Page 30 of Her Wicked Duke
She tried not to make any hasty connections.
She went downstairs for breakfast and sat with her parents, slipping on a cool, collected mask, lest her mother notice something was on her mind. She tried to put the thoughts of the letter out of her mind and smiled when she was supposed to, talking excitedly about the party that night.
The letter will not dampen my spirits tonight. I refuse to let it.
“Anne, you must meet someone that is a good match tonight,” her father instructed, spreading jam on his toast. “I do not wish to see you waste another Season.”
“She has received offers, Matthew,” her mother hissed. “She is enjoying herself. Do not saddle her down so quickly.”
“We must secure our children’s futures, Annette! Or do you wish to have a spinster for a daughter?”
Anne was insulted!
“Father, I am not unmarriageable! I am perfectly capable of securing a match before the Season ends.”
“Then perhaps you should start acting like it,” he said harshly. Anne cringed back in her seat, swallowing her frustration. “Perhaps you should find someone to attend more events in the coming weeks. Who are you being chaperoned by tonight?”
“You, of course,” Anne replied. “And Mama.”
“As we mentioned, your mother and I are attending the opera tonight. You are to be chaperoned by Alexander. Your mother told me that he has been trying to gain your attention. I have written to him to come and collect you from here tonight.”
“Father, I do not need your meddling with my suitors!” Anne protested, almost whining.
“I think you do, Anne,” he countered. “We wish to see you happy and settling down soon. Mary was already courting Patrick by your age. Do you wish to watch your friends get married and remain alone?”
“Matthew, mind your words! You’re being insensitive.”
“Are these not the same things your own father said to you?”
Annette gripped her teacup tightly as she angrily bit into a piece of toast. “Yes. And look where it got me.”
“Mama!” Anne gasped.
They never stop!
Soon, the only sound in the room was her mother’s munching on the entire rack of toast. When Anne went to help herself, there were none left. Her mother only pushed back her chair and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
A tense silence fell over the table.
“I only wish for the best for you, my Anne,” her father said, much gentler now. “I don’t mean to be too hard on you. Alexander is a fine man to look after you, and he has been a friend of the family for years.”
“But what about Christian’s thoughts on the matter? Won’t he… have thoughts about it?”
“That is for you both to decide. If Alexander is already willing to be seen with you and have rumors about you circulating around the ton, then he must be willing to accept that he might have to have some awkward conversations with his best friend.”
Anne bit her lip, refusing to talk about how Alexander had only been asked to protect her. Now, it was turning into something far more. Christian would not ask that of his best friend. He hadn’t asked his best friend to woo his sister.
As the toast rack was refilled, Anne stayed silent. Suddenly, she didn’t really feel excited about tonight’s party but began her preparations later that afternoon anyway.
Chapter Ten
“Good evening, Anne.” Alexander’s voice cut through the worries and frustrations of her day as soon as he greeted her.
Anne was glad she wore her pale pink gown that evening, for he wore a deep forest-green jacket that brought out the blue of his eyes.
He stood straight, one hand folded behind his back, and another held out to her as if he’d decided to be a proper gentleman tonight and court her.
But we are not courting.
