Page 12 of Duke of Gold
Sebastian studied her carefully, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Are you certain?” he asked. “You must not decide out of obligation or guilt, Margaret. Your happiness is important.”
She forced a smile that barely reached her eyes. “I am certain,” she lied, the words hollow in her ears. “I will marry the Duke.”
Her uncle’s expression shifted, his features softening with relief. “You are a brave and sensible young lady,” he said warmly. “I am proud of you.”
Margaret inclined her head, but her chest felt tight. As Sebastian turned to leave, she remained seated, her hands now resting limply in her lap. Her thoughts churned, each one heavy with doubt.
She had secured her family’s future, yes. But at what cost to herself?
“That man is insufferable,” Peggy muttered, tossing the book she had been attempting to read onto the library table. The pages fluttered, but her frustration remained firmly bound. She pressed her fingers against her temples, hoping to quell the ache that had taken root there since morning.
The door creaked open, and Anna’s familiar voice broke the silence. “Sulking among the bookshelves, are we?”
Peggy glanced up, her cousin’s teasing smile drawing a weak response. “Hardly sulking. Simply...contemplating.”
Anna stepped inside, her pale blue evening dress swishing softly against the polished wood floor. “You’re the worst liar I’ve ever known, Peggy. What’s troubling you?”
Peggy sighed, her hands falling into her lap. “Everything,” she admitted. “The Duke, this rushed marriage, the weight of it all. I—I hardly know how to feel.”
Anna perched on the armrest of Peggy’s chair, her expression softening. “You shouldn’t do this if your heart isn’t in it,” she said gently. “No matter the outcome, no matter the consequences. We are your family, Peggy, and we will support you, whatever you decide.”
Peggy’s throat tightened, and she felt the telltale sting of tears pressing against her composure. “I have to do this,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. The words felt more like a plea than a conviction.
Anna studied her for a long moment, her hand resting lightly on Peggy’s shoulder. “Do you, truly?” she asked, her eyes filled with both concern and skepticism.
Peggy gave a tiny nod, though she avoided Anna’s gaze. “For Uncle, for you. I can’t let another scandal drag us down.”
Anna exhaled, a mixture of exasperation and sadness. Her hand moved to Peggy’s, squeezing it gently. “You have a terrible habit of carrying the world’s weight, Peggy.”
“I hardly think I’m alone in that,” Peggy replied with a faint smile, her attempt at humor falling flat.
Anna tilted her head, a pensive look in her eyes. “Then perhaps it’s time to share the burden, rather than bear it all at once.” She paused, and Peggy noticed the change in her cousin’s expression—an idea forming, no doubt.
“How about you get to know him first, eh?” Anna suggested. “There’s no true haste. Society hasn’t caught wind of anything yet. You have time.”
Peggy blinked, the suggestion catching her off guard. “Get to know him? How?”
The innocence of her question made Anna smile—a warm, almost maternal smile that made Peggy feel both foolish and comforted. “For a start, you could ask him for a walk,” Anna said simply.
Peggy frowned. That was ridiculous. Wasn’t it? Even if it weren’t, was it possible? “A walk? With him?”
Anna laughed softly. “Yes, Peggy. It’s not as scandalous as you make it sound. You might find him less insufferable with fresh air and fewer witnesses.”
Peggy hesitated but found herself nodding. “Perhaps...perhaps you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right,” Anna said, her grin widening. “I am older than you and therefore infinitely wiser.”
Despite herself, Peggy chuckled. “If you say so.”
“Write to him tonight,” Anna urged. “Make the request and see how he responds. If nothing else, it’s a start.”
The thought of corresponding directly with the Duke made Peggy’s nerves flutter, but she rose to the challenge.
That night, seated at her small writing desk, she dipped her quill into ink and wrote. Would he honor her invitation?
Would he care to?
CHAPTER 6
