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“Never speak my name again.”
Chance heard the raw pain in her voice, and he saw the tremble of her body even as she kept her head high. “I’ve just allowed you to ruin my life. The least you can do is respect my title.”
“I can assure you that was not my intention,” Edgemere started, trying to hold her arms. She slapped his hands away. “I wanted you, Daisy. No one else. But I can’t—”
“I don’t care,” she yelled back. “You’ll go on to marry some heiress but not me. I’ll spend the rest of my life paying the price.” And then her voice broke, her hands coming up to cover her mouth.
Chance couldn’t take another second. “Daisy. Come here.”
She turned to him as he held out his hand.
“No.” Edgemere tried to reach for her, but he saw the move coming and batted the other man’s arm away. With a quick move, he took Daisy’s hand and pulled her to his side.
“Your life isn’t ruined, sweetheart.”
“No,” Edgemere growled again. “Not now. Not here.”
“What what do you mean?”
Chance looked at Edgemere as he spoke to Hart. “Lord Hartwell, I’d like to formerly ask your permission to court your sister.”
“Granted,” Hart said.
“Chance?” Daisy asked, her voice shaking. “What are you doing?”
He looked down at her then. Into those big brown eyes, laced with pain and confusion. “I’m saving you.”
“Saving me?” she gasped. “Oh, but, Chance ” then she looked to her brother and then to Edgemere.
“Daisy,” Edgemere bit out. “Don’t do this. Please.”
“Daisy,” Hart said. “You don’t have a choice. It’s either becoming a duchess, or you’ll be ruined.”
“You’re right,” she answered softly, her gaze meeting his again as a tear streaked down her cheek. “That isn’t much of a choice at all. I accept, Your Grace.”
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What readers are saying:
“Some twists and love burns slowly. Lovemaking outside of marriage heat level 5 out of 5.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~Nala W.
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“This is an absolutely awesome series. It was exciting, frustrating and, in some parts, funny.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~Karen R.
~DUKE OF CHANCE~
“What have you done?” He rumbled a near shout, taking long strides into the room.
“I—” she started, her arms circling about her midriff.
“How could you be such a fool?” he raged, his voice echoing off the walls.
“I—”
“Is there a possibility of a child?”
“What? No!” she gasped, for the first time feeling a bit of her own anger. “Of course not. We only kissed.”
“Only a kiss? Bah!” He slashed a hand through the air. “I’ve already heard that part of your dress was removed? That’s far more than just a kiss.”
She winced. That was true, and upon reflection, a bit difficult to get around. “We got a bit carried away. We were celebrating.”
“Celebrating?” Hart yelled, beginning to pace the room.
But when he moved, he ceased blocking the door, and Daisy realized they weren’t alone as she caught sight of two other people just outside the door. Not only was her aunt in the hall, but standing next to her was the Duke of Danesbury.
A shiver ran down her spine when their gazes met, his eyes a mesmerizing shade of tawny gold, and she cursed herself. How could he still elicit that reaction after all this time?
His jaw was just as chiseled, his shoulders broad compared with the narrow taper of his waist. He stood, looking both stern and masculine. And while the Duke of Danesbury appeared carved from marble, the sight of him never failed to make her wish to melt. A puddle at his feet was all she’d ever been.
She scolded herself instantly. After all, she was in love with another man. A ridiculously handsome and titled man. How could she still shiver at the very sight of Chance? Her brother’s best friend? She’d had an absurd childhood infatuation with the man. Well, he’d been a teen then, but at ten years her senior, he’d only seen her as a little girl.
And she’d been so young and silly compared to Arabella. The beautiful Arabella had always been part of their adventures, but Daisy had been too small and too annoying to join in the fun, according to them.
But she’d so wanted to be part of their group, take part in their adventures.
And most of all, she wished for the Duke of Danesbury to see her as something other than a little girl.
And now here he was.
He wasn’t likely to see her as a child after today. A trollop perhaps? A fool? She winced.
“What exactly were you celebrating?”
“He asked…” She swallowed down a lump. “He asked me to marry him.”
“Marriage?” Hart’s face turned a distressing shade of purple.
“Hart, please breathe,” she whispered taking a half step toward her brother. “You’re scaring me.”
“I’m scaring you?” He bit back, scrubbing his hand through his normally neat hair. “The man is a fortune hunter, Daisy. And little naïve imp that you are, you just stepped right into his trap.”
She cringed at that. It was one thing for Aunt Mildred to say those words. Her aunt was rather effusive by nature and had an air for the dramatic. But Hart? He never spoke to her like that. Technically, he didn’t talk to her much at all, which made this all the more painful. “Hart?” Her voice trembled with her hurt.
“He wants your dowry, and knowing I’d never agree, he’s attempting to force my hand by ruining you.”
Inside, she died a bit. Could that be the only reason why a man like Edge would want to marry her? A wave of concern washed over her. “That’s what Aunt Mildred said.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Or,” she drew in a tremulous breath, “because no one in my family has any faith in me.”
Hart stopped in his tracks and stared at her, not saying a word as his face fell from angry to sad to crushed. His dismay crushed her too.
“What am I to do now?” he asked.
For some inexplicable reason, her gaze darted to Chance, his golden gaze burning into hers. It near stole her breath, and she had to force out the words. “Allow me to marry.”
“Out of the question,” Hart fired back.
“Why?” She took two more steps, reaching her brother as she clasped his hands in hers. “I can assure you, the feelings are real.”
Hart grimaced down at her. “I’m sure your feelings are real, Daisy. But he’s a known debaucher. This is what he does. He convinces women to…” Her brother paused and glanced at the duke. “What’s the word I’m looking for here?”
Chance’s brows lifted and Daisy’s face flamed with heat. “All the ones that cross my mind shouldn’t be uttered in the company of ladies.”
Her aunt gave a melodramatic squawk behind them, but Daisy only straightened her shoulders. Somehow, her brother bringing Chance into this conversation was a bridge too far.
The Duke of Danesbury was going to lend opinions on her future? Then by all means, let him. “Please, Your Grace, don’t hold back on my account.”
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