Page 93 of A Spinster for the Cold Duke

“Now see here, Marchwood?—”

“No, you see here.” Henry’s voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “Your daughter attempted to entrap me into marriage through false compromise and just confessed to abandoning her family for an illicit affair that ended in scandal. She will leave England or disappear into a religious order. I care not which.”

“Papa, you cannot let him—” Florentia grabbed at her father’s arm, but he shook her off as his lips turned down in irritation.

“You’ve brought shame to this family,” Lord Oakley said heavily. “I won’t let you destroy what little reputation we have left.”

“Papa!” Florentia screeched, betrayal rife in her tone.

“One more thing—” Henry’s voice stopped Lord Oakley as he moved to collect his daughter. “You will apologize to Annabelle. You will make amends for every slight, every criticism, andevery moment you’ve made her feel less than worthy of your affection.”

“I hardly think?—”

“Now.” The single word carried the full force of ducal command.

Florentia opened her mouth to protest, but Lady Oakley’s raised hand silenced her immediately.

Lord Oakley’s shoulders sagged as he turned to face his eldest daughter. “Annabelle, I… forgive me. I’ve been blind, and foolish, and allowed my disappointment in one daughter to poison my relationship with the other. You’ve never deserved the coldness I’ve shown you.”

Annabelle swallowed. She stood up a bit straighter and pulled her shoulders back. “Father…”

“I hope someday you might find it in your heart to forgive an old fool.” His voice was thick with shame as he continued. “I hope we might find our way back to being a family again.”

“I will…I will think about it.” Her tone was stiff with suppressed emotion.

Lord Oakley nodded curtly to Henry, then took Florentia’s arm. “Come. We have arrangements to make.”

“Papa, you can’t just obey whatever he-”

“Silence! Don’t you know how much trouble you are in now?”

As father and daughter departed, squabbling, Lady Oakley moved toward the door with surprising speed for a woman of her years.

“Grandmother, where are you going?”

“To my chambers,” the dowager replied firmly. “You two have much to discuss, and I’ve no intention of chaperoning this conversation.” She paused at the threshold. “I expect a resolution to this situation by morning.”

The door closed with a decisive click, leaving Henry and Annabelle alone in the sudden, overwhelming silence.

He watched as Annabelle stood frozen beside her chair. Her hands trembled as if she were struggling to process everything that had just unfolded in front of her.

“I cannot believe… all this time, she was…” Her words trailed off, and she pressed her fingers to her lips.

“Annabelle.” Henry moved toward her slowly as if approaching a frightened deer. “Look at me.”

She raised tear-bright eyes to his face. “I didn’t think she would actually go after you.”

“I know that.”

Annabelle shook her head. “I…I thought staying away from you would protect you and Celia. I…I didn’t think she would …I mean, I guess I should have known. I’ve been such a fool.” The words came out as barely a whisper.

“No.” Henry reached out and gently cupped her face in his hands. “You are no fool. Your sister has tried to make you feel defeated. The fault lies entirely with her.”

“But I let her words influence me. I let her words cast a shade of doubt over everything…”

“And now?” His thumbs brushed away the tears that had begun to fall. “What do you believe now?”

Annabelle searched his eyes. She saw nothing but fierce, unwavering devotion reflected at her. “I believe I’ve wasted too much time listening to fear instead of my heart.”

---