Heiress for Hire (Duke's Heiress #1) - Madeline Hunter Page 0,114
won’t even hear them. You know I am right about this.”
“You would do that for me? As my employee?”
“I do not take employment. My thinking is we would share any inquiry that requires us both. We would consult on strategy and tactics, and divide up what to do. That will be more efficient, and also be twice as fast.”
“It sounds a lot like a partnership, no matter what you call it.”
“I am sure there will be inquiries in which I will not be useful, so you would conduct those on your own.”
She could not think of any kind of inquiry in which he would not be at least somewhat useful. The idea of a partnership had not set well with her when he proposed it, but now . . . She was sure it did not hold appeal only because it would ensure she would see him with continued frequency, although that played a role in her reconsideration.
“It sounds complicated,” she said. “Perhaps in the days ahead we should talk about whether we should forge a more formal alliance. If you promise not to become the officer commanding the troops, I might agree to that.”
He turned very serious. His embracing arm tightened. “If I had my way, I would be proposing the most formal alliance possible, Minerva, even knowing that with your new situation you have no use for it. I have accepted you will never agree to that, however, and understand why.”
He looked at her warmly. Wistfully. Her own emotions turned poignant. “I have thought about it,” she said quietly. “You are not the only one who has been distracted.”
“If I tell you that I treasure you, that I love you to the point of not only distraction but madness, would it make a difference? Because I do, darling. I will swear to anything you want, if it will encourage you to continue thinking about it.”
His declaration caused tears to well up in her. She had made a terrible mistake once when facing this choice, but she was no girl now, and this man was no enigma. This would not be a practical marriage, or one she needed for security. It would be a love match, with a man she already trusted with her body and her heart.
And yet—that old shadow had not completely faded. She could not deny she would lose much if she did this. She gazed deeply into his eyes, while her mind weighed it all.
“Would you swear to never play the army officer, in any way, with me or mine?”
He smiled. “You have my word as a gentleman. Should I ever forget, I am sure you will remind me of this moment.”
“You can be sure of that. I also never again want to worry about making my own way should I need to.”
“Part of your inheritance is in trust, and I cannot touch it. If you sell the partnership, that money can be added to it. A husband has certain rights to the use of his wife’s property, but not the capital that is in trust. Sanders will explain all of that when you meet with him, should you decide to marry anyone. As to the income, we will declare it yours to use as you wish in our settlement.”
“Would you allow me to continue my inquiries? I truly enjoy them, and do not want to stop.”
“We will be together in that, as in everything.”
Did she trust him to keep that promise, or would he try to force her to stop if she ever was hurt again? Sending him to speak with the men did not mean it would never happen. Women can hit someone over the head too. She had proven that, hadn’t she?
He said nothing to press her for a decision. He had the good sense to remain quiet. That was another thing she liked about him. He did not demand she share her thinking. He did not argue against her emotions.
“There is much to recommend this,” she said. “I might well get with child, for example. I would rather not be making such a decision due to that happening.”
“That is an excellent point.”
“One you neglected to make.”
“I was sure you have been aware of that possibility already.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I suppose I will have repeated contact with that family of yours, no matter what I do. Your aunts will want to inspect me, in the least, since they think I all but stole from them. It would be useful if you were standing between them and me, to take the heavy fire.”
“I promise to protect you from them. Heroically.”
“I will admit I am of more than half a mind to be brave again,” she said. “Love has me thinking that way. I only see one serious problem.”
“What is that?”
“I’m not sure that I can live with someone who makes lists all the time.”
He laughed. “I promise you will never see me write one.”
“Then take me to bed, and while we are together propose to me if you want to, and let us see what I say.”
Not long after, as one last test, she rolled so that he covered her with his body for the first time while they were joined. She waited for the old emotions to rise, prepared to battle them, fully aware of her vulnerability beneath his strength and size. She discovered her heart was too full to allow anything to dull her love and joy.
She held him to her heart while he moved in her. His words of love entered her head and touched her essence. At the height of their abandon he paused, heroically, and looked down with love and passion in his eyes. “Will you honor me by being my wife, Minerva?”
Of course, my love. “Yes.”
Don’t miss the next Duke’s Heiress romance
from the New York Times bestselling author
Madeline Hunter . . .
HEIRESS IN RED SILK
Kevin Radnor is angry that his late uncle, the Duke of Hollinburgh, bequeathed half of Kevin’s invention and company to a total stranger—a woman no one in the family knows. When he meets his new partner he is surprised to find she is an attractive, bright-eyed, desirable young woman. A milliner, of all things.
What was the late duke thinking? Kevin swallows his ire and befriends Miss Jameson, hoping to convince her to accept the role of a very silent partner. If she resists his arguments that she should accede to whatever he wants to do with his enterprise, perhaps kisses and caresses can convince her to see reason . . .
Rosamund Jameson is shocked to discover she is an heiress, but fully intends to make good use of her new fortune. Her plans are to establish her sister’s future, to expand her millinery business, to better herself so maybe an old lover will marry her, and—oh, yes—to involve herself fully in this business she now owns with Kevin Radnor. She wants to make sure this handsome, charismatic man who has more vision than practicality does not ruin her. She intends to keep it all business with Kevin, too, which proves much more difficult when she discovers that his many areas of brilliance and expertise include sensuality and seduction.