Rescued by a Duke by Ruth J. Hartman

Author:Ruth J. Hartman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Regency, London, sweet romance, clean romance
Publisher: Astraea Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Garrett lifted Sasha off his lap and onto the settee, making sure she was settled before he stepped away. He stood and faced the older woman. Anger surged through him, bubbling in his veins. Why, of all moments in time, did the meddlesome woman have to barge in now?

Lady Johnsing sniffed into her blue lacey handkerchief. "I'm so glad your dear mother didn't live to see this display of wanton lust, your grace. It's so unseemly. So uncivilized."

Garrett held up a hand. "Now just a moment, my lady. To this point, I've tolerated your habit of barging into my home for the sake of your relationship with my mother. In the past, it was just a minor irritation. But this—"

"This is inexcusable. Having witnessed what I have between you and this…. woman, it behooves me to demand you two now marry."

Sasha sucked in a gulp of air. "Marry?" she squeaked.

Garrett stepped toward Lady Johnsing. "You have no right to—"

She straightened her spine, glaring at him through half-closed eyes. "As a lady of noble birth and your mother's closest friend, I have every right." She leaned around Garrett and stared at Sasha, shook her head and frowned and then peered back at Garrett. "That young woman will now be branded as a—"

Garrett pointed at her, his finger just inches from her nose. "Watch what you say."

"You know what she will be branded as if you do not marry her."

He leaned toward her, clenching his teeth. "Which would only happen if you told someone."

Lady Johnsing idly waved her fan. "But I must. It is my duty as a responsible member of good society."

Garrett crossed his arms and tapped his boot to the floor. "And I believe you would do it, wouldn't you?"

Her eyes met his as she blinked, looking the part of an innocent, not the troublemaker she was. "Of course. It can be no other way."

It was true. Lady Johnsing saw herself as the keeper of all proprieties when it came to anyone associated with the ton. Even though Sasha wasn't in that category, the fact that Garrett had taken liberties with her would indeed brand her. Even men of lower standing wouldn't take a second look at her now with what had happened. And Garrett had no doubt Lady Johnsing would delight in telling everyone she came across. But maybe if he appealed to her friendship with his mother…

"My lady, you and my mother were so close, almost as sisters would have been. Is there no way for this…" He pointed back toward the settee. "… to be kept from the ears of the ton?" Garrett hated the thought of putting Sasha through the horror that often resulted from the beau monde's treatment of wrongdoers.

"Certainly. One way. And you know what it is."

He nodded. "If we marry, you won't say anything."

"That is correct."

Garrett raised his shoulders in a shrug. He had been bested. Not that he was at all unhappy with the prospect of marrying Sasha; far from it. It just wasn't how he would have chosen to go about it.

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