Page 22 of The Brooding Duke's Fateful Letter
The clear water that came from beneath the earth cascaded down rocks that had eroded and fallen with time. The birds that gathered there scattered as Charlotte walked closer to inspect the plants that grew nearby.
“The idea is to throw a coin or trinket into the water and then to make a wish, My Lady.” The duke explained the process as he looked for a coin in his pocket. The only one he had was one that meant a lot to him. You know this coin was the last thing my father ever gave me,” the duke murmured.
“Then I cannot use it for a simple wish, Your Grace,” Charlotte said shaking her head.
“I insist. My father gave it to me just before he became sick. He would have liked you, and have wanted you to have it.”
Charlotte took the coin and held onto it as she made her wish.
The duke watched with glee as she threw it into the water. He had not been able to think of his father without pain.
Charlotte made a secret wish of her own. She knew it as folly and that it was meant to amuse children. She could not help the infectious joy she found in sharing this with the duke and hoped for once that magic did exist. When she opened her eyes, she found the duke staring at her quite intently. If she did not know any better, she would have sworn he wore a look of affection.
Chapter 8
The duke wanted to show off the woman whom he was to marry. After they had been found at the fountain, the duke had to admit that this might not be a mere merging of two families.
The dilemma was not in being fond of one’s betrothed. It lay in the misery of knowing for certain that she would not have given him the chance if he were not nobility. He had expected her to treat him as a distasteful creature. The duke had been well prepared for that outcome. Then as he had gotten to know her, he had seen such a lovely temperament in her that if it was an act, it would undo him.
Something within the duke drove him to remain testing her until he found a flaw. It would be easier if he ended it now than to allow the thought of true happiness to be his ruin.
The duke called to the servants responsible for the others. “I need the estate to be fully in order. We shall have more than fifty guests attending at least. Start preparations as I prepare the invitations and send the Chef and the Groundskeeper.” The duke dismissed them. They both moved quickly to follow orders.
Now we will see if you can uphold your pretense for an entire evening. The dinner he was planning in her honor started to take form. This will not only test if she could host alongside me. I planto invite the gossips and flirtatious sort to this celebration. Will she still be attentive if there are better choices on offer?
The duke wanted to know for certain, yet at the same time he enjoyed the delusion he was under.
It was something that would be seen as improper, if he did not celebrate his future wife. The duke felt underhanded with the games he was playing. Bethany seemed a respectable young woman who had given him no reason to have earned this much distrust.
It is just how the world is. No healthy woman would seek out a husband like me. A damaged man of average appearance with little talents. At the very least I can offer her wealth and a better title. Things so precious that a beautiful woman like her could stand being seen with me.
The duke let his mind torment him with thoughts of how things could have been. That he could have found love and started a family that would have been happy and stayed together.
It will have to remain a dream.
The duke almost laughed to himself as he settled in that night.
If only I could stay asleep then I could remain joyful.
Sleep claimed the duke and sent him to his dreams so hastily that he felt confused as the sunlight disturbed his rest. With the dinner for Bethany now in full planning, the duke started to have his misgivings.
Then again do you wish to live blindly? The duke’s mind asked the question he feared to answer. Some small part of him wanted to simply say yes.
“Your Grace.” A man servant called at the duke’s room.
“Enter.” The duke sat up.
The servant entered the room and handed the duke a parchment of paper. “Your Grace, it has all been arranged as requested.”
“Thank you.” The duke looked at the guest list.
They will do nicely for the purpose I have in mind, the duke thought as he read the names. If she can make it through an evening with all these people, then perhaps we stand the slightest chance.
It would take the entire day to get the estate ready in time for the evening’s celebration. That meant that the duke would be engaged for most of the day. The food alone would take theentire day to prepare. The estate would have no less than a hundred servants putting one dinner together.
Outside tablecloths bleached in the hot sun as groundskeeper made sure that every blade of grass was in order. The estate was busier and happier than he could remember it being in years. He would have to find Bethany and tell her of his plans. It was already very short notice for their guests.
When he had made most of the arrangements he could, he went in search of Bethany. He felt a need to be near her as often as he could and had soothed his worries by convincing himself it was due to loneliness.
