Embracing Scandal by Suzi Love

Author:Suzi Love
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

At home at his Mayfair mansion, the Duke of Sherwyn slumped in the same chair Jenner had roused him from the first night Becca had come to see him. After doing the honourable thing and offering her marriage, he had nothing for which to feel blameworthy.

He groaned. Of course he felt guilt, and remorse, and shame. And more. Much, much more. What a mess he’d made of what should be for any woman a pleasurable occasion, possibly the most memorable of their lives. When reciting the practical reasons men, many men, had proposed to her, Becca had looked so vulnerable that he’d wanted to sweep her into his arms and promise her the moon. Shower her with the romantic gestures she deserved. Be the man she merited as her husband.

Regrettably for her self-worth, he’d proved himself to be just another arrogant man who assumed any woman several years past twenty and unwed should be grateful for any offer of marriage. Even an offer as cold and unsavoury as his had sounded. Another man conceited enough to assume she needed him more than he needed her.

Becca had asked if he loved her. Feeling love was a painful emotion he’d avoided since being banished by his father and cut off from his brothers. So, if what he felt for Becca was a simple case of neighbourly concern, friendship, for her and her family, why then did he ache inside?

When he was with her, he felt happy and at peace and he’d felt confident they’d deal well enough in the future to endure a marriage. Very few unions of people of their class happened for reasons of strong emotions, but rather for more practical concerns. It was irritating that Becca couldn’t see that. See that a marriage to him would benefit her, not harness her spirit.

For two hours he brooded, alternating between blaming himself for his poor judgment and lack of tact with annoyance over Becca’s ridiculously normal female reaction. Of all women he expected her, as a theorist, to view their relationship in a practical fashion and not romanticize it. All he knew was that he was so confused, perplexed and saddened that he had no idea of how to proceed, an unprecedented turn of events for someone as decisive as him. When his brothers joined him, he was well on his way to drowning his sorrows in brandy. Jenner muttered under his breath about the stupidity of youthful men who couldn’t see their noses in front of their faces.

• • •

Cayle glared at his brothers for disturbing his solitary melancholy. Brian poured he and Tony hefty slugs of brandy then threw himself into a nearby armchair. “You look like hell.”

Cayle merely glowered harder and snarled.

Tony took a second look at his face and murmured, “Ah, I see.”

Brian, always slower getting the point than quick-witted Tony, looked between his two brothers in puzzlement. “See what? What am I missing?”

Tony chuckled, relishing Cayle’s despondency. “At least now we know you’re human. Brian and I had worried that since your return you were imitating a block of granite.

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