Taming a Duke's Wild Rose by Tammy Andresen

Author:Tammy Andresen [Andresen, Tammy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

TAMING A DUKE’S WILD ROSE

CHAPTER NINE

Rose sat at breakfast, listening to her companions talk incessantly about the scarred duke. It was obvious they were titillated, frightened, and excited as they chattered with increasing speed.

“Did you see how deep it was? How did he live?”

“With that dark hair, it makes him look so mysterious…”

“…and frightening--“

“And handsome--”

“Dark--”

“Dreadful…” they both took a breath to continue.

“That man will be my husband. You talk as though he is an actor on a stage to ogle. He is a person. Please―“

“Aren’t you frightened?” Sarah Anne asked.

“Of His Grace? Of course not. He is everything I could have…” She had been about to admit he was everything she had ever wanted in a man. It surprised her to realize that the man she had been trying to avoid was the absolute best choice for her. Taking a deep breath, she stood. “I need to speak with His Grace and my father. I’ll meet you both in the music room.”

Out in the hall, she leaned against the wall. Any doubts she’d had evaporated last night. Her body knew what her mind had not, he was the man for her. Why else would she have allowed him so many liberties? Liberties she had never allowed another man even when she had said she’d loved them. Her mind drifted back to when she hadn’t allowed Carl to kiss her. She had known he wasn’t the man for her.

Alex had proven himself selfless with all of his attention and ministrations that had been left unreturned. There was so much about love that she had yet to understand but with more conviction than she thought possible, she knew she would give all the effort she could to being worthy of the man who would be her husband. He deserved nothing less.

Moving towards the study, she heard Alex’s deep rumble mingled with her father’s low and tired tones.

“I will defer to your best judgement,” she heard her father say. Walking faster, she knocked quickly, determined not to eavesdrop again.

Alex opened the door and stepped aside to allow her in. His hand covertly brushed her back as she passed. He was so close, his scent filled her nostrils. That tantalizing mixture of pine and male musk made her inhale sharply. She wanted more.

“Rose,” her father’s voice called from the makeshift bed. “Let me look at you, child.”

Reluctantly, she turned her attention to her father and stepped further into the room. “How do you fare?”

“I’ll be better when you are safely married and your future is secure. The license arrived today.” He gave her a long look to emphasize his point.

Little shivers of anticipation raced down her spine. But she kept her exterior calm. Perhaps it was habit, her father never approved of her feelings for men, or maybe she just wanted to keep them between her and Alex, but her answer was demure. “Yes, Papa.”

“Very good. Lundberg is proving to be a larger problem than we anticipated. It has been suggested that you marry even sooner.

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