Page 81 of The Duke and the Unwanted Bride

“You meant as you said,” he cut her off with a growl. “And for two weeks, you have spoken behind my back and worked to besmirch my name at every turn. My wife saw it in her heart to give you a second chance. There will not be a third.”

“But… but?—”

“I ask that you leave,” he said sternly, fixing her with a glare. “And be warned, Lady Langham, this is not the last you will hear from me. You wish to ruin my life? I will see personally to ruining yours.”

Lady Langham looked stricken, stumbling back and clutching her chest. “I was only trying to help.”

“You were only trying tohurt. Now, be gone, for I cannot stand to look at you.”

The Dowager Viscountess looked as if she meant to argue, but with everyone at the table glaring at her, she seemed to understand that she was beaten.

She put a hand on Miss Gouldsmith’s shoulder. “Come, dear. I know when we are not wanted.”

Selina, still frozen with worry, looked up at her mother and then at Frederick and Hannah. “Do you mean it?” she asked hopefully. “I did not ruin… You are both happy?”

“We are,” Hannah said with a sincere smile, before planting a kiss on the back of Frederick’s hand. “Happy and in love.”

That was like a dagger to Frederick’s heart, but he ignored it and forced a smile. “And grateful for what you did, as strange as that is to admit.”

Selina looked on the verge of tears—but they were tears of joy. Chin trembling, she rose from her chair, smiled at Hannah, and then hurried after the Dowager Viscountess, who was already out the door.

“That woman!” Lord Ramsbury growled the moment she was gone. “Your Grace, I cannot tell you how sorry I am.”

“It is fine,” Frederick sighed as he fell back into his chair.

Hannah joined him, still holding his hand, still looking at him with such love that he could not bear it.

“I am just glad to hear how happy you both are,” Lord Ramsbury said.

“Yes,” Lady Ramsbury chimed in. “We did not believe the rumors, of course, but to see it with our own eyes…” She breathed in deeply, her eyes glistening. “Oh, we are both so happy.”

“Unbelievable,” the Duchess of Hayward grumbled. “Aunt Teresa? The nerve!”

“Enough of that.” Hannah waved her hand dismissively. “Let’s not talk about it. The night is already almost ruined, so I suggest we try and save it.”

“And what better way to return to the matter at hand,” the Duchess of Walford said, her eyes flashing. “I believe we were talking about children?”

“Beatrice…” Hannah groaned.

“What? You just said how happy you are! What better reason is there than that to start a family?”

Frederick’s stomach churned. More so when he saw the satisfied smile on Hannah’s face. This dinner party was a revelation for somany reasons. It confirmed that he did indeed care for Hannah, that he loved her, that he wanted to be with her.

Conversely, this was also the problem.

As their love deepened, he knew that Hannah would continue to pressure him for children, that she would not stop because with her sisters as happy as they were, she no doubt wanted the same. And while Frederick wanted her to be happy, that was the one thing he could not give her, which meant that he was doomed to break her heart.

For now, as they sat and ate dinner with her family, he smiled along and laughed at jokes and did what he could to feign happiness as the walls closed in on him. Because once they were alone, they would need to have another conversation… one that was sure to end in heartache.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Well… that was something.” Hannah laughed the moment they were alone.

They had just walked back into the house, the front door closing behind them.

“That is one word for it,” Frederick agreed, somewhat awkwardly, for he had spent the last hour or so thinking about what he needed to do, realizing now more than ever how unpleasant it was likely going to be.

“Awkward? Unexpected? Not as bad in the end as it could have been?” Hannah walked to the middle of the foyer and spun about, smiling coyly. “Or all of the above?”

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