Page 1 of Her Wicked Duke
Chapter One
“Honestly, Annette, this house is mad enough tonight without your blubbering! Our guests are arriving soon, you must tidy your face and present yourself with the rest of us!” Her father’s words, never the kindest, especially when he felt the pressures of his household weigh on him, reached Anne’s ears.
I cannot believe Papa is at it again!
Anne’s mood soured slightly. The Marquess of Angleton loved to be the man of the house, even though tonight was her mama’s big day, the annual commemoration of her debut more than three decades ago. She was to hold the grandest ball of the Season.
Anne stormed through the manor, finding them in the dining room. She caught the tail end of her father’s berating. “Papa, will you please stop this? You are making Mama cry on her big day!”
“Anne, do not talk back to me today. My patience is wearing thin enough with your mother.”
Usually, Anne was the one person who could console her mother and also calm her father down, but it appeared that everybody’s emotions were heightened that day.
“See, Annette? You have now upset Anne!” the Marquess exclaimed.
Without saying anything, the Marchioness of Angleton rose from her seat, a hand pressed to her flushed cheek, and fled the dining room. The sound of her stifled sobs rang the air, but she left without saying anything.
“Papa!” Anne said, quite frustrated. “Why must you do this to her? She has not upset me, you should not make her think that!”
“Your mother is a testy woman, Anne. And you are my daughter, do not challenge me so. I have asked you once.”
“I am only trying to help, Papa,” she reminded him.
“I understand that is what you think you are doing, but let us handle our own affairs, Anne. Or let your mother deal with it in the way she thinks appropriate—which is no doubt munching on hors d’oeuvres in the kitchen until our guests arrive,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.
But Anne’s gaze remained steady on him, stubborn and quietly insistent that he make things right.
“Papa, you are being unkind! Mama has a soft heart, no matter how she likes to toy with you, and I do not see why you enjoy trampling all over it! You must make amends—right now.”
When he did not move from his seat, Anne sighed and went to retrieve her mother instead.
Usually, she went to console her mother, and her brother, Christian, talked their father down. However, Christian was on a grand tour of Europe and would not be back for a long time. Her older sister, Mary, had married the Earl of Yore three years prior. She had all but washed her hands off their parents’ marital squabbles.
If only I had the same luck as them…
True to her father’s words, Anne found the Marchioness of Angleton shoveling several sweets into her mouth, her cheeks red and blotchy. It appeared that the sweets were helping her calm down.
“Mama?” Anne said softly. “Are you all right?”
“Your father is strongly spoken, my dear,” her mother replied, shaking her head. “It does not matter. I tease him too much at times. He has little patience.”
“What is it that he said to you today?”
The Marchioness gave a soft laugh, as if to ask was almost routine, by now. Anne supposed it was. “He asked what gaudy gown I shall be wearing for the ball, for I could not possibly wear this one. Tell me, what is wrong with my dress?”
“He does not like it?”
“It is more that he does not trust I will keep my gown so simple. He is used to me… dressing rather extravagantly to draw his attention, I suppose. However, his words are rather harsh at times, are they not, darling?”
“I do love your dress, Mama,” Anne said. “I think you should wear it, regardless of what he thinks.”
“Thank you, darling.” Her mama leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Your dress is exquisite. I expect all the suitors to line up for you today.” Her smile was soft as she dried her tears and fixed Anne’s hair, which didn’t really need fixing. “Let’s ignore your father’s silly outbursts for now and focus on our wonderful evening, yes?”
Anne was not sure she should get between her parents and this quarrel this time, but still, she nodded, knowing her father could be quite harsh. However, the housekeeper wandered in at that moment.
“My Lady, what are you doing here? Your guests are arriving. His Lordship is already waiting in the hall.”
“Of course. Thank you.” The Marchioness nodded gracefully, ever the lady of the house.
