Free The Duke's Indiscretion by Adele Ashworth

her brother. He’s the one who’s kept her secluded and tightly under his thumb for the last three years, and he’s very upset at her choice of…career, shall we say.”
    â€œSo you thought perhaps I’d like to get her out of her unfortunate situation at home by marrying her?” he asked, aghast.
    The older man’s eyes narrowed. “Not in the least. But you did want to meet Lottie English. I arranged that for you.”
    â€œAnd now I look the fool,” he remarked in muted embarrassment.
    â€œI’m sure the Lady Charlotte thinks no such thing or she wouldn’t have come to your home to offer herself in marriage.”
    Colin rubbed his eyes, his nerves on edge. “As ridiculous as that sounds, you have no idea what transpired between us the night of the opera.”
    After a very long pause, Sir Thomas sighed. “On the contrary, Colin. I’m quite certain I do.”
    The wind picked up as the rain grew heavier, now splattering the window in sheets that matched the tumultuous rush of blood through his veins.
    Of course he knew. Everybody knew of his reputation with the ladies, and it irked him a little that he could be so transparent to the nobility at large, especially when he didn’t exactly try to be blatant about his sexual escapades. Truthfully, he’d only wanted to have a little fun, to thoroughly enjoy a full bachelor life for as long as he could before duty tied him down to a sniveling wife and a house of brats. Was that so wrong?
    Groaning aloud, he started pacing the little room, his hands on his hips, head down.
    â€œI don’t know what to do,” he said rather weakly, words he’d likely never repeat to anyone else in the world.
    Sir Thomas chuckled again. “That’s the easy part. It’s a perfect match socially, and you can have Miss English. My advice is to marry the girl.”
    â€œI don’t want to get married,” he fairly blurted. Then deciding he sounded like a child, he added formally, “I should say, I don’t want to marry now. I’m not ready.”
    â€œReady for what?”
    Colin couldn’t think of a response to that, and Sir Thomas evidently understood the confusion playing out in his mind.
    â€œYour grace, if I may be so bold?”
    Colin stopped pacing and stood erect, facing the man again.
    â€œPlease,” he said with a casual wave of his hand.
    Sir Thomas eyed him directly, his lids narrowed in assessment. “Marriage is something nobody is prepared for. Not entirely. But it’s a step that must be taken eventually, especially by someone of your class. You need an heir, and it’s beyond time you produced one now that your father is gone. It’s your duty as a man of your station, which I’m sure has at the very least crossed your mind. Lady Charlotte can provide that—”
    â€œNow you sound like her, ever practical.”
    The older man smiled in understanding. “As you said, she’s smart. Frankly, I think she’s considered this more clearly than you seem to be doing at the moment, and that’s unusual considering how women can sometimes be so irrational.”
    â€œI’m not being irrational,” he said defensively. “I’m trying to be logical. I don’t even know her.”
    Candidly, his hands folded in front of him, Sir Thomas replied, “I don’t care how long the courting process takes, one never knows his spouse until one is actually married. You could court the Lady Charlotte for months, even bed her as Lottie English, and it still wouldn’t prepare you for marriage.” Dropping his voice to just above a whisper, he concluded, “You’re obviously attracted to each other. That’s the first step. Now do your duty and accept her…proposal. Get yourself a wife and heir. The rest will come as it does.”
    â€œThe rest? The trouble, you mean,” he said sullenly.
    Sir Thomas