Page 26 of The Duke and his Hellion
“Oh, Charles,” she wailed. “How could you? Have you learned nothing from what happened with Grace? You're making the same mistake all over again!”
At the mention of Grace's name, Charles felt an old, dull rage lance through his heart. He moved to sit beside his mother, taking her trembling hands in his own.
“Mother,” he said gently, “this is nothing like what happened with Grace. The circumstances are entirely different.”
“But Charles,” Vivian pleaded, a deep frown settling between her brows. “You hardly know this girl. You do not know if she'll be a fit match. You know she's not one of us, what with her being the Scottish duke's sister, and I've heard she's quite the hellion.”
“Mother, stop,” he said firmly. “Perhaps I do not know Lady Abigail as well as you'd wish, but her blood is not relevant right now. Our reputations are.”
“I do not want you to get hurt again,” Vivian admitted, her lips pursed, and Charles sighed.
“Mother,” he said, his voice soft but resolute, “I appreciate your concern. I do. But I am not the same man I was when Grace broke my heart. This is not about love or happiness. It's about doing the right thing.”
Vivian shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “But Charles, think of your position, your duty to the family. This girl, she's not one of us. She's Scottish, for heaven's sake! How can you possibly think she'll fit into our world?”
Charles felt a flash of irritation at his mother's words, but he pushed it aside. “Our world, Mother? The world of false smiles and backstabbing gossip? Perhaps it is time for a change. Perhaps a different perspective is exactly what our family needs.”
Vivian recoiled as if she'd been slapped, her eyes wide with shock. “Charles! How can you say such things? Our family has a proud history, a legacy to uphold. You can't just throw that away on a whim!”
Charles stood, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “It's not a whim, Mother. It's a choice. My choice. I am tired of living my life according to the ton's expectations. I am doing what I believe is right.”
Vivian rose as well, her voice taking on a pleading tone. “But darling, after what happened with Grace, I thought... I thought you'd think the next time. Not marry someone with such a wild mind of her own.”
Charles frowned at this and he crossed his arms over his chest irritably.
“A mind of her own?”
Vivian merely shrugged and she avoided his gaze, choosing instead to draw patterns on her lap with her fingertips.
“Perhaps I didn't think you'd be so open to another match so soon.”
“Oh, Mother,” he sighed. “You knew I would have to marry eventually.”
“Yes,” she pouted, “but to an English girl. One pliable and soft, not a Scottish tearaway.”
Charles blinked at this and a scowl settled around his lips.
“Do you think me so weak,” he challenged, “that you could only see me with someone soft andpliable?”
Vivian hesitated — it was obvious to Charles that his mother was fully aware of the fact that she'd gone too far.
“I just want to protect you, Charles. You were so broken after Grace, so lost. I could not bear to see you go through that again.”
Charles merely sighed deeply and he looked at her tiredly. “I know, Mother. And I love you for it. But you can't protect me from everything. I have to live my life, make my own choices... and yes, sometimes my own mistakes.”
He rose to his feet, meeting his mother's gaze with a determined look. “But this is not a mistake, Mother. It's the right thing to do. Lady Abigail doesn't deserve to have her reputation ruined because of me. I have to take responsibility for my actions.”
Vivian searched her son's face, seeing the resolve in his eyes. Slowly, hesitantly, she nodded. “I... I understand, Charles. But please, promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you won't let yourself be hurt again.”
Charles pressed a kiss to his mother's forehead, his heart heavy with the weight of her concern.
Despite her heavy protests, he knew she meant to protect him — even if he did not quite agree with her opinion.
“I won't get hurt,” he said simply. “But I expect you to make me a promise, too.”
Vivian looked up at him, her brow furrowed. “What is it?”
“Promise me you'll give Lady Abigail a chance,” Charles said, his voice firm but kind. “Get to know her before you judge her. She doesn't deserve your scorn or your prejudice.”
