Page 43 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

“Mother-in-law,” Agnes repeated. “Yes, I suppose you will have that, now that you are married. I never did get to congratulate you on your marriage to His Grace. I am sure you are very happy.”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Beatrice said. “I didn’t steal him from you, Miss Jennings. This was his decision.”

“Yes, continue to tell yourself that. Do you know that I have been considering your nickname? TheRunaway Brideis very fitting, of course, for you have run from two marriages, haven’t you? You left your sister to marry one of your suitors, and you ditched Lord Mutton when you saw how handsome my man was. You never did like me, did you?”

“You don’t know what you speak,” Beatrice snapped. “I never disliked you, but you made yourself very dislikable after you debuted. You were the one who hated me, and I will admit you might have reason now with the tangles that have been woven, but I did not steal His Grace from you. In a way, I have helped you. He has a nickname too, doesn’t he? TheCruel Duke.You are a beautiful woman from a good family, and you will find a good man.”

“Don’t patronize me,” Agnes spat. “Who cares about his character? I deserved to marry him, and you stole him from me. You can’t help it, can you? What is it you are jealous of most,Runaway Bride? My beauty or my impeccable reputation? You fall short on both counts. You seduced him, didn’t you? Is that it? Did you get him into bed, and now you are with child? He was forced into it. Does he know about your secret child? The one you had when you ran away?”

“What are you talking about?” Beatrice asked, her voice rising. “I don’t have any children, and I am not with child.”

“How do you know? You got married a week ago.”

“Yes, but—”I cannot give her any more fuel for the fire she has started. “You are right. I might be,” Beatrice stated. “Still, it is not any business of yours. If you wish to marry only for status, I am sure you will find someone.”

She knew she would not convince Agnes of anything. The woman was bitter at not marrying the Duke, and she was likely the one who had been spreading the rumors. Agnes came from a good and wealthy family, and she had entertained the idea that she was owed everything she wanted from the moment she debuted.

Agnes did not respond to the previous comment and looked deep in thought. “TheRunaway Brideor theThieving Bride. I can’t decide which one is better, at this point. Perhaps I will ask the ton what they think. They found it very entertaining when I told them your first nickname, and they will be overjoyed to discover the second one.”

“Is this how you enjoy yourself, Agnes? You are a beautiful woman from a good family, and you can find a good man if you put as much effort into that as you do into coming up with silly nicknames.”

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Agnes said. “I will find a far better man than the Duke. Until then, your silly nicknames are only the appetizers. You tried to ruin me, and I will ruin you, Beatrice. Everyone knows your marriage is a sham, and I will ensure it is proven. The Duke will leave you, and when he comes crawling back to me, I will refuse him for someone else.”

“You need to leave us alone,” Beatrice told her. “I apologize for how all of this happened, but it is in the past, and it should remain there.”

“You do know why he married you, don’t you?” Agnes asked.

Beatrice knew Agnes was baiting her, and she didn’t rise to it.

Agnes continued anyway. “It was for your money. That was the reason he was marrying me—for my large dowry. His businesses are in trouble because of his decisions, and he needed the money fast. You can tell yourself whatever you want, Beatrice, but the truth will always be that your marriage is a transaction. The only reason you were able to steal him from me is that your father was willing to pay for it.”

“I don’t care,” Beatrice insisted.

“I don’t care either,” Agnes shot back. “Now, off you go back to your party. We both know what you did was wrong, and you will regret it. This is only the beginning,Your Grace.”

* * *

Edwin was distracted. He had watched as Beatrice and Elizabeth left the main event and disappeared. From the look on his sister’s face, he was sure it had something to do with their mother. If it were serious, she would have come to him. Asking Beatrice for help meant it was something that would irk him, and he tried not to think about what it could be.

He had much more important matters to consider, especially when there were so many wealthy noblemen at the garden party. Robert had organized the party to give Edwin and Beatrice a chance to be seen in public, but he was also well-connected, which presented opportunities.

“Your Grace, I admire you as a businessman, of course,” Lord Chambers stated. “And I am sure we can do very good things together, but I have some concerns.”

“You don’t believe such silly rumors, do you?” Edwin asked, sensing where the hesitation came from.

“No, of course not. Yet, where there is smoke, there is often fire. I don’t believe you are a man who traps women into marriage or that you would choose a wife who has previously had a child out of wedlock, but if people are saying such things, they must dislike you for some reason.”

Edwin felt his anger resurface, but he couldn’t lose a deal over something he had no control over. Besides, Lord Chambers was right to be wary, even if the rumors were only partially true.

“I understand your concern,” Edwin relented. “And I know how jealous tongues can wag. If you want to know the truth, I have found a wonderful woman I am deeply in love with, and we will soon start a family. If my happiness makes others unhappy, that says much more about them than it does about me. Ask me anything you want, for I have nothing to hide.”

He had some things he might want to hide, but he had no problems twisting the truth to protect his family and his wife’s reputation.

“I don’t believe I need to do that. It is only—” Lord Chambers started.

“Apologies for the interruption, but here is my beautiful wife now,” Edwin said.

He spotted Beatrice return alone from wherever she had gone, and she had a sad look on her face. He caught her eye and saw there were questions to be answered, but he didn’t have time for that. Not when there was a potential deal to be done with Lord Chambers.

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