Page 3 of Wedded to the Beastly Duke
“Why must you assume it is a joke?” he asked impatiently. “He is in need of a wife, and Aurelia has just begun her first Season. She has a generous dowry and is excessively fair. Any gentleman would be lucky to have her. He is a duke!”
“He is known to be a cold man,” the Countess said. “A stern man, and with no notable friends or acquaintances in London. No one knows any more than we do—and what we know is not good, Sunton.”
He cannot be allowed to marry my sister.
If there was one point Emmeline was certain about, it was that. “What about the Duke?” she asked. “Has he so much as met her?”
“Well, not yet, but I boasted about her virtues.”
Emmeline’s nostrils flared. “Which means you mentioned her beauty and talked in great detail about her dowry?”
“Do not criticize me, girl. I am providing for this family. Your mother should be proud.”
Under the weight of his gaze, the Countess sniffed heartily. “Indeed, I am grateful you have been thinking of us all.”
Emmeline fought the urge to roll her eyes. Following her mother would be no use, so she attempted a different tack.
“Papa,” she said coaxingly, “I know how much you treasure us as your daughters, and we are grateful—indeed, we are.”
Aurelia made a whimpering sound, and Emmeline stroked her sister’s hair, smoothing it gently.
“But Aurelia is just eighteen,” she continued after a moment. “And I know you would not wish to force her into a marriage that would make her unhappy. Please consider it.”
“I have already considered it.” His jaw set in an expression of stubbornness she had come to know well. “And I have given my permission. The Duke will not make her unhappy. Aurelia will be a duchess. Considerthat.”
Aurelia made another whimpering noise, and Emmeline continued stroking her hair, smoothing it affectionately.
“Hush now,” she soothed. “Everything will be well.”
The Earl made another impatient noise and left the room, bidding them to “come to their senses with haste.” Emmeline generally viewed her father with affection, but today she wanted to shake some sense into him.
“Mama,” she said, “can you tend to Aurelia?”
Her mother slumped back in her chair, fluttering her handkerchief ineffectually across her face. “Oh, my nerves,” she said. “My poor nerves. Where are my salts? Whatever shall we do, Emmy? You heard your father, and he will not hear otherwise, you know that he will not.”
Emmeline set her jaw. “We shall see about that.”
Realizing her mother was in no position to help, she rose and tugged on the bell pull, requesting that two maids be sent to tend to Lady Sunton and Lady Aurelia. Then, after offering platitudes she hardly knew she could give, she left the room in search of the Earl.
No doubt he thought he was doing the best thing he could for his family, but the Duke of Kant! Rumors were spreading through London of how disagreeable he was, how rude and sharp and blunt he could be, and her sister would simply curl up and die of misery if she were subjected to such a fate.
Her father had not thought the implications through, but she wouldmakehim see.
He had retreated to his study, no doubt intending to while away the time answering letters and seeing to his affairs. Emmeline did not wait for him to invite her in as she pushed open the door.
“Papa,” she said. “May I speak with you?”
He was already back at his desk, and he glanced up at her knock. The quill in his hand stilled, and his lips pressed together into a thin line. “Emmeline, I thought the subject of your sister’s betrothal was closed.”
“Then allow me to open it once more.”
“There is nothing more to say on the matter.”
“Papa,please.” She closed the door behind her. “Surely you must know of his horrible reputation.”
“I had thought you of all people knew better than to give consequence to rumor. Have you not endured enough of your own?”
“That I am unmarried? A spinster?” A tiny, humorless smile touched her lips. “That is entirely different. A truth rather than rumor.”
