Page 65 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
Chapter 33
“Have you gone quite mad?”
Considering all that had happened, James thought his aunt’s words were quite timely as she marched into his drawing room only the day after he had proposed to Melody.
Behind her came Edward, his cheeks flushed as though he was embarrassed to have been dragged along for the ordeal. No doubt Lady Fyling had spent the entire carriage ride over berating her son for having not done something to stop his cousin from being such a fool.
“Ahh, aunt, I am glad to see you have heard my happy news,” James said with a wide smirk upon his face. Edward looked horrified, clearly shocked at his lack of remorse at what he had done in the face of his aunt.
“My God! He has gone quite mad indeed!” Lady Fyling exclaimed, looking to her son for help though he dropped his gaze to the floor. She turned on James again, looming over him as he sat peacefully upon the couch. She had not even given him the chance to get up and greet them before she had begun her raving.
“James, you cannot mean to do this! The entiretonis talking. You cannot mean to marry that…that…”
“Enough!”
Lady Fyling’s eyes widened in astonishment at the sheer volume of his voice. Clearing his throat to correct the rattle there, James pushed himself to his feet and straightened himself to his full imposing height.
“Lady Fyling, you shall not say a single thing to insult my betrothed or you shall have me to answer to,” James announced, glowering back at his aunt and for once she finally seemed to see her error. “I would also remind you, that I am the head of this family and as such you shall show me the proper respect I am due.”
While Lady Fyling appeared shocked, her son looked even worse. He clearly could not believe the way that James ha finally decided to stand up to her.
As if remembering herself for the first time since he had been named duke, Lady Fyling dropped into a low curtsey. Yet it seemed she could not help herself when she straightened up and said, “James, I have only your best interests at heart. You cannot marry the daughter of a scandal. She shall ruin you too.”
“Scandal and ruin be damned!”
At his words, Lady Fyling’s eyes looked as though they might bulge right out of her skull. “You cannot mean it!”
“I most assuredly do,” James announced. He straightened up even further, leaving no doubt as to the fact he meant every word.
“I have always wished for a quiet life. I have no need to attend every ball, banquet, and party. You have a wish for me to provide this family with an heir and I am certain that Miss Thornton is capable of that and much more besides.”
“She shall make a fine duchess,” Edward put in but at a shot of disgust from his mother, he dipped his head and fell silent once more.
“But what of…” she began as she turned back to him, but James could already sense what she was about to say. He raised his hand to stop her.
“I have enough connections and influence of my own and as for wealth, I have no need of it,” he said, never once blinking. He was utterly determined that he should finally make a proper stand against the woman who had practically raised him all these years on behalf of his mother. “I thank you for all you have done for me over the years, Aunt, but I am able to take it from here.”
“What of title? What of breeding?” she asked, still utterly disgusted.
James took a deep breath to prevent an outburst. None of that mattered to him, but if it mattered to her so much, he would give her something. “I am sure you know Lord Faversham. He is a dear friend, is he not?”
His aunt raised a dark brow. “What has he to do with any of this?”
“Lord Faversham may prefer for it not to be known but I must remind you that Miss Thornton is in fact the earl’s niece,” James pointed out and the realisation in his aunt’s expression suggested that deep down she had known that all along. “A niece is not a daughter but I think you would agree it will do in terms of breeding.”
Again, his aunt looked to protest. James lifted his hand once more. Shaking his head, he announced, “I am to marry Miss Thornton and that shall be the end of it. If you are so concerned with her being the daughter of a scandal, perhaps you ought to talk to your dear friend about how he has chosen to treat his own family, before you seek to try and control mine.”
Finally standing up for himself felt exceptionally good, though he could see from his aunt’s expression that she did not feel the same way. In order to take the sting out of his words a little, he said, “You have my word that I shall work exceptionally hard to see that our dear Edward here finds a match worthy of all your hard work, aunt.”
Edward’s mouth opened wide in shock before he pursed his lips, looking quite aggravated. James struggled to keep from laughing. Throwing his arms wide, he ordered, “Cheer up the both of you. You have gotten what you both wanted. I am finally to be married!”
Never in a million years would he have believed that saying such words could cause him so much joy, and yet every time he closed his eyes, imagining Miss Thornton gliding down the chapel aisle towards him, he found himself eager for the day when he would finally give himself to her.
Seeing his aunt’s distaste for the entire thing, he could only close his eyes and think,I do hope you shall be proud of me, mama.It had been a while since he had thought of her, but now it made his heart ache to know she would not be there on the day he wed his beautiful betrothed. He could only pray that his aunt would come around to the idea before then.
Chapter 34
News of Melody and James' engagement spread like wildfire and though she had looked through them all before, Melody felt true happiness as she flicked through the wedding pamphlets in the drawing room with her mother.
