Page 8 of The Heiress Gets a Duke
Marriage?” Violet’s voice was a high-pitched screech that might have come close to peeling the wallpaper in the sitting room of their mother’s bedroom suite. August was too stunned to investigate. Their mother had delivered the surprise announcement with all the aplomb of a woman blissfully unaware of its unwelcome reception.
Her smile was so bright that August was certain they must have misheard. She was simply overly tired from accompanying Camille to the fight last night. “Pardon me, Mother, but did you saymarriageand something about aduke? That Violet is to receive a proposal of marriage from aduke?”
Their mother paused, preening in the glorious aftermath of her news. Shifting on the settee, she tucked a curl of chestnut hair only lightly touched with silver back up under the silk turban she wore to bed every night. August suspected she was savoring the moment, and her mouth went dry at the implication that she had indeed heard correctly.
“Oh, if I must say it again, then I will.” Another maddening pause for effect. “The Duke of Rothschild willattend the Ashcroft dinner later this week. If he finds favor with Violet—and I am certain he will—then I have hope that we can expect an offer of marriage to be forthcoming.”
Violet had gone pale. The announcement had pulled her to her feet, and she stood speechless there before the settee she had shared with August opposite their mother.
August took it upon herself to ask the pertinent questions on behalf of her sister. “Forgive me, but I am having a bit of trouble putting together how this came about. We have never met this family, much less the duke.”
“The Ashcrofts have been very good to us this Season. Lord Ashcroft has a fondness for your father and has introduced him around to his men at the clubs. As luck would have it, Lady Ashcroft is very friendly with the duke’s mother. They grew up together. We met at tea several days ago, and Her Grace implied that her son is eligible and in need of a wife.”
“You mean that she asked you for Violet?” August asked.
Her mother looked heavenward before shaking her head. “Not in so many words, no. Theyarecivilized people, August.” Her eyes flashed a warning, before softening as she transferred her gaze to Violet. “But Her Grace expressed an interest in making Violet’s acquaintance. She’s heard nothing but good things about you, my dear.”
Violet had yet to recover her ability to speak and covered her mouth with her fingers. When it became clear that she had nothing to offer, their mother continued with her explanation. “After Her Grace departed, Lady Ashcroft was kind enough to explain the situation to me. No one knows, you understand, but rumors are that when the elder duke died last year he left them without so much as a penny.”
“How can that be?” Violet asked. Her voice was soft and faraway. Whether she meant the Rothschilds’ financial state or the proposed marriage, August couldn’t say.
“It hardly matters,” their mother continued. “The important thing is that they need funds no matter the currency, because they have very little of their own. I suspect their debts are going to be called soon, since the duchess wasbeing a bit forward in her interest. They need us.” There was a distinct gleam in her eye that made August uncomfortable. “Oh, do say something, Violet. This is wonderful news.”
Violet shook her head slowly and, with a hand on her forehead, made her way to the darkened window that looked out over the garden.
“Why do the Rothschilds’ financial woes have to involve Violet? Can’t they and Papa work out some sort of arrangement? An investment?” asked August. “Or better yet, if the Ashcrofts are their friends, they can lend them money.”
“Because that is not how it is done here, August.” Her mother’s voice was sharp again with impatience. “The duke needs an alliance with a powerful family.”
“Awealthyfamily, you mean.”
Her mother’s glare matched the severity of her tone. “Very well, if you insist on mercenary terms, then yes, he needs an alliance with a wealthy family. We are a wealthy family.”
“This is because of Camille, isn’t it?” August had been wary of the covetous look in her mother’s eyes as Camille had shown them around her manor in Sussex. Now she knew why. It wasn’t the wealth that the manor represented that had caught her mother’s attention. It was the history of the estate and the family. The stench of new money could not linger in a home that had existed for centuries.
“You have to admit things have worked out quite well for her.”
Camille was miserable. Anyone could see that. Anyone who cared to look could see that, August amended. “Financially, perhaps, but do you truly think Camille is happy?”
“Happy?” Mother’s laugh grated as it climbed the ridges of her spine. “Of course she’s happy. She has everything a young woman could ask for.”
Before August could challenge that, Violet’s voice interrupted what was quickly promising to escalate into an argument. “I still don’t understand. We never came here with the intention of arranging a marriage. The Season was for fun. We were going to return home soon.”
Their mother smiled. “And aren’t we fortunate that thisopportunity arose? Why, it’s nearly been presented to us on a silver platter.”
“I am sorry, Mother, but to be perfectly frank, I still do not understand how this arrangement benefits us.” August rose and paced around behind the settee, trying her best to work this out. Years of analyzing decisions for Crenshaw Iron Works had taught her to look at every deal from every angle. No matter how she turned it over in her mind, the benefit lay only with the Rothschilds. They would be given a fortune, while the Crenshaws would lose Violet.
“How can you not see it, child? It’s a golden opportunity for us. Violet will become a duchess. That is very nearly royalty.” She said it as if that were enough. As if Violet marrying a stranger and giving up her entire future to a man they knew nothing about was worth a title.
“What if Violet doesn’t want to become a duchess?”
“August, dear, you have to see the opportunities this could bring our way. This could open up doors for us that were previously locked. Why, we are only friends with the Duchess of Hereford, and look at what has already happened. Crenshaw Iron Works could benefit far more than we could imagine.”
August hated the way her mother referred to Camille by her title now. Despite the fact that Camille had spent hours upon hours playing with August and Violet as children and running the halls of their home, she wasn’t even allowed to be herself anymore. She was a figurehead, a name...a wife. Ever since August had learned how much women had to give up when they attained the title of wife, she had been wary of the position. Now she had even more reason to be suspicious of it.
“I believe that Crenshaw Iron Works is doing fine. More railways are being built every year. Max has our projections increasing annually.”
“One can hope, but one must not underestimate the value of social connections. If we were to be accepted by some...” Her mother’s voice trailed off, and her expression hardened. “We all know that there are places where theCrenshaw name is not welcomed. If that were to change, then we would not have to worry about the Astors of the world making things more difficult for us. This is an investment in our future, our name as a family, as much as it is about Violet.”
