“Not at all,” he replied cheerfully. “I am enjoying myself immensely.
Angelica suppressed a groan of frustration. Her only consolation was that her parents appeared to be scandalized, exchanging helpless glances while she and the duke verbally dueled by asking each other questions that were unseemly for dinner conversation.
The sparring was cut short when the meal ended. Her father cleared his throat. “Shall we adjourn to my study to begin preparing the contract, Your Grace?”
A wave of disappointment washed over Angelica. To her surprise, she’d been having a good time. Then she remembered her mother crowing with triumph that His Grace wanted a short engagement. She felt as if she were suffocating and was certain her stays weren’t the only cause. She had to bargain for more time.
“Papa, wait!” she cried. “First may I take His Grace for a stroll through the garden? I would so like some fresh air.” She smiled and attempted to flutter her eyelashes the way the other debutantes did when attempting to cajole their papas to raise their allowances.
Her father gave her an odd look before comprehension dawned as his eyes lit on the couple. Angelica could see what he thought. Of course they would want some time alone together. Bloody hell, I’m doing this all wrong!
“I am certain that will be quite proper. Go on and enjoy yourselves,” he said with an indulgent wave of his hand, blushing as Margaret beamed at him. Angelica couldn’t remember the last time her mother had smiled at her father like that.
As Angelica placed her hand on Ian’s sleeve, she felt his arm flex much like the other young suitors did while always trying to impress her. She nibbled her lower lip and wondered how much of him was a man and how much was a vampire.
The garden glimmered with haunting beauty in the moonlight. Angelica inhaled the scent of early blooming lilacs and lifted her face to the cool evening air. As the duke walked silently beside her, she couldn’t help but notice that the nocturnal surroundings fit him perfectly.
“The moonlight suits you, Angel.” His deep voice was a soft rumble against her ear.
She stiffened at the warm sensation his familiar address elicited and removed her hand from his arm and stepped back. “Your Grace, would it be possible for you to cry off this engagement?” She hurried on before he could reply. “I mean, now that everyone knows you are willing to marry, surely that is enough to save your reputation. We do not really have to go through with this, do we?”
“Alas, you are wrong.” His tone was cold, matter-of-fact. “They would never believe I am a normal man unless we see this through to the end. If we broke the engagement, both of our reputations would be worse off than they were before.” He walked toward her, not stopping until their bodies nearly touched.
Angelica couldn’t keep the panic from rising in her voice at his proximity. “But—”
He cupped her chin in his hand, making her shiver at his touch. “As I promised you before, you do not need to be afraid of me. I will not hurt you. If you give yourself the chance to get to know me, you will see that I will be a generous husband.”
Angelica was not afraid of him, but she seized the excuse like a lifeline. She stepped back once more to plead her case. “Could you at least give me some time to get accustomed to the idea and get to know you before we are wed?”
He sighed and nodded with obvious reluctance. “Within reason.”
“One year?” she asked in the sweetest voice she could manage.
His silver gaze glinted as he frowned. “One month.”
“Six months?” she ventured, struggling to maintain her saccharine, imploring tone.
“One month,” he repeated. His arms crossed over his broad chest as his frown deepened.
“Four months?” Angelica begged, hating the desperation in her voice. But she needed time to devise a plan on how to get out of this predicament.
“One month.” His tone was firm, implacable, autocratic. And there was something unnerving about the way he looked at her, as if he knew she sought escape.
She sighed, exhausted with his refusal to yield. “You will negotiate with my father, but not with me. Some suitor you are!” Biting back her temper, she gentled her voice. “Six weeks, please?”
Burnrath nodded. “Very well, six weeks it is.” He smiled suddenly and a small dimple appeared in his cheek. “I suppose I should take the time to court you properly. Now, let’s seal the bargain with a kiss.”
He grasped her shoulders, but Angelica stepped back. The idea of his lips on hers made her knees turn to water and her stomach leap around in the most alarming manner. “A-a handshake should suffice, I think.”