“What you mean,” the Duke said slowly, “is that you have bullied her into saying she will marry me.”
“She is just frightened and bewildered at the idea of becoming a Duchess,” Aline replied, “Oh, my dearest man, if only I was in her shoes!”
The Duke smiled and it swept away the frown between his eyes.
“I am not certain,” he said in a very different voice, “that you would make a very good Duchess.”
“The only thing that could matter,” Aline said passionately, “would be that I was your wife.”
She lifted her face to his as she spoke and, as if he could not help himself, the Duke put his arms around her and kissed her lips.
Then, fearing they might be disturbed, he released her to ask,
“Are you quite certain that there is nothing else we can do? I did not expect your niece to refuse me.”
