The Other Duke Read Online Free PDF Page B

be.”
    Rafe wrinkled his brow. That she was upset was clear, but the fact that he couldn’t exactly place the reason troubled him. She agreed about transferring her affections, but he had not seen her weep over Cyril nor show overly warm emotions when she spoke about him.
    So perhaps there was something else at play here. Either way, Rafe had no choice but to move forward and address her new “terms” to their marriage.
    “I would not trouble you, as you put it,” he said, shifting with discomfort as he tried to find a way to continue. She was a lady, after all, and might not understand. “But…we must…there are certain things we must do… things to—to consummate—”
    She blushed hot, but her jaw set with grim determination. “I know what you are trying to say. So we will have a wedding night, together.”
    He nodded. She didn’t seem shocked by the subject, so he had to assume she had spoken to a female relative or friend in preparation for her wedding night with Cyril. With their original wedding date now just a few days away, he supposed that made sense.
    “But not just a wedding night,” he continued. “We will also need to provide at least an heir and a spare to the title.”
    “Why?” she burst out, suddenly blinking far too much as she edged away from him as far as the narrow phaeton seat would allow. “ Why ?”
    He frowned. She had been calm in the face of dangerously bucking horses, but the idea of bearing his children made her balk. It was very strange.
    “I’m surprised a lady in your position must ask that. Because I am a duke now. Is that not the expectation?”
    “But you don’t want to be a duke,” she argued. “Why live up to the expectations? Your reputation shows you delight in doing so, why should this be different?”
    She was asking him things he already asked himself. Things he had answers to, unfortunately.
    “Because I would not pass this burden to my brother in the event of my untimely death,” he said softly. “Crispin would be even more ill-suited to the duty than I am. It would destroy him.”
    She stared at him, her panic fading, if only for a moment. “You care for him so much?” she asked softly.
    “Of course,” Rafe admitted with no hesitation. “He is my best friend as well as my brother.”
    Her expression softened at that admission, though she seemed to struggle with his request for a moment. Finally she nodded. “It would be unfair of me not to fulfill my duty. I can agree to providing you with sons.”
    She had said the word duty and it hung between them. It was funny, but looking at her, brilliant sunlight dancing off her honey hair, golden on her beautiful face, what they were discussing, sex, didn’t feel much like a duty. Serafina was distant and cold now, but even if she had lingering feelings for his cousin, could Rafe teach her pleasure? After all, passion didn’t have to be linked to the heart.
    “Why are you looking at me that way?” she asked, her voice soft and raspy.
    He shook away thoughts of laying her naked body across his bed and said, “I was only thinking that we have negotiated, as you put it, my desires, but I don’t know what you want, aside from being left alone except for the purposes of procreation.”
    She tugged her lip between her teeth and nibbled gently. The action sent a slash of heat to his cock, and he shifted so she wouldn’t see his sudden and powerful reaction.
    “I would like a reasonable income so that I don’t have to beg for everything I need,” she said. “And a home of my own.”
    He shook his head. “You may stay in the ducal home, Serafina.”
    “No!” she said, her tone again sharp and panicky. She drew a breath that seemed to calm her, for when she spoke again her tone was much more controlled, “No, thank you. I would prefer something less…less grand.”
    Rafe held back a bark of humorless laughter. “As would I.”
    She smiled slightly and he examined her face yet again. There was most