Page 37 of A Foreign Crown
“But you haven’t shared the reason for the skip in your step earlier, nor the frown upon your face.”
“Oh, that.” She looked away. She couldn’t make herself say that she had a man hoping to marry her at home. Could she? “I’ve expressed that our estate is suffering.”
“You have.”
“It’s also entailed.”
“And there are no sons to inherit.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“What will happen to you?”
“The man on whom the estate will fall is home, visiting Father.”
“Oh, I see. Is he... a bachelor?”
“Yes.”
His face blanked, a complete mask to her, and she had no way of knowing what he was thinking.
“I see.”
“Yes.”
“And your father... likes this man?”
“Very much.” Her voice sounded small to her own ears.
“And... do you?”
She couldn’t answer that question. Lord Bartholomew was kind and willing to offer her the estate back. Of course she liked him. But what was Prince Layton asking? Did he want to know her more particular feelings? She suspected he did.
“I would like very much to be the duchess of our family estate.”
He nodded. “An admirable desire.”
She didn’t know if marrying Lord Bartholomew so that she could keep her family estate was admirable or not, but she knew it was expected.
For the first time in her life, she willed an internal rebellion against expectations set by others.
“And so we are both feeling duty bound.” He looked out over the tops of the hedges, and Aribella realized he could be seen from the Queen’s house.
“We really should return.”
“Duty again.”
“Well, yes, and perhaps to keep feathers unruffled?”
“Ah yes. Shall we return from separate directions?” The adventure that lit his face at the suggestion made her laugh.
“Yes, I’ll go first since I know a back way.”
“And I’ll await the next moment I can spend with you, duty or no.”
She paused, loving his words, knowing she should resist but unable to deny him. Instead, she smiled and hurried away.
Chapter Thirteen
