Page 11 of The Beastly Duke's Christmas Bride
The words came out so bluntly and plainly that at first, Isabel didn’t understand the words. She blinked. She saw his reluctant expression, the way he worried his lip and played with his cuff. The man was uncomfortable, and he had just proposed marriage.
Moving back a step, she shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
The man opened his mouth and then closed it before patting his clothing. It took him a minute to find a paper that he had tucked in there. Once crumpled, the wrinkled words were already fading. But as she grudgingly accepted it, she understood.
It was theLondon Ear,everyone’s favorite gossip rag.
The date was from two days ago. That was the morning after the ball and after the Duke of Eastwynd had saved her. Heart hammering in her chest, she caught sight of the words.
‘What an adventure must have befallen Duke E–– to collect the unattached and scandalous Lady R––– in an embrace on a snowy evening! From hence did they come? And whither did they go? Perhaps a tale worthy of Shakespeare is the only answer. We can only hope they will tell us all.’
So they already knew. It wasn’t Lucy telling them all today. Rather, Lucy had been telling her that the world already knew.
“Oh,” was all she could muster.
She slowly lifted her head to look up at the duke who stared at her without feeling, without sentiment. Already he knew and understood the scandal. This was what he had to do to retain his honor among society. Not because he cared for her or knew her. If anything, he already knew of her family and was embarrassed to be here. But what else could he do?
And what else couldshedo?
It was a fragile independence she had in this house, running it on her own. Her parents had deserted her alongside everyone else. She was alone but for her servants. And yet, she had never had anyone else to answer to.
Until now.
“My lady…” Sebastian let out a short sigh. “It is for the best.”
Yes. A marriage was for the best. Anything less meant the final ruin where society would never accept her again.
Swallowing, she nodded. She had been disgraced in the arms of the beastly duke. Now, she was destined to spend the rest of her life there.
“Very well.” Isabel straightened her shoulders. She looked up at him, dimly remembering the way he had appeared the night in the street. He had been terrifying and magnificent. She hadn’t known what to feel then beyond her terror. Now, it felt like very much the same concern.
But this time, she managed to smile. “I would like to accept your offer, Your Grace.”
His lips twitched. “Vale.”
She nodded, wondering about his Christian name. Knowing that she would come to get used to his family name in time. “Vale.”
CHAPTER 4
Sebastian wiped his damp hands on his gray coat before fixing his cravat.
“You’re making it worse.”
He glowered at his valet who stood beside at him the altar, the whistling of the wind keeping them company alongside the sleepy vicar now seated in a chair.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Sebastian reminded him.
That garnered a sly smirk from Tony. He was a scrap of a lad who had been the younger brother of an old friend. When the brother was shipped off for a ridiculous crime, Sebastian had taken in Tony. It turned out the young man at the age of ten-and-seven had a knack for fashion and finery.
But he still has a lip on him I’d like to knock off.
“Where would the fun be? It’s not exactly a festive occasion.” Tony sent a pointed look to the vicar who let out a sudden snore. Neither of them flinched. Sebastian barely suppressed a sigh. “I thought weddings were supposed to be festive?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you been to one?”
Sebastian frowned before giving a slight nod. “One. Julian’s wedding a few years ago. That was also pretty miserable.”
