense. He scowled until the grin fell from his friend’s face.
“It was a bloody list of reasons to marry the lady.”
Guilford’s lips flattened into a tight line. The faint tremble however, indicated the concerted effort he made to tamp down his amusement. “That must have been quite an impressive list, then.”
I can provide as many children as desired…
Jasper’s eyes slid closed as he thought of the generous curve of her breast weighted in his hand; the peak of that mound of flesh…and not for the first time, he wondered as to the shade of that precious peak. He’d wager it was the faintest pink, like—
“By all the saints in heaven, you’re smitten with the lady.”
Jasper jerked to the moment. He felt a dull flush of heat creeping up his neck, and he yanked at his hastily tied cravat. By God, he was the Duke of Bainbridge. He did not turn red with embarrassment, and certainly not over a young lady in her first, going on second, Season.
“I am not smitten. I’m…” he searched for words. “Merely driven out of a sense of pity for her circumstances.” Those words rang like a lie in his mind and in his heart.
“Pity?” Guilford pressed. He folded his arms across his chest. “Well, then, let us hear it? What would drive the miserable, recluse, all powerful Duke of Bainbridge to forsake his vow to remain unwed out of…” he arched a brow, “What did you say? Pity?”
“There’s the matter of Ekstrom.”
Guilford blinked. “You would marry her because of Bertrand Ekstrom?” Thick incredulity underlined his question.
The truth of it was, standing alongside the frozen river, with Katherine looking up at him with wide, brown eyes, Bertrand Ekstrom had been the absolute furthest thing from his mind. Now, the thought of her with the loathsome, foul, letch unleashed a primitive beast from deep inside him that wanted to tear from Guilford’s office and hunt down Ekstrom.
“It was mutually beneficial for the both of us.” Jasper settled for a safe answer.
His friend swirled the remaining amber contents of his glass. “How very practical of the both of you.”
With her directness and bold-spirit, Katherine Adamson seemed a good deal more practical than any other ladies he’d encountered in the past, including Lydia. His wife had dedicated her attention to her wardrobe and the running of his household staff. Furthermore, he could not imagine docile, gentle-spirited Lydia thwarting her parents’ marital arrangements for her by boldly proposing to a gentleman.
Guilford set his glass down hard on the table with a loud thunk. “I would be remiss if I failed to inform you that Lady Katherine Adamson’s intentions in wedding you are not strictly practical. A young lady would not brave your stern, miserable countenance if there were not feelings on her part.”
Those words sunk into Jasper’s brain. He blinked, and then gave his head a hard shake. “Bah, you’re mad. Katherine is practical. She merely proposed a marriage of convenience.”
His friend snorted. “Ballocks. I wager you are in for a good deal of trouble if you enter into this union believing that.”
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Jasper’s jaw hardened. He’d not bother with Guilford’s foolish suppositions. With the exception of two kisses, two passionate kisses that had set his body on fire with a potent lust, and a desire to lay her down…
He shook his head so hard a strand of hair fell across his eye. Jasper brushed it back angrily. “I don’t care to discuss the matter anymore.”
Guilford’s grin widened. “May I point out that you sought out my opinion?”
“No, I didn’t,” Jasper said, harshly.
“You didn’t?”
“I didn’t,” Jasper confirmed.
“Then what—?”
“I merely came by to see if you’ll be a witness to my nuptials.” There would be no banns read in three successive Sundays. Jasper’s next visit would be with the lady’s guardian to put his formal offer to, and then they’d wed. He had little desire to be exposed to the tons scrutiny. They’d wed, retreat to Kent, and carry on their own, separate, well-ordered lives.