Page 22 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
Dear Lady Lily,
I appreciate your interest in my services. It is a great honor. However, I must express my concerns about your situation. Rumors about your family’s financial troubles and your brother’s questionable decisions have reached my ears. This, unfortunately, has affected your reputation and has become the subject of gossip amongst the ton. I do not think that it would be wise for me to take on your case.
I apologize, and I do hope you understand.
Yours,
Lady Beecham.
Disappointed, Lily sighed and dropped the letter on her lap.
Why must it be so difficult? She had done everything right, and yet it seemed like the world was deliberately working against her. What else was she to do if even the matchmaker wasn’t willing to help her?
The clock was ticking, and she was aware of it.
She was running out of options, and there was not much else for her to do.
Was it foolish of her to think that she could overcome these obstacles in her own way? Did she dream too big when she thought she could solve most of her problems by marrying? Why did it have to be so hard to find a man willing toa take a wife even if her dowry was basically non-existent and she was from a family riddled with debts?!
Amid all the pressure, Lily knew she needed to do this right. She had to find a husband, or she could spend the rest of her life regretting her decision.
But how would she even know whom to choose, especially with the rumors? What man would be willing to risk his image and associate with a family on the brink of bankruptcy?
She sighed again and closed her eyes.
Nathan was walking past the drawing room, having just come back home, when he saw her looking downcast. A rare sight to him.
“What is it?” he asked, drawing her out of her thoughts.
Lily instantly lifted her head and turned to him.
He walked into the room. “What is that letter?”
She was tempted to ignore him, as it was his fault that she found herself in this situation in the first place.
“It’s a letter from the matchmaker, Nathan,” she said, slowly standing up to face him. “It turns out that you have made quite a reputation for yourself and our family out there. Do you know how much damage you have done?”
He waved her off, and she frowned.
“Don’t worry too much about it, Lily,” he said. “Everything will be fine, I promise you.”
She rolled her eyes. “The last time you said that, we lost several valuables to debt collectors. So, if you have a big plan brewing somewhere, you’d better tell it to me right away.”
He raised a finger and pointed it at her. “In due time, Lily. In due time. You need to learn to calm down.”
She scoffed. “Calm down? Really?”
He shrugged and turned to walk out. “It’s what I do, Lily!”
Why is he behaving like this?
But Lily already knew the answer.
Their father had done nothing but indulge him all his life, and he had grown up spoiled and dependent. So, it was no surprise that he turned out that way.
But she wasn’t ready to let her brother’s bad decisions, coupled with his poor upbringing, ruin everything for her. She wasn’t going to stand by and watch them lose their house to the Duke or anybody. And she wasn’t going to let the matchmaker’s letter bring her down either.
She could try attending social gatherings, as the Duke had suggested, even though she didn’t want to accept his suggestions. Who knew? Maybe she would find a husband at one of those gatherings.
