Page 49 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
Heavens, this is real.This will truly happen.
Later that day, Lucien arrived at Montgomery Manor, his thoughts a jumble that he could not pin down properly. He had only managed to get through his decision to marry Edwina by keeping himself busy.
But he was doing what he could, and he knew this would save the family.
As soon as he walked into the drawing room, eager to pour himself a drink and relax for a moment before he continued to arrange the wedding, he was stopped by Lady Isabel. Her assessing glare told him that she had been informed of the new development.
“Your Grace,” she purred. “I trust you’ve had a productive morning.”
Lucien’s eyes flicked to Edwina, who hovered behind her aunt. “Aunt Isabel, why not let His Grace enter the room first?”
“Ah. Yes, yes, I shall.” Lady Isabel plastered a wide smile on her face. If it grew any wider, she would grow sharp canines—Lucienwas sure of it. He had the terrible sense of entering a snake’s pit. “Do step in, Your Grace. Come, answer my many,manyquestions.”
Lucien gave a short laugh. “Indeed, Lady Isabel. I imagine you have many.”
Lady Isabel gave a shorthumphbefore she stopped short.
“Wait!” she cried. No sooner had she invited him in than she began to make a fuss. “You must leave! You are now engaged to Edwina. It is not right to be in the house, and I cannot stand back?—”
“Aunt Isabel, you must let him in,” Edwina protested and pulled the older woman aside.
Lucien only strode to one of the armchairs, forcing the women to follow suit.
Lady Isabel was already prattling on, an insane amount of questions that Lucien was already irritated by.
“Did I sleep through your courtship? Where will the ceremony take place? I do hope you have a plan to tell Nicholas, Your Grace, for it will not be a pretty endeavor.”
Lucien looked at her with as much patience as he could manage. “Lady Isabel, there was no courtship, nor will there be. Edwina and I are to marry this week.”
Lady Isabel’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. “Thisweek? Heavens, there is no time! What of the arrangements, and what of?—”
“I find the whole planning process rather tedious, as you once told me,” Edwina quickly cut in. “We are rather similar in such ways, Aunt Isabel. Plus, our focus is on ensuring that Nicholas’s health is restored as fast as possible, so it is best that the wedding takes place sooner rather than later.”
“Indeed.” Lady Isabel nodded slowly, clearly thinking.
Lucien watched as another thought occurred to her, and she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Her eyebrows rose so high to her hairline that he thought she would lose them.
“Oh,Heavens! How outrageous! Have you been…improper?” she whispered to Edwina, fanning herself.
“No!” Edwina blurted loudly. “No, Aunt Isabel. It is purely to focus on Nicholas’s recuperation that we need to speed things up.”
“Your purity is still intact?”
Lucien was rather amused by the way Edwina’s face turned pink.
“Yes, Aunt Isabel. Now, may we move on, as I think we have covered such a thing eloquently enough.”
Lucien quickly asked, “How is Nicholas faring?”
“He has not woken up yet,” Edwina told him, wincing.
“And let us hope that he does not for some time,” Lady Isabel muttered. “For I imagine he will wish he was in a deep slumber when he hears of your engagement.”
Edwina frowned at her aunt. “I am sure all will be fine.”
“I shall go to him,” Lucien said, standing up and leaving the room swiftly.
He heard Lady Isabel exclaim that she must take her leave, for she feared Nicholas would explode. But what stopped him was Edwina, who had stepped in front of him on the staircase.
