Page 36 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
“I have asked for her help with the ball but she has offered very few suggestions and though she has done her best in attempting to assist me, it is quite clear that she knows nothing about what is expected or anticipated.”
“Mother, that is entirely justified,” he answered, doing his best to keep his anger from his voice. “You cannot expect a young lady such as Miss Tidemore to know what is expected when it comes to organising a ball. These are things which must be learned and which you and I can teach her.”
His mother threw up her hands. “She is the daughter of a Viscount! Ofcourseshe will have very little experience in such things, and it may not ever come to her even if I did my best in terms of teaching her.”
Before Henry knew what he was doing, he found himself on his feet, his hands planted on the table, the quill broken in half under his right hand. “That isenough, Mother!” One fist thumped the table, only for an eerie quiet to follow after his words. The Duchess’ eyes rounded, staring back at him while Henry drew in long, steadying breaths as he fought for control.
“I will not tolerate you speaking ill of my betrothed,” he said clearly, his words bouncing off the walls and hitting back against his chest. “I will make this clear to you only once more, Mother, and then we will never speak of it again.” He swallowed hard, trying to keep his writhing emotions under control. “I am going to marry Miss Tidemore. I have come to care for her and I am quite certain that she will be an excellent Duchess. Yes, she will have many things to learn but I am more than willing to encourage her in that. That does not appear to be the same for you, but that does not matter to me. I will not tolerate one single word against her, not any more. You may have your concerns butmy mind is made up. You will not come to speak to me of this again, Mother.” Sitting back down, he gestured to the door. “I have made myself quite clear. Now, do excuse me.”
For a long moment, his mother simply stood there, staring at him as though she did not recognize who he was. Then she blinked rapidly, let out a quiet sniff and then turned on her heel, leaving Henry to glare after her as she made her way from the room.
That had been a rather tense moment, followed by a terse discussion but Henry was now quite determined. From this day forward, he would tolerate nothing but respect, consideration and kindness towards Miss Tidemore… and that included from himself.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Ah, there you are.”
Edith looked up, then set her book to the side as she rose to her feet, her breathing becoming a little quicker as she looked into the Duke’s face. “Your Grace?”
He smiled. “Please, do sit down. I am aware that I have disturbed your solitude but it is because of that solitude I have come to seek you out.”
Edith swallowed hard as she sank back down, suddenly afraid of what it was he was about to tell her. He had been rather strange in his manner the last couple of days, keeping back from her and yet, astonishingly, asking her to dance and pulling her closer to him. Was this about their engagement? Had he decided whether or not they were to be wed?
“The house gathering is almost at an end,” he told her, lifting his chin. “The ball is tomorrow night and then we shall all take our leave. Is that not so?”
Edith nodded, unable to find any strength to speak such was her nervousness. Her hands clasped together, then unclasped again, her worries frightening her.
“I think… ” The Duke sighed and then came to sit on the couch beside her, looking into her eyes. “Edith, I think we shall wed.”
The rush of breath which came from her made the Duke blink in surprise, only for him to chuckle as she flushed with embarrassment.
“You thought that I was to refuse to marry you?”
“I – I did not know,” Edith admitted, her voice cracking with emotion, with the weight of relief she felt. “Your Grace, I have been worried for ever since your brother returned, youhave pulled back from the connection we had been building and I feared that you would no longer wish to wed me. I was afraid that I had failed in your eyes somehow, that I was no longer considered suitable and – ”
“None of that has been your fault.”
Much to Edith’s surprise, the Duke reached out and took her hand in his, sending flames of fire licking up her hand and her arm, threading their way towards her heart.
“I did not know that my brother and his wife were coming and that came as a great shock.”
“Though you have permitted them to stay,” Edith managed to say, her lips feeling thick as she spoke. “Your kindness has permitted it.”
The Duke frowned. “I do not know if am kind.”
“I think that you are.”
The softness with which she spoke seemed to make something of an impact upon the Duke of Fairglen, for he let out a slow breath, his eyes affixing to hers before he finally smiled, though there was still a sadness there which Edith saw quite clearly.
“I do not think that I deserve such a creature as you as my bride,” he told her, gently. “I have treated you abominably, Edith and yet you now come to me with nothing but sweetness on your lips.” As he spoke, his eyes went to her mouth and a light shudder of something like excitement or anticipation rushed over Edith’s frame. “I did not once consider you when I proposed marriage,” he continued, his voice a little deeper now. “I cared nothing for your own emotions. I brushed you off, I set you back and yet you were courageous enough to speak to me of that. You were strong enough to show me where I had been wrong in my treatment of you and now, much to my astonishment, you have enough kindness within you to seemingly smile at the confirmation that we are to wed.” He tilted his head, his fingerspressing hers. “I do hope that there is a little happiness here, Edith?”
“Are you asking me if I am glad to be marrying you?” Edith asked, her heart beating with a sudden thunderous excitement. Was this the time for her to be honest with him? To tell him the truth of all she had been feeling? Or would he push her away if she did so?
The Duke nodded. “I am.” His lips curved just a little. “I find that I am all the more inclined towards your happiness, Edith. It has taken some time to begin to show itself but it is there, nonetheless. I want to make certain that, in all of this, you are contented to be my bride. If you are at all unhappy, if you are uncertain or even doubtful of my suitability as your husband, then I would beg of you to speak of it.” He squeezed her hand. “I want there to be nothing but truth between us. I want us to be honest with each other.”
Edith swallowed hard, her stomach suddenly lurching. “I – I would like that too, Your Grace.”
“Henry, please.” The Duke smiled and Edith’s heart quickened all over again.Thiswas the gentleman that she had begun to draw close to before his brother had arrived.Thiswas the gentleman she had begun to see, the one who had begun to soften, who had begun to share a warmth with her rather than leaving her with nothing but coldness.
