Page 18 of A Duke Makes a Deal
“He told you that?” Clara asked, her hands curling into fists.
“He did. He came over first thing this morning to tell me and profess his love. Papa tried to say no, but as I’m sure I’ve been in love with my dear Hubert for months now—”
“Months?” Clara repeated incredulously. “You said a week ago that it was unfortunate that I should have to marry someone so soon, because it wouldn’t be any fun to attend next season alone.”
Bettina’s cheeks burned bright red with embarrassment as one of the girls snickered, hiding behind her fan.
“I said no such thing.”
“You did too.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Bettina said loudly, causing some passersby to watch their group. “Hubert and I are going to be married in a month and then I’ll be Viscountess Dilworth.”
“And you’ll be paying for all his debts,” Clara said hotly.
That had been the wrong thing to say. The collective gasp from the others told Clara that she had gone too far, but really how could Bettina not realize that Dilworth was only marrying her for her money? It had been a painful thing to admit herself, but then it was hardly something she could ignore. The fact of the matter was Dilworth was a villain, despite his title.
Bettina pulled her shoulders all the way back and spoke loudly.
“I wouldn’t expect a country mouse like you to understand. Dilworth has thrown you over for someone of his own class, which really is the way it should be,” she said, scowling at Clara. “I mean, it’s painfully obvious you’ve tried to elbow your way into society. Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you belong.”
“Don’t be a poor sport about it, Miss Woodvine,” Janet said. “Dilworth simply wanted someone of his own class. I’m sure there are plenty of…” she paused, her mouth hanging open for amoment, before her eyes lit up. “…merchants and the like who would be happy to take you on as a wife.”
Clara’s eyes went wide. To be used by Dilworth had been one thing, but to discover that her friends weren’t really her friends at all and had tossed her over in the blink of an eye, well, it was all too much. True, she had only known them for a matter of weeks, not really long enough to develop the kind of closeness that she shared with Holly, but she had thought that they at leastlikedher. Where was all this scorn coming from? What had she done to deserve it? Did she really no longer have any value to them at all now that she wasn’t on the verge of marrying a member of the aristocracy? She tried to think of something brutal and biting to say, to put them all in their place, but she couldn’t think of anything.
Her mouth hung open, as they waited for her retort. What a silly, stupid woman she was, believing that she would be accepted by these people. Her hand went up to tuck a phantom strand of hair behind her ear as the humiliation of the situation washed over her. She wanted to turn and run and nearly did so, when she remembered the words the duke had said to her that morning.
Heaven help the person who ever tried to put you in your place.
It had been intended as an insult, she was sure. But it made her feel rather proud for some reason. Then he had kissed her and all her good sense had left her.
The recollection of his hands on her body came crashing over her. The taste of his mouth, the scent of mint and cigars on his clothes as he held her flashed in her mind as she blinked several times, trying to dislodge the memory.
Oh, don’t think about that now! Why would that of all memories pop into her head at this moment?
“You really must close your mouth, Miss Woodvine,” Winnifred said, a smirk on her face. “You look like a fish.”
All the other girls tittered and laughed as Clara snapped her mouth shut as she felt something within her break. Heart racing, she took a step forward, crowding Bettina.
“Take Dilworth,” she heard herself say. She glared at the rest of the girls. “He’s hardly worth the ground he walks on. If you’re so inclined, you should know that I overthrew him. He’s nothing but a fortune-seeking blackguard.”
Bettina’s face contorted with fury.
“You’re lying.”
“I should thank you, for releasing me of him,” she said quickly. “I’d hate for him to come snooping about me again should you come to your senses and realize what a ghastly man he truly is.”
The others’ eyes went wide as a small crowd formed around them.
“How dare you?” Bettina spouted. “You’re just mad that despite your monies, you can’t keep a fiancé.” Bettina pouted exaggeratedly. “How sad it is you’ve taken to insulting a gentleman, simply because he threw you over.”
“He did not throw me over,” Clara said, her temper rising.
“He did though. He told me all about it,” she said taking a step forward. “He said that he couldn’t bear to marry someone so far beneath him—”
“He did not.”
“He said he was ashamed every moment he was in your presence. That you were so obvious in your social climbing that you never cared to learn proper manners or decorum,” she accused.
