Christine Donovan [Seabrook F The Reluctant Duke (epub)

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.No matter what Amelia said, she knew the duchess would be apple-red with rage.She might even think that Emma had tricked her son into the proposal.Maybe Emma could beg Thomas to send her back to America instead.Her reputation would be intact there.Then she remembered that Sebastian was in America.Could she change her name, like one of her heroines in her books might do under the circumstances? Not likely.Boston and New Bedford society knew her too well for that.She could move west…And if she went away, his reputation would not be tarnished at all.Indeed, most would believe him lucky to have escaped marriage to an American.Life was unfair.Standards for men and woman favored men in every regard, and dukes in particular.Someday, in the future, maybe things would be different.But for her and for now, life tipped in favor of the male sex.Upon arriving at Wentworth House, Thomas waited until Amelia and Bella went inside to have a private word with Emma.“My dear,” He took Emma’s gloved hands into his.“I realize tonight was a shock to you, but I promise you, you will not regret marrying me.Please say nothing about what led up to this to my mother.I will tell her in the morning.” Thomas dropped her hands, stepped back, and bowed.“Goodnight.”***His body trembled as he watched Emma enter his home.He hoped he could keep his promise to her.That he would never give her cause to regret marrying him.During the ride to Amesbury’s he had the coach stop twice so he could relieve himself of the nausea he felt.Guilt mixed with acid churning inside his stomach didn’t settle well.He was massaging his right side when he climbed the stairs to his friend’s townhouse.The moment Thomas crossed the threshold into Amesbury’s bedchamber, Myles surveyed his appearance.“You look worse than Amesbury,” Myles exclaimed.“What happened?”Thomas ignored his question.“How is he?”“Sleeping.He still can’t keep anything down, but the doctor says by tomorrow he should be as good as new.” Myles glanced toward their friend and cringed.“I don’t believe him.”“Indeed.I think his fight has just begun,” Thomas agreed as he paced the room, slightly bent to the right side, his hand still massaging away.Why the bloody hell he didn’t sit down was a mystery.“I’m getting married.” There, he said it.Myles stared at him, eyes wide.“You’re what?”Thomas raked his left hand through his disheveled hair.“Look at me.I’m a mess.I thought I would be glad to marry Emma.”His friend raised his brows searching.“Spill all.”Thomas took a deep breath.Burning pain radiated from his side, sending him crashing down on one knee, gasping.“Damn, but my side kills.”Myles ran to Thomas, helped him up, and moved him to a chair.“Much better, thanks.Now as to what happened…” He would never admit to anyone he compromised Emma on purpose; even his two best friends would not understand.“I found her out in the Boonevilles’ gardens alone with Major Fontaine.He was forcing himself on her, the bloody bastard.When I think about it now, I wish I had pummeled him bloody instead of shoving him on his way.”When Thomas had come upon them and found Emma struggling in the major’s arms, his heart had physically stopped and he literally saw red.If he hadn’t been so concerned for Emma he would have beaten the man senseless there and then.“Anyway, I was consoling her when somehow or another we were found sharing an intimate moment––by Lady Shrewsbury and Mrs.Winchester, of all the ladies in attendance.” He hissed as a wave of acute pain pierced his side again and spread throughout his entire body.Could one actually die from guilt?It took a moment to figure out Myles was shaking with laughter, not anger.“Well, it’s settled then.You have found your duchess and will have married off your ward in one ceremony.” Why was Myles finding this so humorous?“You can stop laughing on my account,” Thomas groaned, hissing in pain.“Why, don’t be so dramatic [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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