Page 53 of A Duke Makes a Deal
“A fine friend I would be to complain about my misfortunes while you already had so much to worry about in London. I wouldn’t have dreamed of burdening you with my problems.”
“Is that not what friends are for?” Clara asked, obviously upset. “To tell one another each other’s problems?”
“Clara, our lives have changed drastically these past few years. There’s little reason for you to continue bothering withme, especially now that you’re a duchess. If you wish to cut ties between us, I would not hold it against you.”
“Holly Dora Smyth, how could you say such a thing?” Clara said. “I would never abandon you or our friendship, especially in your hour of need. Do you think so little of me?”
“Of course not—”
“Then I insist you stop talking nonsense and let me help.”
“Help? How in the world could you help?”
“I’m not sure, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you absolutely can’t marry Lord Bairnsdale.”
“Can’t I? I have no other prospects, no money and two siblings to take care of, Clara. If a marriage would secure us a future, even if only for a few more years, then I’m inclined to take it.”
Clara frowned, displeased with her friend’s conclusion.
“And so, this ball you’ve invited us to, in a few months. It is to announce your engagement?” she asked sadly.
“It will be, if I accept his proposal.”
“And there’s nothing I can do or say for you to change your mind?”
“No.”
Clara’s next words sounded discontent. “I wish you would reconsider my help. Silas has agreed to allow me full control of my dowry. I could lend you some money—”
“I couldn’t let you do that. Besides, John is not some lecherous old man. He is gentle and sweet and had repeatedly assured me that there would be no sort of bedroom dalliances between us.”
“He could change his mind when the ink is dry.”
“I’m not exactly his type, dear,” she said, but Clara didn’t seem to catch her meaning. “But tell me of your duke. Is he truly pleasant beneath that cold façade? How are you feeling now that you are a duchess?”
Silas’s brow quirked up, very interested in this turn the conversation had taken.
“He is quite different from the sort of man I always thought I would marry,” she said as he strained to hear. “I always assumed I would be madly in love with my husband when I married.”
“Peers can rarely claim to be in love with their spouses, my dear. You are aware of that.”
“Yes, of course,” Clara said. “It’s just a silly notion I had. I’m sure all young ladies do. But that’s not to say I’m displeased to be his wife. Not at all. In fact, the duke and I have found an amiable friendship.” She paused, giving Silas a moment to conclude that he didn’t completely enjoy having their relationship referred to as amiable. Even though he had always wanted just that. “I just fear that I won’t be enough. I can’t quite believe that I’m a duchess. Me. Clara Woodvine.”
“Lady Clara Winters now, and yes, it is strange. You used to run around the village barefoot. And that was only last summer.”
They laughed and Silas smiled to himself at the vision of Clara, running through a field barefoot. Surely, she wouldn’t do so now, but it was an enticing image to imagine.
“I’m sure the duke’s taste can be trusted,” her friend continued. “He picked you, didn’t he?”
“He did,” Clara said, her tone suggesting otherwise. “But perhaps that’s it. Perhaps he picked me because I’m so very the opposite of what I should be. Of what a duchess should be.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he doesn’t want to repeat the tribulations of his previous marriage,” Clara said.
It irked Silas that she would speak about him and his past to someone but it wasn’t like the difficulties of his previous marriage were a secret. And anyway, he was the one eavesdropping. If he didn’t wish to hear people’s opinions, he could simply walk away.
Instead, he took a step closer.
