Page 15 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

“The blame does not lie with her,” Daniel said. He was standing back, eyeing the scene with a curled lip and sultry expression that was common. “Mother, you ought to count yourself lucky that no harm has befallen Caroline. The fact she was in this position at all…”

As compassionate as her older brother’s words might have sounded, Caroline knew them to be anything but. As the oldest of the troupe, and the only son, he was the official patriarch of the family, a role he took very seriously. What was more, he had traveled ahead of them to be here, leaving a day early and entrusting his sister’s care to that of their mother. The fact that his mother had made such a tremendous mistake no doubt irked him, very likely infuriating his own sense of worth

“I was not blaming her,” Violet said rightly. “Merely observing a fact. And you are correct…” Violet looked to their mother. “This should never have happened.”

Their mother flushed with embarrassment. “As I explained, Daniel, it was Aurelia who I entrusted with?—”

“It does not matter,” he spoke over her. “Their care was in your hands. Although perhaps I should blame myself for trusting you in the first place.”

“Daniel, do us all a favor and go practice falling over somewhere, will you?” That was Eveline, the third sister. She saddled in beside Caroline and winked. “Glad to see you well, Caroline. Although I hope you have a story for us, lest this all be for nothing.”

“Caroline...” Sneaking through her siblings was Iris, the fourth sister—not counting Caroline. She was the youngest, the most shy, and the most doted upon by their mother. “I am glad you are safe.” She smiled warmly, albeit with hesitation.

Her arrival to Aldworth Estate was nothing short of chaotic, but that was to be expected when it came to Caroline and her family.

The oldest of them, Daniel, was distant and closed off. The second eldest, Violet was the most proper and well-liked by their mother. The third sibling, Aurelia, was the black sheep of the family, always fighting with their mother because Aurelia was physically a little plump and this, to their mother, was the worst thing a young lady could be.

Eveline, who was younger than Caroline, had developed a wild side borne from the need to stand out from her older siblings, while Iris, the youngest of the group, was treated as the baby by all; overly looked after and yet to grow into herself.

“What happened?” Eveline demanded.

“Yes, tell us,” Aurelia perked up.

“Give her some space,” Violet sighed.

“Children, children!” her mother cried above them. “One at a time!”

They bickered and carried on like chickens fighting over freshly tossed seed, pulling this way and that on Caroline who did as she always did when she found herself in the throes of her family’s chaos. She shrunk back into herself. The best way to deal with them, she had found, was to let them tire themselves out and grow bored, then she could simply slip away and no one would even notice.

It was at that moment that the duke appeared in the carriage door. His hulking frame had the carriage rocking, and when he stepped down, the ground seemed to shake. A presence that was indomitable, one that was deserving of attention, he said nothing and still it was enough for Caroline’s family to fall silent and gape stupidly.

“Your Grace!” her mother squawked. “This is a most unexpected... we did not... our daughter...”

“Mother,” Caroline sighed and stepped around her siblings and mother. “His Grace was the one who assisted in ensuring that I arrived in one piece.”

“He did what?!”

“He found me,” she said. “And offered to bring me here. A coincidence and nothing more, but one for which I am grateful.”

“You... you did?” her mother balked, only to get a hold of herself and then sweep toward the duke. “Your Grace! We are forever in your debt.” She reached him and curtsied. “And if there is anything you need, you have only to ask. I cannot tell you how much this means, rescuing my daughter as you have done. Truly, words cannot do it justice.”

The duke looked down at her coldly. Then he swept his eyes over Caroline’s brother and four sisters. They were massed together, each staring wide-eyed and in fear—no doubt they recognized him and knew the rumors as Caroline did—none of them making so much as a sound as if hoping he might not notice them.

The duke’s lip curled. “Roderick,” he said.

Her mother reared back. “Roderick? What are you...?”

“Aldworth,” he corrected with a frustrated growl. “Where is he?”

“Oh...” Her mother frowned and looked back at her children. “I am not?—”

“His study, Your Grace,” Violet spoke up. “I was just with him.” She was set to marry the Duke of Aldworth, this weekend being their engagement party, so it made sense that she would know his whereabouts.

The duke exhaled through his nose, stepped around Caroline’s mother, and stormed down the drive toward the manor. Not once did he look back. Not once did he give any indication that he was appreciative of Caroline’s mother’s thanks or gave a damn. The doors to the manor were already open and he strode inside, gone in an instant as if he never was.

“Was that the Duke of Eggelton?” Aurelia gasped.

“The Cruel Duke?” Eveline added.

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