“It should be.”
She lifted an eyebrow at him. “Do you honestly believe that?”
“Yes. At least, I believe it shouldn’t be devoid of pleasure and solely about duty. But you are poorly matched in numerous other respects. I have watched you with Dunmore. You have to bite your tongue frequently, especially when he begins spouting inanities.”
The duke’s limited conversation was indeed frustrating sometimes, Sophie thought. “Perhaps, but he has a good heart.”
The faint scoffing sound Jack made held amusement. “He is like a puppy craving affection. And he couldn’t be more dull. If you wed him, you will be bored to tears within a fortnight. Come, admit it, there are times when you wish him to the devil. At the masquerade, for instance, after he nearly broke your toes.”
Sophie frowned as she glanced down at Lord Jack. “Yes, but I prefer to be diplomatic and polite. Too much honesty can be cruel.”
“And you are not cruel?”
“I hope not. Actually, I feel sorry for him. By all reports, he dearly loved his late wife. She died of childbed fever after three stillborn births, so he has no children or other close family to keep him company. Since he lost her, he has been all alone.”
“I’m beginning to realize your chief flaw, sweetheart. You are too tenderhearted.”
“I suppose so,” she said agreeably, refusing to take his bait.
“You must have had other suitors you prefer to him,” Lord Jack prodded. “Skye tells me you have had several proposals before this.”
“A few.” As a girl she’d been fond of a young gentleman in her neighborhood, but she had always known her attraction could go nowhere. “But I do have some things in common with the duke.”
“Such as?”
“We are both fond of reading novels and poetry. In fact, the duke has an excellent collection of first editions, including a volume of Shakespeare’s Sonnets and a signed copy of Lord Byron’s The Corsair. If I were to marry him, I could live vicariously through his books and pretend I am having wonderful adventures.”
“You should be having wonderful adventures yourself. If you were to marry me, I would make certain of it. For that matter, you could avail yourself of my Uncle Cornelius’s library, which I’ll wager is vastly superior to the duke’s, although much of his collection is written in Greek or Latin.”
She gave him an arch glance. “But
I won’t be marrying you, Lord Jack, so there is no reason to joke about it.”
His mouth quirked. “I don’t consider matrimony a joking matter, I assure you. I was merely making a theoretical observation.” He exhaled in a dramatic sigh. “It shouldn’t surprise me that you are willing to overlook Dunmore’s shortcomings. A dukedom and fortune can overcome myriad personal flaws.”
“I won’t deny those are advantages. But becoming his duchess would allow me to give my parents the financial security they crave. Additionally, I could do a lot of good for unwed mothers like our former maid, Martha. Besides, many couples have less in common. If I wed his grace, I am determined to make the best of our marriage.”
Her reasoning brought no counterargument from him, yet he did have a point, Sophie acknowledged. To be honest, she had much more in common with Lord Jack. Certainly they were closer in age. And she couldn’t deny the delicious chemistry between them.
To say he was different from the duke was a vast understatement. Lord Jack was clever and quick-witted, with a magnetism that was enormously appealing. She enjoyed his banter and his sense of humor. What was more, she could laugh with him.
She had to admit also that his interest in her was supremely flattering. She had never had a suitor who cared to learn her thoughts and opinions. Certainly the duke was drawn more by her physical appearance than her mind. In contrast, Lord Jack had encouraged her to talk about her childhood, her family, her hopes and dreams, even though he hadn’t reciprocated.…
She was about to ask him about his own upbringing when she suddenly became aware of the passing time. The sun rising above the treetops suggested it was at least nine o’clock.
With a sigh, Sophie gathered the remains of their breakfast, stoppering the flask and folding the cloth that had held the crumpets. “I must return to the house to be with my aunt’s guests,” she said reluctantly.
As she made to rise, Lord Jack reached out to catch her hand. “Don’t go yet.”
“I must.”
She greatly regretted having to end their pleasurable rendezvous. Yet he wouldn’t release her hand, nor did he shift his position where he lay on the blanket. “I will let you go, but first I demand a kiss.”
She smiled down at him. “You are hardly in a position to make demands.”
“On the contrary. A kiss is my price for keeping our tryst secret.”
“There you go again, attempting to blackmail me. You are deplorable.”