Page 25 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

“Oh, yes,” Eveline laughed.

“Caroline!” Daniel roared. “What is she saying?” He stormed toward her and grabbed her by the arm. “Speak!”

Caroline was stunned speechless. Her eyes wide. Her mouth hanging open. Stomach dropping through the floor and to the other side of the world, it felt like. The color drained from her face and all she could do was stare dumbly.

“The duke,” Iris continued. “He... I thought... is he not the father?”

All eyes turned to the duke, who was halfway across the foyer but had no choice but to stand his ground and meet the accusatory stares. Unlike the rest of the group, he did not appear nearly as bewildered as he might have done. Angry, clearly. Frustrated, without a doubt. But still calm and in control of his emotions.

“I assure you, there is no truth to what the girl says.” He set his jaw. “She is mistaken.”

“No truth!” Daniel erupted. He let go of Caroline and stormed across the room, heading for the duke. “Then why say it? Where did she get such an idea!”

“She is young,” the duke said. “Clearly, she has misunderstood.”

“Eveline said it!” Iris cried out and pointed at her sister. “She did! She did!”

Eveline grimaced. “I most certainly did not. I was simply making a joke about the duke and Caroline sharing a bed together, is all. Iris has taken my comments completely out of?—”

“Sharing a bed!” Daniel roared. “Why would you make such a joke?” His eyes were wild with anger, his teeth bared as he looked between the duke and Caroline. “Your Grace! I demand an explanation at once!”

“He is not at fault.” Caroline found her bravery and hurried toward her brother. “Please, it is a simple misunderstanding. That is all.”

“I knew it!” her mother moaned. “I knew there was more to the story than what you told us. How much of it was a lie?”

“Do not blame her, mother,” Daniel said, his anger teeming in his voice. “For it is clear what happened. She was taken advantage of!” He turned to look at the duke. “You, Your Grace! How dare you sully my sister’s name! I demand that you?—”

“That I what?” The duke did not raise his voice. He did not snarl. He did not bother with performative anger to frighten her brother. All he needed to do was fix his gaze upon Daniel, a warning hidden behind his eyes that he would not be spoken to like this. “What is it that you demand of me, boy?”

Daniel reared back, the anger fleeing him. “I... I want to know the truth. What is my sister saying? Why would she... she think to say such things?”

“Perhaps you should ask her.” The duke’s tone was as cold as ice, and it sent a chill through the room. “But if you think to question my reputation again, consider your words carefully, for I assure you, they will be your last.”

The situation was spiraling out of control. Iris was still in tears. Her mother looked stricken with shame. Daniel’s head swiveled from Caroline to the duke, searching for answers that he would likely voice once he found his bravery. Caroline could see it happening, and she feared for her brother. She knew as well as anyone how stubborn he was, and she worried what might happen if he pushed the subject.

She needed to defuse. She needed to make him and everyone else understand. Nothing had happened and once they knew this to be true, surely that would be the end of it.

“He tells the truth, Daniel,” Caroline pleaded. She crossed quickly toward him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Please, you must listen.”

“I want answers!”

“The duke saved me, as you know,” she spoke quickly. “Our intent was to arrive here that same day, but our carriage broke down and we were forced to spend the night at an inn.” Her tongue was moving quickly, beyond what her mind could comprehend. Never a good sign. “The innkeeper was looking for me—as Mother had sent out word of me going missing. I feared what might happen if he saw me on my own with a strange man, so we opted to share a room for the night, thinking that better than?—”

“You what?”

“Nothing happened!” She could feel herself losing control. The room was spinning around her. Words tumbling from her mouth. “I swear it! We slept, and that was it! You must know I am speaking the truth!”

“You slept in the same room?” her mother cried. “Caroline! What were you thinking?”

“We had no choice!”

Daniel was visibly shaking. “Caroline... you have no idea what you have done. What this means. You and His Grace... you... you... when people hear of this! What they will say?”

“Nothing happened.”

“It does not matter!”

The world was crashing down around Caroline. She felt herself stumble, the energy fleeing her body. Sweat falling from her, and her legs shook. Eyes wide, she searched the room for allies, landing on the duke who could not have looked more furious.

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