Page 16 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

Marigold studied him with an incredulous look. This man just jumped from a suitor to a dutiful duke to a vengeful vigilante. If she hadn’t dealt with shady people before, she might have felt dizzy at this point, but she was far from the protected ladies of the ton.

“You happen to have vital information regarding that gang.”

Marigold simply stared, expecting him to elaborate more, but he seemed to have concluded all he had to say.

“So, you mean to tell me that the deal you’re proposing is marriage in exchange for information and an heir.”

“Correct.”

“I am not sure of the current standard rate for saving someone, but I do believe an heir and a lifelong commitment is not exactly a bargain.”

Marigold deployed the same face she had when dealing with Johnny’s goons, especially Donny or the other debt collectors. To her surprise, that elicited a smile from him. He guided them under a willow tree, the long branches sheltering them from the rest of the world.

“A negotiation, then,” he said in what could pass as amusement for a man like him. “What would you say if I throw in paying off your family’s debt? I am even feeling magnanimous toward my future duchess. I will also pay the fare for your cousin to come back from the colonies.”

Marigold brought forth all of her ledgers and the sums. For almost as long as she could remember, her life was trying to make ends meet, and now, this man was offering to unload that burden?

“It is quite a considerable amount, Your Grace,” she clarified. “To the gang but also debt to the butcher, the grocer, and real money to past servants. It’s been a while since we last paid Alfred. We even owe money to old friends.”

“I am well aware of your financial situation. I will make sure to do my due diligence.”

“They should also inform you that there is no dowry to speak of.”

“I gathered as much,” he chuckled, not cruelly, just matter-of-factly. “You do have information that is valuable to me, and also, you will help me get the marriage and heir situation out of the way.”

Marigold knew well that most marriages of the gentry had nothing to do with love. Despite that, having a child made her flinch. But who was she to be choosy? After all, this man was suggesting to take her out of spinsterhood and make her a duchess. And that was exactly when she realized the scope of her situation.

She, of all people, would become a duchess.

Perhaps it was the surmounting pressure or simply the absurdity of the situation that made her laugh hard. It was obviously a reaction that the Duke was not expecting, if she were to judge by the curious look regarding her.

“I am sorry, Your Grace,” she said, still laughing. “I was just prepared that this was a joke, a bluff, and now, I am seriously considering whether or not I want to become a duchess. Me,” her laughter was now uncontrollable, “a duchess.”

One moment, she was under the willow tree laughing, and the next, she was against the trunk of said tree, the Duke’s hand on her waist and the other behind her head to cushion the impact. She was close, so close that she could see that the Duke was quite livid. Her laughter withered, and her breath was caught.

“When I make a decision, sweetheart,” his voice was now a low growl, “I think long and hard. Do you understand that?”

Marigold gulped and nodded out of pure instinct.

“When I say I need the information, I mean all of it. And when I say I need an heir,” he said, leaning dangerously close, “I am getting an heir.”

“I understand,” she muttered.

“Do you? Understand what that means?”

Marigold was a spinster and a virgin, not ignorant. She knew exactly what producing an heir required of them. She nodded once, looking away, but the Duke was not done. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him.

“And when I say you will be My Duchess, is that understood?” he demanded, his body now flush against hers.

The air left her lungs, and part of her sanity decided to join it.

“I said,” his breath fanned her face, “is that understood?”

Marigold managed to nod, and a smirk adorned his full lips. He pulled even closer, his breath now against her ear.

“Good girl,” he purred.

And then he kissed right behind her ear. That patch of flesh caught fire, and the fire spread through her whole body wildly. There was no more breath to speak of, and her heart was thundering against her ribs.