Page 1 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
Prologue
Henry looked at his reflection for one last time in the looking glass, puffing his chest out a little. Joy filled his heart as he thought about what this day would bring. He would start out just as he was now but would end the day as a married fellow, with a beautiful bride at his side.
I can hardly wait to take Rachel back to the estate,he thought to himself, smiling at his reflection.We will soon be able to begin our life together.
Lifting his chin, Henry turned away from the looking glass and made from the room, walking down to the hall to make his way towards the drawing room where his mother would be waiting.
“Well, mother, what do you think?” He grinned and then turned around slowly, so that his mother could take him in. “I do hope that I will do well?”
Much to his surprise, the Duchess did not so much as smile. Rather, her gaze was heavy, her brows furrowing as she came across the room to him. “Fairglen, I must speak with you.”
Henry frowned, his smile drifting away. “About what, Mother? Surely there cannot be too much to be said on a day like this! I am to make my way to the church within the hour and – ”
“I do not think you can,” his mother broke in, shaking her head. “My dear son, you must sit down before I speak with you. Please.”
A cloud instantly formed around Henry as he did as his mother asked, taking in her serious expression. Her blue eyes, so like his own, were fixed and steady, though her lips were pursed as though she was not quite certain how she was to begin.
“Henry.” She took in a deep breath and Henry’s stomach instantly began to roll, for it was not often that his mother called him by his Christian name. She had referred to him by his title ever since he had taken it on.
“Yes?” When she said nothing, Henry tilted his head to study her. “It seems to me that there is something heavy upon your mind, Mother. Please, speak of it without hesitation.”
His mother shook her head. “It causes me a good deal of pain to have to speak of this, my son, but I do not think that the marriage will be taking place today.”
“Because….?”
“Because last evening, your betrothed was found in a somewhat compromising position.” The words began to spill out of her mouth now, her eyes searching his as she came to sit beside him. “Your darling Rachel is no longer suitable to be your bride.”
Henry could not breathe. His chest was tight, his breathing restricted as he looked back into his mother’s eyes, waiting for her to laugh and shake her head and tell him that this had been some sort of cruel joke, something to take his nervousness away from him.
She did not.
“I am sorry,” she continued, when he said nothing. “My dear, I have always said that the daughter of an Earl was beneath you, that she would not have had the same standing in either propriety or status and it seems I have been proven right. How much I wish that it was not so, however. I do not want you to have any cause for pain but yet – ”
“Thiscannotbe true.” Henry rose to his feet urgently, rubbing one hand over his hair as he fought for clarity. There were so many – too many – thoughts tumbling through his mind for him to make any sense of what his mother was saying to himand yet, at the same time, the realization slowly began to force its way to the front of his mind.
“It is true.” With a heavy sigh, the Duchess shook her head. “Had you chosen a bride from the Marquess of Lechingham’s family, or the Marquess of Marchmont, or even the Duke of Youngston’s family, then this situation might never have occurred.”
With one hand, Henry scrubbed at his eyes. His mother had always insisted that he consider marrying a young lady with the highest of titles, but he had found himself drawn to Lady Rachel, the daughter of the Earl of Hindford. Now, it seemed, he had been foolish in his choice, had let himself believe that she felt more for him that she truly did.
“I cannot believe this,” he said out loud, though his mother only sighed heavily rather than denying that there was any truth to what had been said. “She is to marry methis morning, and yet last night, she… ” He squeezed his eyes closed, unable to even consider what it was that his betrothed had done.
“She clearly is not the sort of young lady that you thought,” his mother said quietly, so as not to inflict any more pain upon him. “I cannot believe that this is the first time that she would have done such a thing. More than likely, this is something that she has kept hidden from you. It was only by chance that she was discovered.”
Henry looked to his mother, his vision blurring a little at the edges. “Who found her?”
The Duchess closed her eyes. “I did.”
“What?” The word exploded from his mouth. “How? When?”
His mother let out a small sigh and then shook her head, wordlessly.
“I must know,” Henry insisted, coming a little closer to her. “Please, Mother, do not hide this from me. I must know everything.”
After a moment – and another long breath – the Duchess looked up at him and began. “Last evening, as you are aware, I was at a soiree, hosted by Lord and Lady Kettridge. They are bothsorefined and genteel and thus, it was to my great shock that I made my way into the parlor, only to find a gentleman standing with his arms around a young lady. To my horror,anothergentleman pushed past me as I made to come a little further into the room.”
It was as though Henry had been punched hard in the stomach, forcing him to bend double just a little.
“There is more, my son.”
