Page 16 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

“Eveline!” her mother cried. “Do not say such things!”

“That is what he is called!”

“It is only rumor,” Daniel sighed and rolled his eyes. “Everyone knows that.”

“It is not!” Eveline argued. “It is true!”

“What is true?” Iris asked, her voice barely heard. “What is true?”

“Ignore them.” Violet rested a hand on Iris's shoulder.

“He is a strange one, at the very least,” Caroline’s mother said, still watching where the duke had left them. “Caroline, how on earth did you come to be in his company?”

To this, Caroline shook her head to herself. A story that even now, she could not believe that she had found herself to be a part of. The damsel in distress, saved not by a dashing prince, but by a monster posing as a gentleman.Where to even begin?

She looked to her family, finding all eyes upon her, silent and expecting. For once, she realized, she had found herself at the center of their attention, rather than having to fight for it. Whether this was a good thing or not... she was not so sure.

ChapterFive

“Now that we are alone, tell me what really happened,” Aurelia demanded as she dragged Caroline into her bedroom, closing the door behind them.

“I told you already,” Caroline said, wishing that she was better at lying because the look on her face was sure to give the lie away. “It was as I explained it to mother.”

Aurelia blew through her lips. “Do not think I did not see the holes peppered throughout your little tale, Caroline. You might have mother fooled, and that dolt Daniel—which is no great compliment, as you know our brother only sees what he wishes to see. And to be fair, if he was to get even a whiff of foul play...” Her lip curled. “Honestly, he is turning more and more into our father by the day.”

“Aurelia...” Caroline felt her cheeks grow red. She tried to act aloof, walking across the room and opening the windows to allow in some fresh air, her back purposefully turned to her sister. “It is as I told you. I was being chased by some bandits, the duke saved me, and then he brought me here.”

“After a night spent together, you mean.”

Caroline spun about quickly, catching the accusatory tone. “We did not spend the night together!”

“Oh? Did the duke leave you on the side of the road last night? After having saved you. That is not very proper of him.”

“That is not what I meant. As I explained it just now?—”

“You two spent the night together.”

“I did not say that!”

“But the fact you are not denying it completely speaks volumes.” Her sister giggled. “Tell me true, what happened? And do not think I will allow you to leave before I wring the truth from you. Even if I have to do it with my bare hands.” Aurelia imitated shaking the air as if she had a hold of Caroline by the arms.

Aurelia was only one year older than Caroline, and of all her sisters, they got along best. She was perhaps the only one who treated Caroline as a real person, and she was certainly the only one who defended her against their mother and their older brother.

The two were similar in so many ways and different in so many others. Physically, Aurelia was pudgy, which was the cause of her and their mother’s constant bickering. But she was short like Caroline, had the same light brown hair, darker brown eyes, and even matching dimples when they smiled; some had mistaken them for twins. Caroline was no willow either, curvaceous and full-bodied, but still trim enough that their mother did not hassle her.

Regarding their personalities, Aurelia and Caroline were much the same in temperament and humor, even if Aurelia was outspoken about it and not as afraid of confrontation as Caroline was. Most importantly, Caroline trusted her older sister, knowing too that there was simply no way she could keep this from her.

She looked about the room, double checking they were alone. “You must promise you will tell nobody,” she hissed.

Aurelia’s eyes widened. “I was right! Something happened! Oh, it was so obvious, the way he fled as soon as he arrived. Caroline...” She clicked her tongue and smiled wickedly. “You little she-devil.”

“It is not like that!” Caroline cried. “Truly, the duke...” She sighed and shook her head. “I do not think I like him very much. He is cold and dispassionate and mean. More villain than hero.”

“Easy on the eyes though,” Aurelia giggled.

Despite herself, Caroline giggled along. She might dislike the man on a personal level, but there was no mistaking how handsome he was. And he was not typically goodlooking either, like the Duke of Aldworth. Rather, he was rugged and unrefined, messy about the edges, with a darkness to him that was dangerous, and had Caroline’s heart fluttering as she remembered last night... his hands on her thighs... how powerful they were and?—

“Come then,” Aurelia prompted, pulling Caroline out of her reverie. “What happened?”

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