Page 36 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
Deep down she had known it was too good to be true and yet, as her friend reeled on about what had happened at Lady Fyling’s luncheon, all Melody could feel was her hope slipping away. Somehow, now that it had been so cruelly ripped away from her, she realised she had actually believed that The Duke of Haston might be her one chance at happiness.
What a fool I have been,Melody thought, unable to hear her friend any longer. Nor could she see her, as her eyes filled with tears, and she was forced to turn her face away.
When she closed her eyes, all she could see was the duke’s face smiling back at her. Where once she had seen only friendliness, she now saw nothing but malicious intent.
She ought to have known better. She had heard all the gossip about the duke, how he was a rake and a rogue and no good for anyone but himself. And yet, she had truly believed that for her, he could be different.
You really have been reading too many romance novels,she scolded herself, the words causing a fresh wound in her chest.
“Melody? Are you well?” Petunia asked but she barely heard her friend as she rose from the bed and wandered over to the vanity table to begin preparing for the day. She couldn’t allow anyone to see the state she was in at the news, especially not her only friend. “Melody?”
“It sounds to me as though The Duke of Haston is going to have his hands full,” Melody stated through gritted teeth, trying her hardest not to allow any of her sorrow into her voice.
She could only imagine the kind of torture her cousin would put the duke through, were they to actually marry. And, determined not to allow her spirit to be beaten, she forced herself to think,more fool him.
Even as she tried to focus her attention on getting her comb through her still knotty hair, she couldn’t help but feel she was the fool for actually beginning to believe he had cared about her.
Chapter 17
Though he had been expecting a visit from his aunt ever since the day of her luncheon, when it finally came, he did not feel entirely prepared.
Sitting at his desk in his office, he felt as though he should be the one sitting where she was in the armchair across from him, as though he ought to have been a young boy again sitting before his father—the true duke—ready to receive the kind of scolding that would make him fear for his life.
Worst of all, this scolding he knew he did not rightly deserve.
Lady Fyling sat down across from him, looking utterly furious, but she did not open her mouth to speak until the butler had gone from the room.
Even when she did so, he raised his hand to cut her off and shook his head. “I already know what you are going to say.”
“You most certainly do not and even if you do, I shall say it anyway as you clearly need to hear it!” Lady Fyling announced, her voice loud enough that James was certain the butler would be able to hear it even without meaning to. “You have made an entire fool of yourself, and the rest of this family and it is high time you finally faced the consequences!”
James gulped past the lump in his throat. What good would it do to tell his aunt the truth, that what had been witnessed was not entirely as it had seemed. She would likely not believe him anyway, but he had to try.
"Lady Florence instigated the entire thing," James stated, feeling quite sick.
The fury that lit in his aunt's dark gaze told him he ought to have kept his mouth shut.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe that? Or anyone else for that matter?" Lady Fyling demanded. She inched forward to perch on the edge of her seat as she added, "Lady Florence is the daughter of one of the most influential members of theton! You were a fool to be caught in such a situation. It is one step too far, James, you have entirely destroyed your marriage prospects."
Once, James might have delighted in such a fact. Yet, seeing the upset and anger on his aunt's face, he couldn't bring himself to. He felt the weight of his situation weigh entirely too heavy upon his shoulders.
"And I suppose you have come to make suggestion upon how I might fix the situation?" He asked, raising a brow. He tapped his finger upon his knee in frustration, glad that his aunt could not see past the desk.
The way her face twisted, almost with excitement, made him cringe. Just from the look he knew what she was about to say.
"You must marry her."
It was a statement rather than a suggestion and James immediately shook his head. "No."
"You must. Lady Florence was always the best choice for you and now she is likely the best hope you have of a good match," Lady Fyling said, sighing deeply as though she hated that their hand was being forced as much as he did.
It is not you who shall have to bed such a viper,James thought, disgusted at the mere thought. Just remembering how dispassionate her kiss was enough to tell him all he needed to know on that subject.
"She has a hefty dowry behind her and the earl, though likely discouraged by your actions, will see the sense in such a match," his aunt continued as if she had not heard his protest. "Too many are talking about this, James. I fear for what might happen if you do not."
Though there had always been a sense of urgency in his aunt's tone during previous conversations, this one was somehow different, worse.
Though her tone left him slightly fearful, he would not allow himself to be cowed.
