Some Like It Wicked by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer
Language: eng
Format: epub

dealings with him.

No, if Pandora truly was guilty of being

unfaithful to her husband, then Rupert

could only conclude that she had been

driven to it by that husband. How or why,

he did not know as yet, but it was to be

hoped that the investigation Benedict

Lucas was even now putting in motion,

concerning the names of the people who

had visited or stayed with Barnaby

Maybury at Highbury House in the years

before his death, might provide Rupert

with the answers to that question and

others.

‘It is not,’ he dismissed firmly. ‘And

have you forgotten that I confided in you

my own reasons for marrying?’

Of course Pandora hadn’t forgotten that

Rupert’s reason for marrying was to rid

himself of his father’s widow once and for

all, rather than any genuine feelings for

Pandora herself; a truth that could not be

denied when he had applied for a special

marriage licence after knowing her for

only a few hours and confirming that he

had not offered for Pandora because he

loved her or wanted her specifically as

his wife, but because he believed her

situation in life to be such that she could

not refuse him.

And he was right, of course …

Pandora’s flight from Stratton House

earlier today, all her frantic efforts at

packing since her return home, had all

been in an effort to deny that which she

knew to be inevitable, undeniable: she felt

safe with Rupert and had absolutely no

doubt that he would protect her, both from

society, and whatever danger now stalked

her in the night.

That he could not protect her from her

o w n emotions, from the knowledge that

she was falling in love with him, was not

his fault but her own.

She had thought long and hard after

Rupert had retired to his dressing room

the night before, at first in complete

wonder at the physical delights he had

introduced her to, along with those

feelings of awkwardness at her own

wanton response—a response Rupert had

now assured her that he thoroughly

appreciated rather than abhorred. But

following that, once she had been able to

see past her loss of control in his arms,

had come the knowledge of why she had

behaved in that way.

She was falling in love with him.

If she had not already done so …

He

was,

she

now

appreciated,

everything that a woman most desired in

the man she married: handsome, strong,

protective of those he considered his own,

a considerate and passionate lover, and,

on top of all those things, he was also

wealthy

beyond

imagining

and

in

possession of the title of Duke.

As such any woman would be foolish to

refuse his offer of marriage, whatever his

reason for making it.

Pandora, already more than halfway in

love with him, would have to be mad to

continue fighting her own inclination to

accept him.

Besides which, once the two of them

were married, there was always the hope

—remote, but still there—that Rupert

might one day come to feel a genuine

affection for her.

She drew in a deep breath. ‘Very well,

Rupert, if you are still set on the idea of

marrying me—’

‘I am.’

‘—even knowing the things about me

that you do,’ Pandora continued firmly,

‘then I accept your proposal.’

Rupert had no idea of the process of

thoughts which had led her to make her

decision—nor was he sure he wished to

know them—it was only the end result

which was important. ‘And the marriage

may take place this afternoon?’

She swallowed before speaking.

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