Page 15 of King of Rogues
“Monsale has an urgent and rather pressing need to find himself a wife. In less than two weeks he has to be married and then kneel in front of the Prince of Wales and swear an oath of allegiance. Apparently one of his forebears, some six hundred years ago, was on the wrong side of a battle. This caused grave offense to the crown. If Monsale doesn’t meet the conditions of the ancient peace agreement, he forfeits his title and lands. And since he has such a short timeframe, Andrew came to me and asked that I put together a list of potential brides.”
Naomi froze. Stunned at her mother’s words.
Monsale has to marry. Within the next few weeks. He finally needs a wife.
She slowly shook her head, trying to fathom the reason as to why Monsale would need a list of potential brides. “I’m sorry. Did you say he wants you to make a list?”
“Yes. He figured I know enough people in London to have a good idea as to which families have eligible and suitable daughters. Two girls immediately came to mind. I was thinking that perhaps you might like to be the third.”
For a moment Naomi wasn’t certain what she should say. Several uncouth words sat readily on the end of her tongue, but she held them back.
The only name that should be on that piece of paper is mine. There shouldn’t be a list.
If there was any justice in the world, Monsale would have already been to see her father. The Duke of Redditch would have granted his provisional blessing, then demanded that his daughter be given a proper courtship.
Papa would have made it clear that Monsale has to dance with me. That I should be wooed.
Tears pricked at her eyes. Disappointment and embarrassment mixed with a shot of anger made for a bitter tasting cocktail.
She couldn’t believe that Monsale expected her to compete with other women for the position of his duchess. It might well be called the marriage market, but Naomi would be damned if she was going to stand alongside all the other available livestock and await Monsale’s inspection.
The nerve of that man. Here he was in desperate need of a wife, yet he still felt it necessary to put her through the humiliation of having her name on a list of candidates.
Like hell. I am not a prized filly for men to look in the mouth and check my teeth.
Her decision was made. “As you know full well Mama, I have never been one for purely making up the numbers. If Monsale wants a third name, you had better find someone else.”
She had half a mind to snatch the paper from out of her mother’s hand and toss it into the fire. That’s how little she thought of the Duke of Monsale’s absurd plans for selecting a wife.
“But Naomi my dear. I thought you would be delighted to be considered for the position of Monsale’s duchess. You haven’t exactly made a secret of the fact that you have a soft spot for him,” replied Kitty.
Naomi got to her feet. She was barely holding back a torrent of angry tears.
“What I feel for him is obviously not a factor in his thinking. If it was, he wouldn’t be asking you to make a list. He would be in Papa’s study right this very minute asking for my hand.”
The nerve. The cheek. That bloody obstinate man.
She was furious, mortified, but worst of all, she was in shocked pain. In asking Kitty to create the list, Monsale had stuck a knife in Naomi’s heart. Her private hopes that she was the only one for him had shattered, along with her dreams. If he truly cared for her, she would have been the first and last woman he had in mind to marry.
Her years of longing for him, and loving him from afar, now revealed themselves to be nothing more than empty shells of hope. It was almost too much to bear.
Straightening her back, Naomi gathered what was left of her pride. She might well be bruised, but she was not defeated. Her hopes to become Monsale’s duchess lay in tatters, but she was a duke’s daughter, and her unbreakable sense of self-worth would see her through this heartache.
I’ve clearly been blind with my love for him all this time. Monsale views me as being no different from any other woman. He will never gift me his heart.
“Mama, please don’t put my name on the list. I would rather suffer now, than make the mistake of marrying a man who doesn’t love me. I am sure Monsale will find a young woman willing to become his duchess, one who will understand and accept the kind of marriage he intends to offer.”
One without love.
“But while I am not prepared to be on the list, I am more than willing to help with the selection process. I shall put together a dossier on each of the ladies you present to Monsale. Giving him a clear idea of their backgrounds, likes and dislikes is the least I can do.”
Leaving her mother, Naomi headed upstairs to her bedroom. She made it most of the way before the tears finally won out.
Chapter Five
Thirteen days to go.
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