The Reluctant Marquess: The Duke's Daughters - Prequel by Rose Pearson

Author:Rose Pearson [Pearson, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

Much to Molly’s displeasure, Mrs. Miller did just as she had said and kept behind the two of them, even though both she and Lord Seaworth protested that she need not do so. Lord Seaworth appeared even more frustrated than before and Molly chose, wisely she thought, to keep all conversation to herself for the time being.

“Miss Newton,” Lord Seaworth began, after a few long minutes of silence. “I believe I owe you an apology.”

That was not what she had expected to hear from him! Surprised, Molly looked up enquiringly, only to see him study her with something akin to regret.

“I have not treated you particularly well thus far, and I must apologize for that.”

“My lord,” Molly replied, a little astonished. “You have treated me most kindly. In fact, I am to have a ball, which I do not think you particularly intended, but yet you have agreed to it anyway. I have been taken to a great many places for a great number of occasions and have had a wonderful time thus far. What has made you think that you are not treating me fairly?”

The noise of the busy London streets faded as she waited for his answer, more than a little surprised that he had said something so strange. A niggle of worry made her question whether or not she had shown the correct appreciation for what he had done for her thus far, making her open her mouth again to apologize for her possible lack of gratitude, only for him to shake his head and speak again.

“When you told Lord Huntly of your love of books and when you spoke of your visit to the London library with Lord Donoghue, I realized that I know very little about you. I have not taken any time to grow familiar with you. In fact, I cannot think of a single occasion when we have simply enjoyed a conversation about one thing or the other.” His lips thinned for a moment as he pressed them together, clearly frustrated with himself. “For too long, I have seen you as nothing more than a task that must be completed – I must find you a suitable husband, and so I have shunted you from one place to the next with no consideration for your own likes and dislikes. I have not asked you about what kind of gentleman you would most like to consider, and have shown you very little interest in who you yourself are. That has been wrong of me, Miss Newton, and it is something I intend to rectify.”

It was such a long speech – indeed, longer than she had ever heard from him before, and Molly was left entirely mute for some minutes, finding it all quite extraordinary. The way he was glancing down at her – lifting his eyes from the pavement in front to her face and then back again – told her that there was a deep level of uncertainty within him, that he was almost tormented by her lack of response.

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