Page 6 of My Beastly Duke

The baron narrowed his eyes at her, tossing his cloth napkin beside his plate. “The roof will be repaired, and as for the staff, your mother can see about hiring them. I have done what was required of me. You could also do the cooking and cleaning on your own if hiring is too much of a hassle for you.”

“So, we are to be treated like servants,” Marina muttered under her breath and shook her head, turning her gaze back to the bowl of soup in front of her.

“What was that?” The baron snapped, his eyes darkening.

Marina was about to open her mouth with a reply when her mother cut her short.

“Marina was just saying that we are grateful for your kindness. I am not sure what we would have done, had you not been so generous as the gift us the old dower house.” She addressed the baron while keeping her gaze on Marina, shooting her a warning look.

Allowing the knife she had used to butter her bread to fall beside her plate, Marina forced a smile. “Of course, we are. I can’t think of a better place to raise a young girl. Prudence will benefit greatly from the mold in the attic and even the mice that undoubtedly reside in the panty.”

“I have had just about enough of your impertinence!” The baron’s chair scraped across the floor as he flew to his feet. “My first offer of help was not good enough for this family! And by God, I will not stand for this kind of treatment! You ungrateful who-”

“My lord!” He fixed his beady eyes on Johanna who stared at her plate with an expressionless face.

Gripping the fabric over her knees, Marina balled her fists. She had not blamed her mother for not wanting to marry the baron, she would have refused him all the same. No woman wanted to be tied to a pompous man such as him. She realized in the loaded silence that she would have to placate the situation for the sake of her family.

“I apologize for my impertinence, my lord.” The formal address felt bitter on her tongue as she forced it out.

“That is what I thought…” The baron began to lower himself back into his chair when the butler suddenly cleared his throat at the door. “What is it?” He snapped at the man.

“His Grace, the Duke of Harper is here to see you, my lord.” The butler held his head high, making his tall frame seem even stiffer.

Marina’s head snapped up as she glanced from her mother to the butler.

“Isn’t that…” Prudence sat up straight, her voice trailing off when the duke appeared behind the butler in the doorway.

“I have come to ask for Miss Marina Wallace’s hand in marriage.” His eyes found Marina from across the room, making her heart beat faster as the pit of her stomach fluttered with nerves.

“It is Mr. Marner’s brother!” Prudence uttered in shock before her mother could place her hand on her arm and silence her.

Coming to his feet, the baron knocked over his glass of wine. “Your Grace! I was not expecting you this evening.” His round face filled with color.

“How could you when I myself did not know that I was coming?” The duke tore his eyes from Marina and stared down at the baron with a look of contempt.

“Why is his face so scarred?” Prudence whispered to their mother, as Johanna shushed her quite violently.

Marina noticed the way that the duke stiffened as he held his head even higher.

“I would like to have a word with Miss Wallace in private.” His words were polite, yet his voice left no question as to his intentions.

This is not a request.

She felt a shiver of pleasure at his commanding tone.

“I hardly think that is proper, an unmarried lady should never…” The baron’s words trailed off when the duke lifted his hand to silence him.

“There is no impropriety when the young lady in question is to be my wife.” The duke’s eyes bore into hers, causing a wave of heat to rush up the back of her neck.

The baron faltered in his words before taking a step back and standing behind his chair. “Of… of course, Your Grace.”

A small amount of satisfaction filled her chest as Marina lifted her dress and led the way out of the room, pushing past the duke and butler. She made her way across the hall that still housed their belongings and waited for the duke to enter the parlor before shutting the door behind them.

“Am I to take it that you wish to accept my proposal in private?” The duke smirked, running his tongue over his bottom lip before drawing it between his teeth.

The pit of her stomach fluttered uncontrollably as she turned her back to the door. “May I begin by asking why it is that you felt so entitled to show up at my home unannounced, Your Grace?” Her pulse began to race when the corner of his mouth tilted into a wolfish grin. The floral walls of the parlor almost felt too small as he took a step forward.

“How could I not when you left your veil behind? If you did not want me to pay you a visit, then you should not have made such a dramatic exit.” His deep brown eyes bore into hers, making her realize once again how handsome he was despite the scar on his face.