Mark of The Marquess (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book)
Page 25
Just as he’d likely hoped.
“Very well,” Valiant said. “But you must swear to do your part.”
He frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means you must strive to be human,” she said. “Less of a Neanderthal and more like a gentleman.”
He crossed his arms, and his expression became hard. “I can only ever be who I am, and it would be best if my wife knew what to expect from me now rather than later.”
She found herself admiring him even though he was entirely irritating. “I am not asking you to change entirely, but one should always appear polished when in good company.”
His brow cut upward, and his gaze stroked her from head to toe and back up. “Are you telling me that you only pretend to be this polished when in company? Whatever are you like when alone, Snow?”
* * *
“I do not put on airs, Your Grace. This is me,” she finally managed indignantly. “And I’m not Snow White. My hair is not even black.”
He didn’t believe her and ignored her protest to his nickname. “Everyone has secrets.” Though Anthony had fewer than most. What was the point when everyone knew him to be the barbarian that he was? According to the ton, Anthony had been impatient and killed his father for the title.
The only secrets he truly harbored were those that others asked of him, like the women who came and went.
None of the women who came to him wished to tie themselves to him in scandal or marriage, which made him certain that Valiant would fail.
But he’d not brought up the bet so that he could have a wife. He’d only mentioned it as a way to keep her near. He’d have avoided the very subject if he could have found a way to keep her around. Mentioning other women would not help endear him to her and setting out in search of a wife wouldn’t help either.
If anything, Valiant would distance herself even more, wishing for him to, of course, be faithful to whatever woman he wedded.
Which he had no intention of doing. Faithful meant having ‘faith’ in the relationship and he didn’t. No matter what Valiant said, if he married— which was likely not going to happen— the woman would not love him. Therefore, after giving birth to his heir, she would be free to do as she pleased.
Dreams of fidelity had died with his first engagement many years ago.
Valiant sighed. “Putting aside secrets for the moment, exactly what should a wife expect from you?”
He held out an arm in the direction they’d come from. “Perhaps, we should return to the office for the remainder of this conversation.”
She straightened and stared down the hall with an ominous look and then preceded him back to his office.
He closed the door behind her with a thud he knew would rattle her.
She jumped and glared at him before she moved to a wingback chair in the corner of the room, set away from the other furniture. “At least you dress well enough.”
“You approve of my style?” he asked from the door.
“Well, I’ve not sent you off to Jermyn Street or Paris or even Luton.”
“Luton?” he asked. “What is there?”
“Hats, of course.” Valiant frowned. “No lady or gentleman is complete without one. Luton is where all the best hats come from. But most simply get them when they arrive in the city.”
Anthony filed that information away to consider later.
“Now then,” Valiant went on. “Tell me what a wife should expect from you?”
He grinned and decided against pushing her at the moment. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so very entertained.
He moved to his desk and sighed as he fell into the seat. “Absolutely nothing.”
She blinked and then did so again before she said, “Nothing? You’ll give your wife nothing?” When he only held her gaze, her face fell and her lips parted. “And exactly why would any woman fall in love with someone like that?”
“They wouldn’t, which is why you’ll fail,” he said.
She fisted her hands on the chair arms. “This is entirely not fair.”
“I never said it would be.”
Valiant shook her head as she studied him. Her lovely eyes seemed to search him, and he wanted to tell her she’d find nothing.
“There has to be something,” she said after a moment. “Surely, you didn’t think to depend on your looks.”
“Are you calling me handsome, my lady?”
Her eyes flashed with heat again.
He chuckled and leaned back in his own chair. “Pleasure,” he finally said. “I can please her in bed. Enjoy telling that to whichever ladies you think to pair me with.”
She didn’t pale this time. He thought her growing used to his absurdities.
“There has to be more,” she said.
“There isn’t.” He’d worked very hard at making himself a good lover, building his expertise over the last decade at least.
He knew women well. He’d made it his life’s mission and though he’d never heard his lovers admit his grandeur aloud, he’d found his bedroom to have an endless list of newcomers.
He imagined they whispered his name to their friends.
That thought used to please him, but over time, he’d stopped caring.
And yet the need to ensure his good name as it pertained to bedding hadn’t dwindled at all.
Valiant broke into his thoughts. “I can’t possibly go around telling young ladies that you are good in bed and therefore good for marriage.”
“You could if you have firsthand experience.”
Her cheeks flamed red.
He smiled wolfishly. “And while we’re at it, don’t you dare offer me some child. I’ll take no lady under the age of… let’s say twenty-five.”
“Twenty-five?” Her eyes widened. “You want a spinster.”
“Or a widow,” he murmured.
She averted her gaze as if desperate to look at anything but him. Then she simply closed her eyes and asked, “Do you have any other stipulations?”
Not really. “Oh, yes, there are many.”
See how Anthony and Valiant’s story unfolds.
Get the story HERE.
Book List Order
Also by DEBORAH WILSON
∫ ∫ ∫
VALIANT LOVE SERIES
Book 1 - The Perfect Lady
Book 2 - The Perfect Gentleman
Book 3 - The Perfect Duke
Book 4 - The Last Duke
Book 5 - Mark of the Marquess
∫ ∫ ∫
STANDALONE NOVELLA
The Lady's Masquerade
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Copyright and Disclaimer
Copyright © 2019 by Deborah Wilson - All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are either the product of author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this book in any form or by any electronic means without written permission from the author. Recording of this book is strictly prohibited. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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