Read Online What to Do with a Duke by Sally Mackenzie - Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t the only woman in the history of the world to have been seduced by a wealthy, handsome fellow, and unlike many, she had money. She could have held her head up and managed somehow. It would have been better than drowning herself and her innocent baby.”
    He stared at her. “She was a ruined woman.”
    â€œShe was a selfish idiot.” Cat had never been ruined herself, of course, and never would be, since she had no intention of letting a man into her bed. But she certainly hoped that, if by some odd fate she was in such a position, she’d manage things more intelligently than Isabelle had.
    She grinned. “But I can’t complain. Isabelle’s actions have given me what I’ve always dreamed of—the opportunity to live on my own.” She wanted to pinch herself to be certain she wasn’t actually dreaming. The sooner the duke signed the necessary papers and gave her the key to the Spinster House, the better.
    â€œWon’t you miss your family?”
    Did he sound wistful?
    â€œNo. You said yourself the vicarage must be crowded. I assure you it is. I even have to share a bed with my sister Mary.”
    â€œI can see how that might be uncomfortable.”
    He didn’t sound convinced, but then he had no idea what her life was like. He was a duke.
    â€œYour Grace, if you had ten children, none of them would have to share a bed or even a room. And you could retire to your study and close the door and no one would disturb you.” Well, that was true for Papa, too. Men definitely had an easier life than women. “No one could find you if you didn’t wish to be found. I’ve seen the castle. It’s huge. But I have no doors to close, no place to be guaranteed a moment’s privacy. Can you even begin to imagine what that is like?”
    He just stared at her. Of course he couldn’t imagine it. It was like asking an elephant to imagine life as a mouse.
    She shrugged. “The vicarage is just across the road from the Spinster House. If I have a sudden need to see my parents and brothers and sisters, I can do so.”
    But they’d best not think they could cross the road to drop in on her whenever they liked. Oh, no. She would have to take steps to be sure they understood that very clearly.
    Why was the duke still staring at her? “What is it?”
    â€œMiss Hutting, surely you know I shall never share my home with ten children. I shall likely never share it with one.”
    Heavens, was the man impotent? But how was she to know that? Still, it was very—
    Oh. She stopped walking to stare at him. “You mean . . . But the curse—it’s not . . . It’s just a story, isn’t it?”
    â€œNo. It is not just a story.”
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    Miss Hutting was gaping at him.
    He liked the girl, but she made his head spin. She wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever met. Not only did she not want to marry, she said the most outrageous things.
    Could Isabelle be at all to blame for what had happened to her?
    No. The fault must be laid solely at the third duke’s door. Women were the weaker sex, after all.
    Though there was nothing weak about Miss Hutting. Perhaps she would indeed have the courage to survive an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, though he doubted she had any idea what that experience would entail.
    Lust suddenly curled low in his belly. Nor did he think she had any understanding of what must occur before a woman found herself enceinte.
    He would like to show her.
    She was tall, as tall as many men. She must have long legs—she certainly had a well-turned ankle. He’d like to see the calf attached to that lovely ankle and the thigh and the soft hair—
    Zeus! He was losing his mind. He needed to get the Spinster House settled and get out of Loves Bridge before he did something very, very foolish.
    â€œYou mean the Dukes of Hart actually die before their heir is born?” she