Falling Into Bed with a Duke (Hellions of Havisham) Read Free

end of his calling upon her.
    She now welcomed the harsh gurgle as he set aside his cup before standing. Placing her own cup and saucer on the low table in front of her, she pushed to her feet and fought not to look too pleased that the ordeal was finally over. “Thank you so much for coming, Lord Sheridan.”
    “I hope I may call on you tomorrow.” The earnestness in his brown eyes alerted her that he was not truly asking for permission but was merely stating his intent.
    “If I may be so bold, my lord, allow me to ask if this is truly how you want to spend the remainder of your life—sitting about in heavy silences with only the ticking of the clock to remind us of the passing of time?”
    He blinked. “Pardon?”
    Now she was the one to sigh, hating that she was forced to be blunt because he refused to acknowledge the truth of the situation. “We are not suited, my lord.”
    “I’m not certain how you’ve reached that conclusion.”
    “We don’t converse. I have tried to engage you in several topics of conversation—”
    “On the wisdom of England’s expansion in Africa. It is not a subject that should concern a lady.”
    “It is going to concern a great many ladies if war erupts, and they find themselves catapulted into widowhood. Not to mention the financial toll on the country—” She held up a hand. The man looked positively horrified. “My apologies. You didn’t want to discuss it earlier, and I’m quite certain you don’t wish to now as you are preparing to leave. It’s simply that I have opinions and believe I have the right to voice them. You seem to have no interest in hearing my view on anything other than the weather.”
    “You will be a countess.”
    Now it was her turn to blink. “What has that to do with anything?”
    “You will be Lady Sheridan. As such, you shall be too busy overseeing your duties and your charitable endeavors to be sitting about in the parlor with me during the afternoon.”
    “And in the evening?”
    “I have an extensive library that will be at your disposal. Although surely you do needlework.”
    “I don’t, actually. I find it tedious. I much prefer a rousing debate on social reform.”
    “I will not tolerate a wife who engages in rousing debates . It’s unseemly.”
    “Which is why, my lord, we are not suited.” She said it kindly when she yearned to ask him why he thought any woman would want to be his wife.
    “I have a very large estate, Miss Dodger. Granted, it does need some upkeep, but your dowry will set it to rights.”
    And there it was, spoken at long last: the reason for his presence in her parlor.
    “But you see, Sheridan, I come with my dowry. Furthermore, I come as I am. With my own ideas, not necessarily my husband’s, with my own interests, again, not necessarily my husband’s. But I want him to respect my opinions and interests. I want to be able to discuss them with him and know that he is listening.”
    “I’ll give you children.”
    What did that have to do with his listening, which he obviously was failing to do. She felt rather like a mule being tossed carrots in hopes that one would get the beast to move along. And while she desperately wanted children, she wasn’t willing to pay any price in order to obtain them. If she wasn’t happy, how could they be? “Will you give me love?”
    He tapped his front teeth together. “It is possible that, with time, my affections would grow.”
    She gave him a tolerant smile. “I think you would find living with me to be quite challenging.”
    “I have two estates. Once I have my heir, I see no reason that we must live at the same residence.”
    It took everything within her not to laugh hysterically. The man refused to heed what she was saying—which had been the problem from the beginning. “Call on me if you wish, my lord, but know that under no circumstances will I ever marry you.”
    “You won’t get a better offer.”
    “That may well be true, but I seriously doubt that I