To Desire a Wicked Duke Read Online Free PDF Page B

you an ultimatum and vowed to abandon you? I am quite wealthy, Tess. I will promise to contribute generously to your causes, and I am prepared to make you a substantial marriage settlement, every farthing of which you may spend on your charities if you wish. Just think of all the good you could do. It should be some consolation that you can continue tilting at windmills to your heart’s content.”
    His argument didn’t seem persuasive, judging by her grim silence as she continued stalking back and forth across the stage.
    “Sit down, sweeting,” Ian said dryly. “You will wear out your slippers.”
    To his surprise, Tess obeyed and returned to sit on the chaise, although she perched on the edge, straight-backed and rigid with frustration.
    “If you reflect on it unemotionally,” Ian suggested, “you’ll see the wisdom of our immediate nuptials.”
    “I don’t
wish
to be unemotional. We are talking about
marriage
 … a lifelong, irreversible union. This will change every aspect of our lives irrevocably.”
    “Would it comfort you any if I said we could treatour marriage strictly as a business contract? After a suitable interval, we can live separate lives if you wish.”
    Her look turned guarded. “Do you mean that we would be husband and wife in name only?”
    That was not quite his meaning. “The marriage must be consummated for it to be legal, but afterward, we needn’t share a bed or even a home.”
    Ian didn’t expound further. He would eventually be expected to sire an heir to carry on the title, but he thought it unwise to mention that obligation to Tess just now.
    As for his choice of brides, he had planned to make a marriage of convenience someday, to a gentlewoman with a dispassionate nature and similar background to his.
    Not a woman like Tess, who was warm and spirited and filled with passion for her causes. She was no meek, simpering young miss, even if at the moment she was at a severe disadvantage, trying to come to terms with her unwanted fate. Otherwise, she fit his requisites for his duchess quite well. And he suspected that the physical aspects of their marriage could be more than satisfactory.
    An image entered Ian’s head of them together in the bridal bed. He could picture Tess’s long, glossy-dark hair flowing around her lovely bare body, her legs wrapped tightly around his hips as he took her—
    Cutting off the unwanted vision, Ian said more curtly than he intended, “We will both have to make the best of a difficult situation.”
    After a long silence, Tess spoke in a weak voice. “I fear you may be right.”
    “We should be married on the morrow, before the gossips can savage your reputation.”
    Renewed dismay claimed her features, but at least she didn’t argue. Ian pulled out his pocket watch, noting that it was nearly one o’clock. “I had best leave now if I hope to reach Doctor’s Commons in time.”
    “In time for what?”
    “I need to procure a special license to wed. I will likely remain in town overnight to visit my solicitor and make the financial arrangements we discussed. But I should return by late tomorrow morning.”
    Tess bit her lower lip hard. “You are just going to leave me here to face Lady Wingate and her houseguests alone?”
    “You needn’t face them unless you wish to.” He cocked his head. “In fact, you are welcome to accompany me to London if you like, but I should think you would rather remain here and prepare for our wedding.”
    She flinched at that. “I expect I should attend the play’s performance this evening if I hope to maintain my contributors’ goodwill, although it will be difficult to carry on as if nothing has happened. And it will be utterly impossible to pretend we are making a love match as Lady Wingate suggested.”
    Ian didn’t reply directly, not wanting to delay his departure with a futile discussion about love and love matches. “Where would you like the ceremony to be held?”
    Looking stunned again, Tess