Читать книгу What A Duke Dares - Anna Campbell - Страница 3

‘I’m not the woman for you.’

While today’s misgivings hinted that Pen might be right, his pride flinched under her rejection. ‘We know each other so well—’

She sighed. ‘Cam, you need a duchess with dignity and decorum. You must have forgotten all the times you dragged me from disaster.’

‘You’re still young. You can be trained,’ he said, before he recognised that such a comment would hardly forward his suit. Usually he said exactly the right thing, but this encounter rattled his sangfroid.

Her momentary softening congealed to frost. ‘I’m not a hound to come at your whistle.’

He sighed again. ‘You know that’s not what I want in a bride.’

‘Do I?’ she asked, arching her eyebrows. ‘You’ve devoted your life to rising above your parents’ disgrace, the scandals have guided your every action.’

He winced under the compassion in her gaze. ‘That makes me sound like a complete idiot.’

‘No, it doesn’t.’

‘You can help me. You’ll make a capital duchess.’

‘You’re mistaken.’ He’d never imagined that worldly smile on Pen’s face. His reluctant desire deepened. ‘I’m too independent to be anyone’s duchess, especially yours.’