Free Never Desire a Duke (One Scandalous Season) by Lily Dalton Page B

now.
    For years after her death, he’d not known a true Christmas. His father did not celebrate the occasion, finding such observances overly sentimental and gauche. Later, while an officer in the army, he had attended the occasional Christmas ball or supper, but afterward had retired to his quarters alone.
    The only Christmas in recent memory where he’d felt included in a family and at peace with the world had been last Christmas, which he’d spent at Wolverton’s country estate with Sophia and her family. A magical memory. How had he allowed things to fall apart so completely since that time?
    He stared at her back. She stood proudly, her head erect and her shoulders back, distant and unattainable. From out of nowhere, a torch flamed into blazing life inside his chest, one born of desire so intense and hot he knew he must do whatever possible to claim her again. To ease his soul-deep need. If only for one last time.
    “Very well,” he muttered. “I will agree to your demand.”
    She did not grant him so much as a glance over her shoulder, but remained motionless. “I rather thought you would.”
    From outside, the sound of the wind arose, battering the house. The walls and floors creaked. The windows rattled.
    “Since you seem to be holding all the cards,” he said, “where do you propose we go from here?”

Chapter Five
    W e’ll return to London first thing in the morning. I’d prefer that you take residence at your club.”
    Elbow on the mantel, Vane pinched his fingertips against the bridge of his nose, an attempt to soothe the pounding inside his head. She was throwing him out of his own house?
    “How do you suppose, then,” he demanded harshly, “that I get you with child?”
    For a long time she stood in silence, back to him. Would she turn around and tell him they could still step back from this cliff? That separating wasn’t what she wanted? Did he even want her to change her mind, with the trust between them so irrevocably destroyed?
    She turned, the suddenness of the motion parting her scarlet redingote below her waist to reveal a lace froth of petticoats and the pointed tips of embroidered green mules. “We will come to a mutual agreement as to when you will visit.”
    Though buttoned up tight, all the way to her high velvet collar, she’d never been more alluring than now. Never more beautiful and composed. He almost hated her for it.
    “But first,” she said, “I want the documents drawn and all agreements in writing.”
    Claxton blinked, dismayed. “What other agreements are there?”
    “That I will retain Sylventon Place and the income from that estate, as I brought that property into our marriage—”
    Claxton grunted in assent.
    “And that the child, once born, will live with me to be raised by me and my family.”
    Her words came like a cudgel to the back of his head.
    “No.” He shook his head, a snarl forming on his lips. “I don’t agree to that, not completely.”
    “You will,” she answered calmly, hovering at the edge of the candlelight.
    He felt dragged in the dirt. Drawn and quartered.
    “You’ve got this all worked out in your mind already, don’t you?” he growled.
    She responded in a quiet voice. “I had a lot of time alone to think about it.”
    He shook his head. “Again, I won’t agree.”
    “We will work out all the details then.” She circled round the end of the settee.
    “Whatever,” he snapped.
    From the cushion, she collected her valise, her cap, and the oil lamp and stood like a woman preparing for an arduous journey. “Unless there’s something else, I am very tired and shall retire.”
    Only she didn’t leave. She hovered there, staring at him.
    “What do you expect?” he barked. “That I should bid you a good night?”
    It was not a good night. It was a terrible night.
    She looked him up and down. Her lip twitched as if she found him lacking. “I don’t expect anything from you, Claxton. I haven’t for a very long time.”
    With a