Page 13 of Married to the Icy Duke
That begged the immediate follow-up question: What would she do?
Well, she could, of course, accept the duke’s proposal. Any sensible woman in her position would, even if the man was little more than a beast.
Why am I hesitating? The man himself matters little. His nephew is sweet, and I would certainly command respect as the Duchess of Arkley.
No, that wasn’t true. She’d told herself that the man—the duke himself—mattered little, but then why did he occupy her thoughts? Why had he occupied herdreamslast night?
It would be easier,Charlotte thought glumly,if he were ugly.
Groaning, Charlotte removed the cushion and stared dully up at the ceiling. She had one day to think over his proposal. Well, Gabriel wouldn’t want her to accept, would he? At one time, he might have tried to forbid it altogether.
Thalia has tempered him. She won’t let him forbid my marriage, not if she believes it is what I want.
Is it what I want?
People cringed before the Duke of Arkley, she knew that. Privately, Charlotte was pleased with her own behavior. She hadn’t cringed. In fact, she’d stood her ground.
I suppose I have my brother to thank for that. Having a brother like Gabriel makes it much easier to stand up to overbearing men, I think.
At that precise moment, somebody hammered on her bedroom door.
Charlotte flinched, jerking upright.
“Charlotte!” Gabriel thundered from outside. “Charlotte!”
Speaking of overbearing men …she thought wryly.
“What is it, Gabriel?” she said aloud. “I’m not dressed. You can’t come in.”
“I am notgoingto come in. Charlotte, tell me at once what happened at the party last night.”
She paused. “What do you mean?”
“Just come out here. We have to talk.”
Well, that is ominous,Charlotte thought wryly. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she snatched up a robe and slung it around her shoulders. It would have to do for now.
She yanked open the door. Gabriel stood there, lips pressed into a thin, angry line. His arms crossed tightly over his chest. He was half-dressed, in trousers, boots, and a shirt roughly tucked into his waistband. He was, to her amazement, tapping one foot with irritation.
“Is there any particular reason, brother, why you are shouting so early in the morning?” Charlotte asked sweetly.
He scowled. “Don’t play the fool with me, Charlotte.”
“I am not! I don’t understand why you are so angry so early.”
“I am angry because theDuke of bloody Arkleyis here, downstairs in the parlour, asking if you have considered his proposal yet!”
Charlotte hitched in a breath.
He said he would expect my answer tomorrow, which is, of course, today, but I never expected he would call so soon.
“You don’t look surprised,” Gabriel breathed. “Charlotte, you must explain at once.”
“He didn’t even send a note before he arrived,” she mumbled.
Gabriel reached out, seizing her shoulders. “Little sister, if you don’t stop talking in riddles andtell me, once and for all, what is going on. What proposal? Surely he cannot mean a proposal ofmarriage.”
Charlotte jerked her shoulders out of her brother’s grasp. “Well, I believe he does. He … He spoke to me last night about marriage.”
