Page 3 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

She was furious. There were decisions he couldn't make without consulting her as she had played the role of the girls' mother and marriage was one of such decisions.

"I will speak with him." She told the girl who gripped her hand harder.

"Oh Victoria you must!" She cried. "I cannot be married to him. I cannot. I don't want to. Please."

"Char, I understand you."

"No you don't." She sniffed turning away. "I cannot marry the duke because..."

Her voice trailed off and Victoria wondered what would make her sister so adamant on not marrying the Duke apart from the obvious reasons.

"Because?"

"Because I have someone else I want to marry."

Oh.

She had not known that. She had thought she kept a close watch on her sister at all the events they had attended but it turns out she was wrong. She only hoped her sister had not done anything to ruin her reputation in the process.

"Who is it?"

"I cannot tell you yet but trust me. He is not beneath our station and he is a perfect gentleman. But please don't tell father yet."

Victoria sighed at the weight of her revelation now wondering how she would get her father to break the engagement he had agreed to without outing her secret.

It didn’t matter how daunting the task seemed, she told herself as she paced her room trying to come up with an approach that would save her her father’s censure.

He was sure to be sore vexed at her trying to break Charity’s enagagement to a duke of such high standing but considering she had been responsible for her sister’s care and happiness all this time, she would do all sshe could.

An unhappy marriage was not a fate she wanted her sister resigned to even if it seemed a good prospect for her family. The girl was young and needed to enjoy happiness.

Even if it was at the expense of her own.

She sighed and busied herself with cleaning her room.

She would do everything in her power to convince her father or take matters into her own hand even if it ended with him angry at her.

ChapterTwo

"Oh Victoria, this is so beautiful," Charity said beside her a look of wonder on her face.

"Yes it truly is," Victoria replied, because it really was. Lady Danbury had always been known for her remarkable ability to throw the best balls in every season and this season was no exception.

She always went for decoration out of the norm and this time around she had turned her ballroom into an ice paradise with figurines and icicles all over.

Victoria was truly in awe and wondered how she had managed to procure ice in the middle of spring. But then, if there was anyone capable of performing magic, it was the strong matriarch of the Danbury title.

She was sure that decorations such as this were sure to cause even the most devoted societal recluse to want to attend her balls, as the events always ended up in the newspapers with more than one writer extolling the intentionality behind all the activities.

At its root, her ball’s were a celebration of creativity and happiness and Victoria was here for it.

And that happiness multiplied when she caught a glimpse of a familiar face.

As if he felt her smile, the gentleman in question turned in her direction and an answering smile spread on his face when he recognized her. Bending his head back to his companions, he excused himself and stride towards her in long legged strides.

"Miss Hobbs, a pleasure to see you here," he said, bowing to her and taking her gloved hand to place a kiss on it. His eyes were dancing with laughter.

"Please stop, Theodore. I still remain the old Victoria you have always known" she said, giggling, "no need to stand on ceremony on my account."

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