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He swore and stood “You believe I would do this to you?”
She wanted to deny it He looked so angry “I don’t know I don’t trust my instincts where you are concerned anymore”
“Marriage is forever I would not do this” She could tell it infuriated him to have to say it His pride ounded and for some reason that made her feel bad “This baby and the ones to come after will have both their mother and their father to raise them”
“You want ht had never occurred to her
“Yes Do not tell ht clearly horrified him
“No I want at least two, but would really like four”
“Don’t you think you had better marry me beforehand?”
“For the baby’s sake?” she asked, wishing it could be different
“For his sake yes, but also for your sake”
“You mean I won’t have to work to support us both if I marry you?”
“You would not have to work regardless From this point forward, you and the baby are my responsibility”
“Thank you” She knew he meant what he said It ritten on the ieous face
“You will be happier le parent,” he asserted with inbred arrogance
“You think so?”
“I know this”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Whatever you need to ive it to you”
Everything but his love, she thought sadly But she would have his passion Last night had proven that She would have his support He’d given her a taste of it thiswith her mother and it had been sweet She would have his respect If he did not respect her, he wouldn’t be asking for e, she was sure of it
“It would certainly relieve my mother’s mind”
A calculating expression entered his eyes “If you marry me, I will buy back the Dupree Mansion and staff it with servants for your mother’s lifetime”
The sheer generosity of the offer stunned her She understood his willingness to provide for her and the baby, but to take on responsibility for her
“Mama would love you forever”
“Yes” He frowned “She does not want a big wedding She believes you would be eht?”
“E you?” she asked incredulously
“To be married publicly when you are so obviously enceinte”
“I’m not ashamed of my baby” She wasn’t comfortable with the fact he’d been conceived in a relationship rather than a e, but her son was precious to her all the same
Dihtened “I am very proud that you carry my child, yineka mou”
Alexandra pictured a traditional wedding, she and Di the floor at least three feet behind her
“Your eyes have gone soft and golden Of what do you think, little one?”
She felt herself blushing, but decided to tell him “I know it sounds really naff, but I alanted to wear a traditional white wedding dress with a long train and oodles of lace in uess I would look pretty silly in white in my state”
He returned to the sofa and took her hand in his “White is the sign of a pure heart You would not look silly to me”
Her breath caught and she had to concentrate on getting her lungs to expand again “I wouldn’t?”
He leaned forward and she closed her eyes in preparation for his kiss Why didn’t she have ht it almost wasn’t there on both her eyelids, her cheeks and finally her lips They parted of their own accord and the pressure increased
He ended the kiss scant seconds later, leaving her feeling dazed
That was nice
He laughed and she realized she’d spoken aloud
She smiled at him “So you think I should hite?”
“Yes”
“I’d like that”
“Does this mean you will marry me?”
Had there ever really been any doubt? Because she didn’t want her pride sto for the baby”