THE DUKE’S DEBT (2)

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CHAPTER 18

With each passing second, Alexander's anxiety reached new heights. He felt as though he had just made a reasonable request, so why was Evelina taking so long to give him an answer? Surely, it couldn't be that difficult to respond in the affirmative?

It was clear that Evelina was thinking deeply about his proposal, which both frustrated and impressed Alexander. His heart raced as he waited for her response, his eyes darting back and forth as he watched her brows furrow in thought.

He admired her intelligence and wit, but at this moment, he couldn't understand why she seemed so hesitant to accept his offer of marriage.

In his frustration, he compared Evelina to other women he had encountered in the past. He imagined that any other woman he had proposed to would have accepted with open arms, perhaps even jumping for joy. But with Evelina, it was different. It was as if she was too good for him, too lofty-headed to entertain the idea of marriage to anyone, let alone a Duke.

He was reminded of the stories he had heard from the old Lady Devereux about her dismissive behavior towards even Prince Laith's proposition of marriage. Alexander was starting to feel as though he was facing a similar rejection, but he knew that as a Duke of his caliber, any woman in her right mind would be foolish to turn him down.

Still, his emotions were running high as he waited for Evelina's response. He couldn't help feeling both vulnerable and desperate for her acceptance. His heart ached as he thought about the possibility of being without her, and the mere thought of it made his stomach churn with anxiety.

The more Evelina pondered on the Duke's proposal of marriage, the more it seemed like a preposterous idea. Despite her past altercation with him, which resulted in her hitting him with her purse at the red-light district a fortnight ago, she couldn't fathom why he would fabricate a story of a robbery attack just to have an excuse to propose to her. The Duke was to blame for his scheming actions and attempts to subjugate her into a life of marital bondage.

Evelina didn't trust the Duke's intentions. She believed that he was only interested in her for his personal gain, with no real love or devotion behind his proposal. Suspecting his motives, she reminded herself that he was a notorious Rake, one who lived up to the rumors that surrounded him. Even though he had proposed in a seemingly honorable fashion, it didn't change the fact that his reputation preceded him.

The thought that the Duke's proposal could have been his way of winning her over after she had rebuffed his carnal advances only served to increase Evelina's skepticism. She couldn't trust him, not after what he had tried to do to her, not after the real motives behind his proposal remained unknown.

Evelina's thoughts turned to the night she had met with the Duke. She could still feel his unwelcome touch as he tried to force himself on her, attempting to deny her the freedom to choose. It was only by hitting him that she had managed to escape his clutches. His true colors had been revealed to her that night, and she was not about to forget it.

Evelina was deeply conflicted. She didn't want to be a part of the Duke's game and was unsure of what accepting his proposal would mean. The fear of being trapped in a loveless marriage with a man who only saw her as a trophy weighed heavily on her.

As Evelina weighed her options, she couldn't shake off the pain of betrayal and the indignity she would come to suffer at the Duke's hands. She was certain of this because she'd told Priscilla these same words to get her mind off consenting to a nuptial with the Duke. Besides, how could she be sure that his proposal was genuine? Her emotions ran high with resentment and distrust as she continued to ponder.

«How much longer do you intend to keep the Duke of Burnsbury waiting, Evelina?» Duke Alexander boomed, his voice dripping with loftiness. «Do you suppose that I have all evening to stand here, waiting for your answer? The odds are decidedly against you, my dear. Rather than dallying over this situation, a straightforward response of 'yes, I will marry you' would be much more favorable. After all, I am doing you and your family a great service.»

That was it. Evelina could no longer stand there and listen to such smugness with her arms folded.

"Now listen here, Duke of Burnsbury,» she started, her right index rudely pointing at him, «your impatience and arrogance are appalling. How dare you speak to me in such a condescending manner? Your presumptuous expectation of me to say 'yes' to your proposal is nothing short of insulting.

«I am not some toy to be passed around at your pleasure, nor am I obligated to accept your proposal simply because it suits your convenience. I have my own agency and my own desires, and they do not align with yours. I will not marry you, Duke , not now nor ever. You are not doing me or my family any favors, and I do not require your assistance.»

Evelina's voice was firm and resolute, her eyes blazing with a fire that Alexander had not seen before. He was initially taken aback, but his surprise quickly turned to anger. Despite the tension between them, he couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards her, even in this moment of conflict.

This novel is exclusive to Web Novel, please contact me through the chapter comments if you find that all or any part of this publication is being uploaded elsewhere (on another site). Thank you.