“I would not mind if you did that here . . . should you agree to become duchess.” He glanced out over the gray, slow-moving water to avoid her face. It was the first they had spoken of marriage since the night of the ball. Even now he could not quite say it. He spoke around it, and a queer sort of flicker began in his stomach. It was an agitation he did not care for. “How magnanimous of you.” There was a bitterness in her voice that was softened by the shape of her smile. It drew his gaze to her shining eyes. “Or I could simply stay unmarried and do as I wish.” He gave her a nod. “Or you could
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