Page 9 of The Heiress Gets a Duke
August swallowed thickly, feeling stupid and naive that she had never guessed the depth of her mother’s embarrassment. Asnew money,there were many families that did not include their name on the guest list. August had always known that this was a sore spot for her mother, but she had never allowed herself to believe that it would come to this. Even seeing Camille walking down the aisle, her shoulders shaking as she had cried silent tears beneath her veil, had not made August seriously consider that this could happen to her or Violet. She had been a fool to ignore her initial misgivings. As a result, anger heated her next words.
“You are manipulating this arrangement, forcing Violet to marry this man so that you can impress Mrs. Astor.” It wasn’t a question. Her hands clenched into fists so tightly that her fingernails threatened to cut into her palms.
Her mother nodded. “I am doing what is necessary to secure this family a solid future.”
“Have you spoken with Papa about this?” She hoped that he would see reason.
“Your father agrees with me.” Her mother’s usually sparkling eyes had gone glacial.
A hollow opened up in August’s belly at the betrayal. She had assumed that she and Violet would have his full support. Perhaps her mother was stretching the truth about his agreement.
Violet made a noise from the window. It seemed she had finally come to some conclusion, or perhaps she had been holding out hope that their father was not in accord on this. “But have you both forgotten about Teddy?” Violet’s voice shook.
Theodore Sutherland was a darling of their social circles in New York, except he and his family had several fatal flaws. First, his family came from St. Louis and not NewYork. Second, his family had earned their money in breweries. Third, they, too, were new money, but even newer than the Crenshaws.
Although nothing had been made official, Teddy and Violet had been close for a while now. Everyone had assumed he would offer for her once he graduated university. Now August understood that her mother had never intended anything to come of the match.
“What do you mean? What about Teddy?” asked their mother in a tone that seemed deliberately obtuse.
Violet stomped her foot in a rare demonstration of pique. “We are to be married.”
This finally brought their mother to her feet. “Violet, dear, that is most certainly not true. The boy is only twenty years old. It will be years before he’s ready to settle into marriage.”
“Itistrue. Everyone knows it.” Violet’s eyes were bright with unshed tears when she looked to her sister. “Tell her, August.” Without giving August time to respond, she looked back at their mother. “He’s told me that he loves me.”
“It’s true, Mother. Everyone knows that he wants to marry Violet.”
Their mother shrugged. “Well, I do not know this; your father does not know this. Apparently, everyone doesnotknow.”
“It’s true.” Violet stepped forward, seizing on this misunderstanding. August had to close her eyes against the desperate hope on her sister’s face. “You have but to send a letter. I am certain he’ll respond and tell you everything.”
Their mother was already shaking her head. “There isn’t time for that. A letter would take weeks to even reach him.”
“A telegram, then,” said Violet, but their mother pretended not to notice as she took her daughter by the shoulders and gave her a gentle smile.
“Besides that, dear, it hardly matters. Mr. Sutherland is no duke. Furthermore, he hasn’t a penny that his father hasn’t given to him.”
“That makes no sense, Mother. If what you say is true,the duke hasn’t a penny, either.” Violet huffed, shrugging out of Mother’s grip.
“True, but the duke has a title. It’s not such a bad exchange, that. A tiny pittance of our good fortune for a title.” The woman kissed Violet’s cheek and gave August a nod. The bliss on her face was nearly blinding. “Good night, my dears. I am off to bed. Tomorrow will be an exciting day. Violet, dear, we need to go through all of your gowns. We’ll select a Worth gown for the eventual ball, of course, but maybe something more reserved for the dinner. I can hardly fathom it... a duke! And our Violet to be a duchess.” With those words, she disappeared in a swirl of lavender silk into her bedchamber.
August wasted no time in rushing over to her sister and embracing her.
“What am I going to do?” asked Violet. “I cannot marry this stranger. You’ve seen Camille. You know how wretchedly her husband treats her. I cannot...” She gulped in a deep breath, nearly overcome with emotion.
“No, you cannot marry him. I don’t know what they’re thinking trying to marry you off like this.” Without letting go of Violet, August leaned back to look her sister straight in the eye. “We’ll stop it.”
“But how? You heard her. She seems set on the marriage.”
“I’ll talk to Papa in the morning.” August wondered if she would get anywhere with him. He was well-known for his pragmatism. If Mother had already convinced him that this would help their business, then there might be no changing his mind. But there was no sense in sharing her concern now, when her sister needed reassurances.
Violet nodded. “I’ll send Maxwell a telegram tomorrow. I have no idea if this duke will actually offer, or when this damned wedding is meant to take place. Max won’t let them do this.”
While August knew that their brother would take Violet’s side in this, she just didn’t think there would be time. There was little hope that a telegram from their brother would sway her parents. He’d have to come here, and beforehe could leave, he’d have to arrange things with Crenshaw Iron. It could take weeks. No, they would have to take care of this themselves.
As if reading her thoughts, Violet said, “Dear God, will he have time to get here? How soon do you think they want this marriage to take place?”
“I have no idea. That’s why we cannot wait for Max.”
