Page 16 of Charming Artemis

“Just how colorful have the rumors become?” Artemis was utterly exhausted but needed to know with accuracy what she was facing.

“Apparently there are wagers on the books at Whites and Boodles,” Eve said.

“Regarding my betrothal?”

The sisters nodded.

“The question being debated is whether or not Mr. Jonquil will toss you aside.” Nia watched her, wide-eyed. “How utterly terrible that is!”

“They all believe he will run roughshod over the gentlemen’s code simply to be rid of me?”

Again, two nods in near perfect synchronization.

“Society are a dreadful bunch, aren’t they?” Artemis sometimes despised theton. “This is my fourth season as Society’s ruling diamond. And now, quick as anything, they have turned against me.”

“I suspect,” Gillian said, “much of that is borne of jealousy.”

Artemis stopped their forward walking. She took a deep breath through her nose, then pushed it out slowly between her lips. Wagers were being made against her. She was a byword, her name being bandied about. If Adam knew, she hoped he would put something of a stop to it.

There are some things even I can’t fix.That declaration had echoed in her mind again and again. She hadn’t realized until hearing him say it just how much she had depended over the years on him rescuing her from scrapes and difficulties. She, who had prided herself on her formidable independence, had let herself grow reliant on someone.

She might not have been in a position to escape this predicament, but she could approach it on her own terms.

“I am Artemis.” She spoke the three words with emphasis and purpose. “My namesake was the goddess of the hunt, slayer of men, determiner of her own fate. I will be nothing less.”

“Including the ‘slayer of men’ bit?” Eve asked with a grin.

“I intend to undertake matters withmyActaeon in the same way Artemis of old did with hers.”

Daria’s brow pulled in thought. She didn’t appear to know the history of that myth.

Gillian, true to her well-read self, did. “I doubt even you could turn a man into a deer and set wild dogs on him.”

“Actaeon imposed on Artemis, robbing her of her right to determine who she was, how she lived, and who she was permitted to let be part of her life. He was a braggart and an arrogant bounder. Artemis utilized what methods she had at her disposal and removed the threat he posed.”

“You aren’t actually going to kill Mr. Jonquil, are you?” Nia asked.

“I intend to deny him the satisfaction of destroying everything I’ve dreamed of. He is stealing away my chance for a happy marriage. He will not take away anything else.”

She was feeling the ground solidify beneath her. At last, she had a plan, an idea. It was not ideal, but it was something. And it gave her back a tiny bit of her pride and control over her life and future.

If her Papa did not hear of the nuptials in time to save her, she would save herself in whatever way remained open to her.

“I will go on with my life asIwish to live it, without needing permission or approval from my unwanted husband. Indeed, without needinganythingfrom him at all.”

“You’ll ignore him,” Gillian said, piecing it together with her usual speed.

“I’ll live my life. And I will leave him to live his.”

Chapter Six

The past week had beenmiserable. Charlie would have argued further about the ill-advised marriage he was being forced into, but he knew there was no other solution. If he and Artemis did not move forward with this plan, she would be ruined, and he would be labeled a rake for the rest of his life. They would both forever be tainted by the scandal, and their families would suffer for it. He’d rearranged the equation in every conceivable way, hoping to reach a different answer. There wasn’t one.

The only bright spot in all of London was the nursery at Lampton House, where a niece and nephew of his spent their days. He was uncle to ten nieces and nephews now. It was one of his favorite things about being part of the Jonquil family.

He pushed open the door to the nursery three days before his marriage of inconvenience was scheduled to be made official and met the eye of the nursemaid. She nodded her acceptance of his proposed intrusion, so he slipped inside. The little ones were always happy to see him. They always wanted him there. They needed him when no one else seemed to.

Little Kendrick, who was known to all the world as Lord Jonquil, and Julia, who was more properly referred to as Lady Julia, were crawling about the floor of the nursery, exploring their domain. Both the twins could pull themselves to a stand if furniture was nearby, but neither could walk yet. Charlie suspected they would be doing so quite soon.

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