A pity she couldn't rid her mind of how happy Morgie and Lydia had been in that very room on their wedding day less than a year earlier. Elizabeth had never dreamed she would ever marry without being madly in love. In some ways that made her no better than Kate. But Kate's hand had not been rather forced to marry because she had gotten herself in a scandalous situation as had Elizabeth. Kate had barreled into a loveless marriage with her eyes wide open. All because she wanted more than anything to be a duchess. Then Mr. Reeves' elderly ducal uncle went and married a young woman, putting an end to Mrs. Kate Reeve's hopes of succeeding to a dukedom. Unlike Kate, Elizabeth was at least being wed to a man she had come to respect. The Duke of Aldridge wasn't the disreputable rake she had initially thought him to be. She was still shocked that he had so readily agreed to the marriage once he realized she had ruined herself that day at Aldridge House. It was exceedingly noble of him. Now she had to brace herself for the only repayment he sought: she must bear his heir.
