CHAPTER 10: His Proposal (PART 2)

Diana Stallard Preface

"I need to marry first." I said with a straight face.

"That's a very unique way to do this", A sarcasm was completely obvious in his voice with a hint of playfulness, wanting me to strangle him at this very moment.

"I need to marry someone so that I can claim my inheritance after six months when I shall turn twenty three.", I explained the situation ignoring his reaction.

"Oh... Is that so?.... But Signorina how are you going to find your groom who will marry you knowing that his life will also be in danger, along with you.", he raised his brows.

I thought for a second and then answer, "Anyone can do that for money."

He leaned on the table which was in front of him and looked straight in my eyes, "How'll you get money when your all property is locked until you turn twenty three if I'm not mistaken? "

I hate him. All I want to do is to wipe that arrogant smirk from his face.

He put forward fact that I didn't calculated and I hate to admit that he was right. This is the main worry for me that I have no money in my hand to do anything.

"I'll wait." I said dejectedly and disappointment flooded in my head. "That's only thing that I can do."

"I think that I can put forward a settlement offer here, Miss Preface. This will be beneficial for both of us." he said leaning back on his chair.

"And What is that, Your excellency?" I got interested.

"Marry me and I'll help you in your revenge without you waiting for your inheritance."

"What?", I almost shrieked.

"Easy Signorina Diana.", he tried to calm me but the thing that he said to me was not something that can calm me after the bomb that he exploded on my head.

"Do you know what you are saying your excellency? ", I pronounced and my tone was smeared with sarcasm. "These kinds of jokes doesn't suit you, your excellency."

"Yes I'm very much aware of what I'm saying an I'm very serious about it. In fact, this is something that is best for both of us." he said.

"How is it best for both?" I asked. My brain cells are damaged to a large extend that a duke suddenly proposed me for marriage for which I had a zero probability to happen in my life.

"My mother keeps asking me for marriage and I didn't wanted that. But now that my mother's health is not very good after my father's death I decided to get marry to not make her worry any further." he stood up and folded his arms and continued.

"The problem was that a woman from elite society were not of my mother's liking and the ones that she liked were not of my liking but my mother likes you very much. So if I marry you this problem of mine will be solved and I don't have to consider to marry daughters of my business associates. That is second benefit to me."

"As for you, I can help you both financially and socially. A status of Duchess is not something ordinary signorina. ", and he finished all the speech of benefits to this marriage.

"You chose me because your mother likes me? ", I raised my eyebrow. I don't know what I wanted to know but his answer brought sadness to my heart.

"Yes. ", he replied and I became a little disappointed here. "She thinks that there is something going on between us. Therefore she'll not have any kind of doubt about this marriage."

"But I don't know you." I said. "How can I marry someone like that?"

"A while ago you were talking about marrying someone like that. Correct me if I'm mistaken." He contradicted me then continued. "As for the matter of knowing me, You can know about me very well while your stay here in palace. Knowing about me is not something very difficult, trust me. ", he smirked in my direction making heat to travel to my cheeks for second time.

I prayed in my mind that he may not sense this behaviour of mine.

I was always a tough girl, resistant to all kind of flirtatious advances from male community but one have to be a little sensitive when the other party is dangerously handsome as this Duke.

"But still, I need some time to think about it.", I replied to an abnormal proposal of marriage.

"Sure you can think about it till tomorrow night. And I want to say that I'm very positive about your answer." he was very confident as if he already knew my answer.

"I'll tell my answer tomorrow then." I said and Helena took me out of the study.