Page 15 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
Rather horrified that the Duke should be so inconsiderate and pained that her father had agreed to such a thing without so much as talking to her about it all, Edith could only stare back at the Duke in shock, tears still threatening behind her eyes.
“As I have said, I am quite certain that my daughterwillprove herself to be all that you require,” her father said, breaking the silence which had followed the Duke’s words. “Now, Edith, might you go to ring the bell for tea? I am sure that the Duke would like to sit and converse with you for a few minutes.”
“No, I would not.” With a sniff, the Duke of Fairglen rose from his chair, leaving Edith staring up at him, her heart quailing within her as he turned to make his way to the door. “I have much to do and I am sure that such… conversations can take place at my own estate.”
He is not even interested in me. The only thing I must be to him is proper and refined. My feelings and my thoughts arenot even to be a consideration for him.Pain squeezed her heart and she looked away from the Duke, turning her attention to her father who, to Edith’s already pained heart, was beaming at the Duke as though he had done the very best of things in choosing to step away from Edith so quickly.
“Of course, of course,” Lord Tidemore agreed, getting to his feet and hurrying after the Duke so they might stand at the door together. “I suppose the next time we shall see you is at your estate, then.”
“Yes, it shall be.” The Duke threw Edith a glance, only for his brows to knit together. “I suppose that I shall not take it as an offence that you have not risen to bid me farewell, Miss Tidemore. The shock of it all, I suppose.”
Edith wanted to throw back at him that he had not risen to his feet whenshehad come into the room but rather than say a word, she simply looked back at him and remained where she was. Her father said something but Edith did not hear it, blood beginning to roar in her ears as the Duke of Fairglen finally stepped out of the room, followed quickly by her father.
The moment the door closed, Edith dropped her face into her hands and began to sob. It was not the reaction that anyone else might have expected, she supposed, for who wept such bitter tears when they were told they were engaged to a Duke? But she could not bear the pain of it, could not bear the dismissive way he had not only looked but spoken to her.
“Edith, my dear.”
Edith did not drop her hands and nor could she contain her tears as her mother’s arm went around her shoulders. She continued to weep, aware of the gentle way her mother rocked her and the soothing words which were spoken into her ear but nothing made its way to her painfully injured heart.
“I know that this must be a great shock but you will be a Duchess, Edith!”
Taking the handkerchief her mother pressed into her hand, Edith wiped at her eyes but shook her head. “Only if I pass whatever tests he has laid out for me, Mama,” she said, hoarsely. “If I fail, then I will be sent back to my father’s house in disgrace and society will never look upon me again as an eligible young lady! I will not be able to make any other match and thus, will remain as a spinster for the rest of my days.”
“Ah, but youshallpass all that he demands of you,” came the reply. “I am sure of it.”
The certainty in her mother’s voice had Edith looking at her, though her vision was still a little blurred by tears.
“Your father explained to me that the Duke of Fairglen is concerned that what happened to him during his last engagement might happen again,” her mother said, softly. “He wants to make certain that you are not the sort of young lady who is eager to step away from him and into the arms of another, that is all.”
Edith closed her eyes though fresh tears fell to her cheeks as she did so. “It is not the sort of thing that I would do, of course, but he was quite plain in his speaking to me. He wants to make certain that I will be a suitable Duchess, not only that I will show him my loyalty.”
Lady Tidemore took a breath and then pressed Edith’s hand. “And you will be able to do all that he asks of you, for you have been brought up in all etiquette and propriety. There is nothing that you do not do well.”
Keeping her eyes closed, Edith shuddered as another wave of sadness crashed over her. “He does not care for me in the least, Mama. He does not want to spend another moment with me, does not have any interest in conversing with me or finding out who I am. The only thing he desires to know is if I willsuithim. Everything must be done his way, everything must be granted to him because of whathedesires. Even father thoughtto make this arrangement with him before he even spoke to me! How could he do such a thing as that?”
Lady Tidemore squeezed Edith’s hand and when Edith opened her eyes, she saw the shadows sweeping across her mother’s face.
“You know that this is not what I wanted for you, Edith,” Lady Tidemore said softly. “I wanted you to be able to make your own match, to find a gentleman whose heart would be filled with you – and you with him. But given that he and I had an arranged match, your father is quite contented to make the very same thing for you and for Amelia, when the time comes. You must understand that he is doing what he thinks is best – and to have a Viscount’s daughter wed to a Duke is quite astonishing! I do not say it because I think you do not deserve it but rather because the difference between your stations is immense! I understand that you are concerned and that you are afraid but there must be some hope in all of this.” She smiled softly and Edith sniffed, looking away from her mother. “Mayhap the Duke of Fairglen will be different in his own estate. It must be difficult for him here in London.”
“Difficult?”
Lady Tidemore nodded. “Thetonstill speaks of what happened between the Duke and his betrothed. The fact that his brother stood in his place and married the lady did bring about a lot of questions – and with it, a lot of rumours, as I am sure you can imagine.”
Edith’s brow furrowed. “I suppose so.”
“It may be that his manner is due to his presence here in London. There must be a great deal of worry and possible apprehension as regards what thetonmight say to him.”
Edith nodded slowly, her tears slowly abating.
“And it is good that he has decided it is to be a house gathering now, rather than you simply going to visit on yourown – though your father was to go with you,” Lady Tidemore finished. “I spoke to your father before I came in to see you and he informed me that we areallnow to go to the Duke’s estate and that there shall be some other families present also. To my mind, that makes it clear that heisconsidering you, my dear. He might have thought initially that a visit with only yourself and your father was suitable, only to then go home and realise that something better was required, something which would put you more at ease. That is a good thing, is it not?”
With a tiny smile, Edith managed to nod, though her heart still ached. “Yes, Mama, I suppose it is.”
“There now, that is better.” Lady Tidemore smiled but there was still a flickering shadow in her eyes. “Now, dry your eyes, my dear. There is much for us still to do.”
Edith took in a deep breath and then let it out slowly, her chest still tight and her heart still pained. “Yes, Mama,” was all that she could find to say.
Chapter Eight
