“I am the bookkeeper, after all, and as a rule the numbers don’t behave too badly.”

“I don’t think it’s as bad as all that.” Bill pressed against the duke’s chest and Greystone sucked in air through his clenched teeth. “Did that hurt, Your Grace?”The duke glared at him.“Yes, I suppose it did. Silly of me to ask.”

“I don’t care,” Livy stated emphatically. “I don’t care if our marriage is nullified. As for our children, they will be loved and they will be taught to laugh at society’s rules when they don’t suit them. They will have your strength of conviction, Jack, and your mother’s strength of purpose. We will all honor her. She was a remarkable woman. I wish I’d had an opportunity to know her. She gave me something very precious. “I love you, Jack Dodger. I love you with all my heart and soul. If I must live with you without benefit of marriage, so be it. I shall do it with no regrets and with an amazing amount of pride that you’ve chosen me to stand at your side. And when I go to hell, I shall gladly dance with you.”

“I’ll make some inquiries, but I won’t do it for you. I’ll do it because Frannie would want me to.”“You love her, don’t you?”“Go to hell.”Jack laughed. “You’re too late with that command, mate. I’ve been there since I was born.”

“I would rather be a cripple and have your love for all of a single moment than to live as I am without ever having it.”

“I felt the need to be rebellious. A woman should have a moment in her life when she’s rebellious, don’t you think?”

“I think yourmother loves Leo.”“I don’t know if she loves him enough.”“What would be enough?”“To give up on the promise of love from another.”