More Than a Duke(103)

Her fingers curled around the spectacles and he placed his hand upon hers, until she lightened her grip. “That is what I said,” she spoke between gritted teeth.



“Hardly a duke. Why?” he demanded gruffly.



Her shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. “I didn’t think it really mattered.”



He sank back on his haunches. “Not matter?” Not matter when her search for a duke had brought her into his life in the first place? Not matter when she’d sent him from her life, cruelly throwing her desire for a duke at him? He’d imagined there could be no greater hell than imagining Anne wed to Crawford. He’d been so very wrong. This, the idea of her married to Bertrand Ekstrom, that foul deviant shredded him inside. He loved her that much that even as it would kill him, he’d see her with her pleasantly handsome, unfailingly polite, and wealthy duke…



On the heel of that was the quite humbling, if staggering, truth. She’d rather wed Bertrand Ekstrom than him. And because it made little sense when rolling silently around his mind, he said, “I offered for you, yet you’d rather wed Ekstrom than me?”



A pretty blush colored her cheek. “Certainly not. Though I’m sure he’s…” Five lines wrinkled her brow. “Er, perfectly pleasant.”



“You’re wrong,” he said flatly. “He’s a bastard.” She was far too innocent to know the depth of Ekstrom’s depravity. “You’re not wedding him.” He’d kill the bastard before he allowed the other man to take her to wife.



A blonde ringlet fell over her eyes. She blew it back, then a frown pulled her lips down at the corner “That is rather high-handed of you. You can’t simply determine who I might and might not wed.”



“In this matter I can. I just did.”



“It’s not your concern whose offer I’ve accepted.”



Accepted as in she’d already agreed. Knots tightened his stomach. He took her chin firmly between his thumb and forefinger. “I love you,” he said again, needing her to realize his life was inextricably intertwined with hers, forevermore. “You are my concern, Anne.” She’d become far more than the annoying termagant from long ago.



She jerked her chin out of his grip. “Because of Katherine.” Yes, in the beginning he’d merely agreed to assist Anne out of a sense of loyalty to Katherine. Intending to protect the maddening vixen from herself. “I assure you, there is no need to—”



“Because of you.” He pierced her with his stare. “Surely you know how much you’ve come to mean to me.” Silence met his pronouncement. He scoured her with his gaze. Ah God, she didn’t. She had no idea how much she’d shaken his roguish world, changed him, ruined him for all other women. He wanted no one else but her. Only her.



“Anne Arlette Adamson!”



They glanced up as Katherine and her husband entered the maze. “By God, Harry. You cad!” she spat.



Anne shook her head frantically. “It is not how it appears, Katherine. I fell.”



The fight drained out of Katherine. “Fell?” She raced over. “Oh, dear.”



Forced apart by the sudden, and unwelcome appearance of Anne’s family, Harry stood. He scooped Anne into his arms and reluctantly passed her over to the waiting duke. Bainbridge wordlessly accepted her. Promptly dismissing the other man, Harry looked back to Anne. “This is not over.” With that he spun on his heel, and took his leave.





Chapter 25



Anne bounced Katherine’s plump, nine-month old baby up and down on her knee. Snorting laughter escaped Maxwell’s lips. “You sweet, sweet boy.” She smothered his chubby cheeks with kisses until his laughter doubled.



Katherine and Jasper exchanged a look as though they feared Anne had gone mad and was one bumpy cart ride away from a trip to Bedlam. “I do say you seem rather, er…”



She looked to her sister, expectantly.



“Er, happy. You’ve not been happy in so very long. And you’re giddy like a debutante who’s just attended her first ball.”



Anne nuzzled her cheek against Maxwell’s. “Your mean mama, being so very rude to your aunt.”



Mother glanced up from her embroidery. “I dare say this is a vast improvement from the morose creature you’ve become. You should be wearing a perpetual smile considering the extremely magnanimous gesture on Mr. Ekstrom’s part.”



A sad little smile played about Anne’s lips and she buried it in her nephew’s cheek. From over the boy’s crown of brown curls, she caught Katherine studying her with suspicion laden eyes. Anne winked. And the bond shared as only twin sisters could passed between them. Her sister’s narrow gaze deepened.