looked like a large jungle cat lounging, waiting for his prey to skip by. She closed the door behind her and came to stand above him. He turned to gaze up at her, his sea blue eyes sparkled with questions, but he did not say a word.
She looked like an angel standing there in his deep red robe. It was almost ten sizes too big and pooled at her feet. She was absolutely adorable. Her cheeks were flushed from the bath and her skin smelled like sweet lavender. Dorian clenched his fists, resisting the urge to pull her down on top of him.
“I think it’s time I share with you my entire situation,” she said as she sat in one of the over sized armchairs by the fire, her hands resting lightly in her lap. She took a deep calming breath.
“Do you remember the first night we met?’
“Even in a million years I will remember,” he answered truthfully.
75
Victoria rolled her eyes and continued, “I told you that my parents had died?”
“Yes.”
“When they passed on my younger sister was left in my care, along with my father's debts. I had to sell everything that we owned, including the family estate, to pay his creditors. That left me with no way to care for my sister. We were forced to move to London to live with our Aunt Nelly. Upon my arrival, Nelly made it very clear that she did not wish to be burdened with my presence.
She wanted me out of the house and out of her hair. She presented me with a nearly impossible deal. I would marry at the end of the month or be thrown to the streets and never be allowed to see my sister again. You see, Mr. Vlakhos, if I am proven unfit to provide for my sister, Margaret, she will remain with my aunt. I can't allow that to happen.”
“That defiantly explains why you were in such a hurry to find a husband.”
“That is not all. I know you are aware of the rumors that have been circling about us, slandering my good name. She has over heard them and tonight she watched us from the window when you dropped me off.” Her cheeks grew hot. “And she saw me kiss you.”
He smiled at her blush. He wanted to kiss her now, but he restrained himself.
“We quarreled,” she said not wishing to go into detail of their argument. “And the deal we had has been broken. I am hereby banned from the house and my sister.”
“I see,” Dorian said, sitting up.
“I must marry,” she stated. “I favored Lord Rogers over the rest of my suitors, but he is not here. I have no choice but to choose between the men that are.”
His stomach tightened. He did sympathize with her plight.
She needed a husband to regain custody of her sister, her last true relative. The girl meant everything to her; he could see it in her eyes. He had originally wanted Victoria to marry a simpleton and come to his bed, but now the last thing he wanted to do was help her into another man's arms.
“Do you know anything about the gentlemen that have been courting me?”
“I'm sorry,” he said shaking his head. “I have no information that will help you.”
“But, you knew about Lord Rogers's faults.”
76
“I am a keen observer,” he answered.
“You must have observed the others.”
“I'm afraid not. I knew that Rogers was my main competition, you had next to no interest in the rest of the group, so I focused on him.”
Victoria dropped her eyes to the rug. Dorian could not help her. She had been foolish to think he could. The man was not very social.
It was not entirely true what he had said. He did know a few things about the other men, but he would not share that information. He had interfered in her life only wishing to accomplish his own selfish goal. Yet it did not matter, he could not bring himself to shove her at another man. The thought of it made him sick.
“Then, I suppose I will have to make the decision on my own. In the morning, I will propose and by the end of the day, I will be married.”
“You can't do that,” he declared.
“And why not?” she defiantly asked. “I need a
She looked like an angel standing there in his deep red robe. It was almost ten sizes too big and pooled at her feet. She was absolutely adorable. Her cheeks were flushed from the bath and her skin smelled like sweet lavender. Dorian clenched his fists, resisting the urge to pull her down on top of him.
“I think it’s time I share with you my entire situation,” she said as she sat in one of the over sized armchairs by the fire, her hands resting lightly in her lap. She took a deep calming breath.
“Do you remember the first night we met?’
“Even in a million years I will remember,” he answered truthfully.
75
Victoria rolled her eyes and continued, “I told you that my parents had died?”
“Yes.”
“When they passed on my younger sister was left in my care, along with my father's debts. I had to sell everything that we owned, including the family estate, to pay his creditors. That left me with no way to care for my sister. We were forced to move to London to live with our Aunt Nelly. Upon my arrival, Nelly made it very clear that she did not wish to be burdened with my presence.
She wanted me out of the house and out of her hair. She presented me with a nearly impossible deal. I would marry at the end of the month or be thrown to the streets and never be allowed to see my sister again. You see, Mr. Vlakhos, if I am proven unfit to provide for my sister, Margaret, she will remain with my aunt. I can't allow that to happen.”
“That defiantly explains why you were in such a hurry to find a husband.”
“That is not all. I know you are aware of the rumors that have been circling about us, slandering my good name. She has over heard them and tonight she watched us from the window when you dropped me off.” Her cheeks grew hot. “And she saw me kiss you.”
He smiled at her blush. He wanted to kiss her now, but he restrained himself.
“We quarreled,” she said not wishing to go into detail of their argument. “And the deal we had has been broken. I am hereby banned from the house and my sister.”
“I see,” Dorian said, sitting up.
“I must marry,” she stated. “I favored Lord Rogers over the rest of my suitors, but he is not here. I have no choice but to choose between the men that are.”
His stomach tightened. He did sympathize with her plight.
She needed a husband to regain custody of her sister, her last true relative. The girl meant everything to her; he could see it in her eyes. He had originally wanted Victoria to marry a simpleton and come to his bed, but now the last thing he wanted to do was help her into another man's arms.
“Do you know anything about the gentlemen that have been courting me?”
“I'm sorry,” he said shaking his head. “I have no information that will help you.”
“But, you knew about Lord Rogers's faults.”
76
“I am a keen observer,” he answered.
“You must have observed the others.”
“I'm afraid not. I knew that Rogers was my main competition, you had next to no interest in the rest of the group, so I focused on him.”
Victoria dropped her eyes to the rug. Dorian could not help her. She had been foolish to think he could. The man was not very social.
It was not entirely true what he had said. He did know a few things about the other men, but he would not share that information. He had interfered in her life only wishing to accomplish his own selfish goal. Yet it did not matter, he could not bring himself to shove her at another man. The thought of it made him sick.
“Then, I suppose I will have to make the decision on my own. In the morning, I will propose and by the end of the day, I will be married.”
“You can't do that,” he declared.
“And why not?” she defiantly asked. “I need a
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