Page 13 of A Wallflower's Convenient Duke
She studied him for a moment before continuing. "You spoke with this woman, Philip. You must know something of her character. Surely, she is not the sort of woman you would stand by and allow to fall into ruin?"
Philip paced the room, his thoughts a tempest of conflict, each step failing to bring clarity. The weight of unspoken expectations bore down upon him, an invisible burden he could not shrug off. However innocent his actions had been, the consequences now loomed with ruthless inevitability, threatening to unravel the delicate fabric of Miss Ipswich’s reputation.
His mother's words echoed in his mind."Consider how this encounter will be interpreted,"she said.
Seeds of doubt and guilt took root in Philip’s mind, slowly eclipsing his initial defiance. Had he been reckless—too careless in engaging the lady in private conversation, heedless of the consequences? What had felt so effortless in the moment, a meeting of minds unburdened by pretence, now seemed irrevocably stained by the looming spectre of scandal.
Lady Brooksdale’s gaze held a gentleness that cut through Philip's defences. "Philip, my love, I understand your resistance.But we must contemplate the potential consequences for this poor lady. A young lady's reputation is her most valuable possession, and we cannot dismiss the impact idle gossip may have on her future. You might not put any stock into gossip, but the ton does."
Philip’s thoughts churned, torn between duty and his own desires. Part of him wanted to push back against the life that had been carved out for him, to reject the rigid mould that dictated his every move. But then there was his mother—the quiet disappointment in her eyes cut deeper than he expected. No matter how much he resented it, the weight of duty, drilled into him since childhood, was not so easily cast aside
"I do not like this," Philip insisted.
Evelyn nodded. "I know. But few of us like the sacrifices we make for our families. That doesn’t make them any less necessary."
Philip groaned with pain. What on earth was he going to do now?
No matter which way he turned, the walls kept closing in. There was no way out of this—not one that wouldn’t come at a cost. And that was the hardest truth of all.
