When a Duke Loves a Governess (Unlikely Duchesses #3) - Olivia Drake Page 0,86

softened as he leaned forward to grasp her hand. “Forgive me, Tessa. That was poorly done. I meant no offense. It’s just that … I never thought to marry again. This has come as a shock to me as well as to you.”

The remorseful sincerity in his eyes tempted her. She could even understand that his plans for his life had been thrown into disarray as much as hers.

But though her imprudent heart yearned for him, it was bitterly obvious that Carlin was acting out of gentlemanly duty because of her blue blood. If he felt any true fondness, he’d have proposed the previous night when she had been a common nobody. Now everything in her rebelled at entering into a loveless marriage to a man whose affections must still belong to his late wife. A man who felt obliged to offer matrimony. A man whose high rank would prevent her from fulfilling her life’s dream.

As the carriage rolled to a halt in front of Carlin House, she pulled her hand from his. “You may have no choice, Your Grace, but I am a free woman. And my answer is no. I will not marry you. Not now or ever.”

Chapter 16

Guy spent the next several days dismally aware of how badly he’d bungled his marriage proposal to Tessa. He had plenty of time to reflect during his fruitless hunt for the stolen diaries. His days were spent checking in at Bow Street, following up on leads, and questioning the highbrow attendees at the lecture who required more delicate handling than could be expected of a rough-mannered Runner. His mind wasn’t entirely on that mystery, though, because all too often he would think back on that clumsy offer.

From the moment he’d confirmed her connection to Marbury and had seen that the marquess intended to bring her out in society, Guy had faced the inevitability of the marriage. Admittedly, he had been angry, not at Tessa but rather at the circumstances. He had vowed never to wed again. Like her, he’d had his life arranged, and a wife did not figure into it.

Nevertheless, he oughtn’t have blurted out the proposal like that—in a carriage, by God!—when she’d already been in a state of distress over the encounter with her grandfather. He should have had the brains and the courtesy to choose a more appropriate time and setting. Tessa of all women deserved the trappings of romance, the flowers, the diamond ring, and the suitor down on one knee to plead for her hand.

Instead, his wits had deserted him. He had behaved like a clodpate, citing her newfound status as his rationale for the union. He had presented the offer with all the charm of a business deal, and in fact had given her little choice but to agree to it. Worse, he’d been arrogantly certain she’d welcome the solution, as it meant she could share his bed, would become Sophy’s mama, and needn’t reside with her grandfather except for the short period of the betrothal. Not, of course, that he had even bothered to voice any of those advantages.

No wonder she’d thrown his words back into his face. It had not been an offer, it had been a decree. And her refusal had left him dumbfounded and dissatisfied when he ought to have been celebrating his escape from the shackles of wedlock.

The devil of it was, he had warmed to the notion of having Tessa as his wife. He enjoyed her company, her lively curiosity, her witty conversation. He would relish the pleasure of providing a few siblings for Sophy, too. And given Tessa’s disgust of society, she wouldn’t force him to squire her to endless balls and parties as a well-born lady would do. In fact, he suspected she’d far prefer to sit in the library of an evening, curled up beside him, absorbed in reading a book, at least until he leaned over and kissed her …

Yes, they were compatible in many ways, and he’d been a fool not to have recognized that from the start. He fully intended to revisit that botched proposal, once she’d had a few days in which to cool down.

In the meantime, he had attempted to restore himself to her good graces. He had sent her books from the library, especially chosen to entice her interest. He had ordered cream buns delivered to the nursery each day because he knew she liked them. He had invited Sophy to the conservatory for another look at the