To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield by Bronwen Evans Page B

too late to retrieve the words.
    Need him to marry a Bridgenorth? What on earth did Jeremy mean by that? Was this why Dangerfield was trying to ruin her? To try and force her into marriage?
    Caitlin almost laughed aloud. The Duke of Dangerfield was the last man on earth she’d consider marrying. The Duke loved women. All women. Numerous women. More women then she could imagine. And that was the problem.
    She wanted her husband to love only her.
    Besides, if they married they would undoubtedly come to blows. The man was so arrogant, so overbearing, so… so… so male! And her response to him frightened her.  
    She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. There was no doubt he was handsome. Too handsome. How could she compete with the rest of the female population? They all longed to be in his bed. Even her own body responded to his beauty. But somehow his spectacular dark looks made the prospect of... of sharing his bed—  
    Her panic built, threatening to choke her.
    Now it was more imperative than ever to win their wager. She couldn’t find herself betrothed to the Duke of Dangerfield. Not after what he’d done to her father. To her.
    She gave herself a little shake. It was getting late. She must hurry home. The last thing she needed was for her father to ask difficult questions. She hated lying.  
    “Thank you for your escort, Your Grace,” she said with all the calm and hauteur she could manage. “I can see myself home from here—”  
    Jeremy snorted. “See, there is no need to fuss over a Bridgenorth.”
    “Jeremy, that is enough.” Harlow’s voice fairly shook with anger. “Apologize to Lady Southall. Immediately.”  
    Jeremy bowed exaggeratedly low. “I do apologize . Give my regards to your father.” And he marched back to the carriage without a further glance at either his brother or Caitlin.
    Really, Caitlin thought as she maneuvered the gig back onto the road, the boy seemed a trifle unhinged. There was real animosity in those cold eyes. Why? What had her father done to deserve this hatred? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.  
    By the time she—still escorted by Dangerfield—reached the gates of Mansfield Manor she was fuming.
    Nor did Dangerfield give her any time to ask him questions. He merely inclined his head, said, “Until tomorrow,” and galloped back off toward Telford Court.
    “How extraordinary.” Caitlin said out loud.  
    She wished she had someone she could talk to about the Duke and her father. What had happened in the past to cause such a rift? Why did he want the Bridgenorth estate so badly? Why should he consider marrying to get it when he’d already won it? And why, if the house meant so much to him, risk losing it again in a wager? Unless he was sure of victory.
    She rubbed her nape. Nothing about this made sense.  
    Cheat. Would a man like the duke cheat? No. The idea was laughable. It was beneath him. Yet he would force you into his bed. That was not honorable.
    Caitlin didn’t know what to think. She’d have to watch him closely. She didn’t mind losing in a fair wager, but if he tried to anything underhanded, she’d... What would she do?  
    Well, she certainly wasn’t going to offer herself up to a cheat .
    She’d draw the line at that.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
    His mother’s inspection might have been as disinterested as that of a stranger, but Dangerfield had to fight to resist the urge to tug at his cravat. She knew him too well. Dammit, he could even feel embarrassment warm his cheeks.
    He made his face form a relaxed smile. “I hope you had a pleasant stay in town.”
    His mother shrugged, clearly enjoying his discomfiture. “It was lovely to catch up with friends. Listen to the gossip doing the rounds. However, it was rather unnerving to hear my son was the topic of conversation. I learned you’d managed to win Mansfield Manor. All they could talk about was how skillful, you’d been when playing Bridgenorth. And how