“Lushing’s eyes were brown, as was his hair. While the similarities between you may end there, years from now people are not going to recall precisely what Lushing looked like. I doubt anyone will gaze closely at his portraits in order to make a comparison. Besides, I suspect not every family of the ton is completely pure of blood. And he will have the duke’s name to protect him.”

“I cannot guarantee you a male.”

“As I mentioned, my giving birth to a daughter is not completely without advantages.”

He would be giving Selena the means to marry another man of influence—because his wasn’t enough. “So you’re proposing I plant the seed and walk away.”

Her gaze held his, although he could see the struggle in the tightening of her features. “Not necessarily. We could continue to see each other, remain lovers, discreetly of course. You might be able to see your son—or daughter—on occasion, but it would be imperative that the child never learn that you’re the father. I wouldn’t want to burden him, or her, with our deception.”

Discreet. Burden. Deception. Those words slammed into him as though they were delivered with a cudgel. Even as he understood the truth of them, the necessity of keeping their relationship to the shadows.

“I’m not ashamed to be seen with you, but we have to protect the child at all cost,” she continued into his silence.

Yet in the incredibly short time they’d been together, she’d never actually been seen with him, at least not without the mask. No one, other than her driver, knew she’d been with him, and he wasn’t even certain her driver knew who he was.

“Perhaps I could offer you a bit more in return.” Her tone was hesitant, no doubt because he still held his silence.

He narrowed his eyes. She eased up to the edge of her chair.

“My dower property. I couldn’t give it to you outright, but I could bequeath it to you, so it becomes yours upon my death.”

He barked out a bitter laugh. “So now I am to become your whore?”

The horror etched over her face took the edge off his anger. “No, no. I didn’t mean it like that. But all you’re getting out of our arrangement is me in your bed—which I am not arrogant enough to believe is of much value—and a bit of time spent with your child. I’m trying to make it worth your while, worth what you might sacrifice.”

“If I die before you?”

“It would go to your heirs.”

“And if my only heir is your child? I never planned to marry, Duchess. I never planned to have children.”

Now she looked to be the one bludgeoned. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because I know what I am, where I came from.”