Page 18 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

It had been so long since anyone had stood up on his behalf and the fact she did that for him in his absence, gladdened his heart even though it shouldn't have.

ChapterFive

" Ithink we should have the wedding ceremony soon."

Anthony looked up to see his mother framed at the doorway of his study wearing her white silk night gown that had an identical robe belted over it.

He dashed a look outside and saw it was quite dark. A quick look at his timepiece told him it was the wee hours of the night. He had a meal at what felt like a few hours ago in his study while working on the ledgers. But it must have been longer if it was already that late.

It also begged the question as to why his mother would be in his study by that ungodly hour of the night.

"Good evening, Mother, what brings you here at this time of the night? I would have thought you would be abed by this time."

"Well it would be quite remiss of me to sleep comfortably while my only son remains a bachelor. I am sure I can get all the sleep I want when I have you safely married and settled."

"I hardly think my marital prospects are dire enough to deny yourself of a good night rest," he said matter of factly.

"It is dire, dear son. You are over two and thirty you should be married with a herd of children now. At the rate you are going I would be dead before my grandchildren arrive," she complained.

"Mother," he said, exasperated. "You are not dying any time soon. You are too stubborn for that."

"I do not understand the reason for the delay," his mother continued, ignoring his comment. "The young lady in question is just fresh out of the school room and unattached as far as I know,"

"I am not quite sure how unattached she is," Anthony said slowly.

"Even if she were attached, so far no official engagement has been announced. The girl still remains unmarried in my opinion."

"Thetonseem to be aware of the attachment between her and a certain young baron."

"That's just idle gossip," she said, waving her hand to indicate how flimsy she thought the idea.

"Besides, You are a duke. There is no reason why you cannot marry any lady of your choice. Remember you are second only to the princes in terms of status."

"I do appreciate your reverence for my status," he said ruefully, "unfortunately not everyone is that impressed by my title."

Especially when the duke in question is scarred.

His mother was a descendant of powerful titles herself. Having been born a duke's daughter, she had grown up with a healthy respect for the power of titles. Hence why she couldn't fathom why some persons didn't bow and scrape at the mention of his title.

Correction, they did bow and scrape but it was more to put a reasonable distance between themselves and the beastly duke than it was about respect.

"That is their loss, I would say. I think a fortnight from today would be perfect for a wedding."

"Whose wedding, Mother?" Anthony asked, slightly distracted

"Yours of course. Don't tell me you have not been paying attention."

"Why would you presume to plan a wedding between me and miss Charity. I have not managed to woo her, neither has she agreed to my offer for marriage. She shrinks from my presence. How am I supposed to take a woman that despises me to wife?"

When I harbor indecent feelings for her sister.

"The lady must be the shy type. Remember she is just fresh out of the school room. It is natural for her to feel nervous in the presence of a gentleman especially a powerful one such as yourself.

Powerful, another word for hideous

"She did not seem all that nervous when she conversed with her dance partners" he replied sarcastically

"She is just yet to adjust to your personality. You can be quite intense and intimidating sometimes " she said

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