A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin_The Debutante Files

And it had been. He wouldn’t regret that even if he did feel uneasy over the prospect of marriage. Not unusual. He had vowed to never wed. To let the title pass to Will and his line.

But now everything had changed. He had changed. He didn’t allow himself to examine that too closely. His thoughts shied from considering what it was about Rosalie, about them together, that made him decide he would have her, this, forever.

He only knew that he couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t endure her marrying another man. He wouldn’t stand by as another man took her to his bed. He wouldn’t watch as her belly swelled with the children of another man.

That would be him. Those would be his children. Something fluttered in his chest at the idea of a daughter with Rosalie’s carroty-red hair. He wanted Rosalie. He wanted her children to be his children, too.

If she’ll have you.

The whisper floated through him, revealing an insecurity he had not even realized he harbored. She had given herself to him tonight not once but twice. Why would she not take him for her husband?

He rose from the bed with silent movements, gathering up his clothes in the murky predawn air. He didn’t want to embarrass her. And somehow he knew she would be embarrassed if her maid found him in her bed in the morning. At the door, he paused and glanced back at her one final time before slipping from the room.

Waking alone had been a disappointment. Until her maid strolled into the chamber. Then she realized that Dec had spared her the embarrassment of facing a servant while wrapped up in him. The maid arched an eyebrow as she reached for her night rail at the foot of the bed and slid it over her head.

“Good morning, Sally. It was rather warm last night,” Rosalie murmured, tucking her unruly hair behind her ears.

“Of course, miss.” Nodding, Sally moved to the armoire and selected a day dress. “Is this acceptable?”

“Yes. Thank you.” She quickly dressed, noticing how different, how sensitive, her body felt beneath the brush of her fingers and weight of her garments. She frowned when she noticed the maid pulling out her luggage. “Sally?” she inquired, waving to the valise and trunk.

“His Grace said you’re leaving today.”

Her stomach bottomed out. “Leaving? For where?”

Sally averted her gaze, looking uncomfortable. “He did not share the particulars with me, miss. He merely instructed for me to pack all your things.”

She nodded numbly. Suddenly it was hard to breathe. Was he rid of her now? Would he send her back to her mother? It seemed unlikely that he would do such a thing, especially after everything that had happened. She didn’t understand. She knew last night would change things, but was he truly throwing her out?

She sat still as stone, stomach churning as Sally brushed and arranged her hair. Once the maid was finished, she hurried from her chamber, determined to get to the bottom of this. Aunt Peregrine and Aurelia were in the dining room, but not Dec. She managed to rattle off some excuse to them about not eating before hastening away.

She located Dec in his office with his man of affairs. His expression was unreadable, his eyes deep and intent as he looked up from his desk, and she flushed. Bent over with one hand pressed flat on the desktop, his hair falling low on his forehead, he looked rakish and handsome and made her belly churn for entirely different reasons than why she had sought him.

“Excuse me, Your Grace, but could I have a word with you?” Thankfully, her voice sounded even and calm, reflecting none of her inner turmoil.

He nodded at his man of affairs, dismissing him. The gentleman gathered up his ledgers and left the room with a circumspect nod for Rosalie.

Dec rounded his massive desk and leaned against it, crossing his arms. “You wanted a word?”

She nodded and approached, wondering how she could feel so awkward with a man she had just shared everything with only a few hours ago. At this point he knew her body better than she did.

His green eyes darkened to a stormy jade, and she suspected he was remembering, too. And yet he was sending her away. Her chest tightened and she looked down at her hands, hoping he didn’t read her hurt and bewilderment.

She stopped before him, careful not to touch him where he stood, leaning so negligently against his desk. Inhaling, she looked up. “You’re sending me away?”

“Under the circumstances, I think it’s for the best—”

“You think putting me out of sight will erase last night?” She blurted the question before she could stop herself. Her emotions rode too high to the surface. She could not stop her temper from flowing free. “Sending me will not undo it—”

“Rosalie—”

“Perhaps it’s easy enough for you to forget, but it wasn’t me who came into my bedchamber. That was all you.”

“Oh? It was all me? Did this not begin at Sodom?” He cocked his head, his eyes sparking in challenge.

“It happened. You and me . . . Melisande’s daughter. You never wanted me here, and now you—”

“Rosalie—”

“—regret it. Well, I won’t!” She beat a hand against his chest, too overcome. “I won’t regret it, damn you!”

He grabbed her flailing fist and hauled her into his arms, smothering her rant with a kiss that she melted into instantly. His arms locked around her, holding her tightly. She made a mewling sound in the back of her throat as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“That’s how I knew,” he said, his deep voice making her skin shiver with goose bumps.

“Knew?” She blinked groggily, her lips brushing his as she spoke.

“That little sound you make. You made it at Sodom and it drove me mad. You made it in the library. You make it anytime I’m doing something you like.”

She smiled idiotically. “Then I must make that sound constantly.”

“It lets me know I’m doing something right.” He nibbled on her bottom lip, his tongue flicking out to tease the swollen flesh.

When it came to her body, he was always doing it right. Suddenly, she recalled her anger, and that as delicious and distracting as his mouth felt on hers, he was sending her away!

“Why are you kissing me? You’re kicking me out—”

“To my aunt’s. I’m sending you and Aunt Peregrine and Aurelia to Will’s. It’s not seemly for you to stay here—”

“Why not?” Her fingers played against his jacket, beating a light patter against the hardness underneath the fabric. “No one knows about last night. No one need know of it. I’ve been staying here. You never thought it unseemly before.”

“That was before we announced our engagement.”

She stared. Her mouth perhaps parted on a gasp, but she couldn’t be certain. She could only fixate on his face. On the utter seriousness of his expression. The deep green of his eyes.

“Our engagement?” she echoed.

“Yes. With all haste, I should think.”

“You want to marry me?” Her heart swelled in her chest at the very idea, the notion she had not permitted herself to entertain. Marriage to Dec played out before her. Nights like last night all the time. Being with him when he wasn’t looking at her like she was some unwanted visitor. It was too much to believe.

He smiled at her like she was some daft creature. “I should think after last night that was obvious.” At her silence, his smile slipped. “Was that not obvious, then? Did you not think I would make an honorable offer? After taking your innocence? Did you think I would ruin you like that?” He looked almost offended.