Page 2 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

"I can understand that, but I am not quite sure the girl would," he sighed. "She is quite headstrong. I will broach the matter with her but you will have to sell your case. You're a good young man and I approve of the match, but you must give me some time to inform my daughters."

"I see," he said, rising from his seat. "I thank you for your time. When shall I expect to hear back from you?"

"Tomorrow at the latest. Then we shall discuss dates and all the other necessities."

He nodded and left the house feeling lighter than he had in a while. The approval of the Viscount was all he needed. If Miss Charity was as agreeable as she was rumored to be then she might be able to grant him what he needed.

If she was able to grant him an heir in the first year, then he was willing to grant her her freedom if she so desired. At least that would keep his mother settled.

After all, she had been the one to recommend the girl.

He had argued that she was much too young but his mother was adamant. The older sister was already twenty and five and considered a spinster. The reasons were not known because even if she was no great beauty like her sister, she was still beautiful, according to his mother

"I cannot approve a match to someone who has failed to find herself a husband at that age. Perhaps she was lacking in manners." His mother had mused. "You will like the younger Wynten girl. You need someone who thetonloves to help ease your transition back to society and there is no better choice. And she seems the sort to not be bothered by something as paltry as a scar."

He had said nothing but deep down hoped so.

* * *

Victoria sighed stepping into the home after a long day of tutoring. All she wanted was to sink into her bed and indulge in some sweets but first she had to see if the menu for the evening meal was ready and then see if Charity had returned from her outing with her friends to plan her outfits for the ball in two days.

She noticed the mood of the household staff was excited and they kept speaking in small, hushed voices but some of their conversation carried into her ear.

"T’was a horrid sight, Marie told me." One of the upstairs maids said. "Says the gentleman yelled at her. What a bad man."

Victoria frowned confused but focused on her tasks ahead. She could gossip later.

She was nearly at her room to change out of her dress when she heard crying coming from her chambers.

She opened the door, wondering who would be in her chambers and crying no less, and was stunned to see her sister flung over her bed.

"Charity?" She asked moving quickly to the bed. "What's wrong?"

The girl sat up with red rimmed eyes and threw herself into Victoria's arms. If she weren't used to the girl's antics, she might have not braced herself and they both could have been hurt from the fall.

"Father...Father..." She sniffed.

Panic flared up in her as she wondered if perhaps something had happened to their father.

"What happened to Father?" She asked hurriedly. "Is he well?"

"What?" Charity asked, sitting up. "Father is fine. He has to be because he had no trouble ruining my life."

She shook her head at her sister's dramatic declaration. The rest of thetonsaw the cool, calm and graceful Miss Charity but at home, they got the unadorned version of the girl. She laughed loud, had a penchant for dramatics and was easily moved to tears, calming just as quickly.

"What has he done now?" Victoria asked, sighing. "Come. Help me change while we talk."

Her sister sighed and rose, helping her undo the stays lining her walking dress.

"He has arranged a match for me, that's what." She spat, pulling a little too hard on one of the stays. "I apologize. I am just really upset."

"Oh but that should have been good news." Victoria said smiling. "Who is it?"

She was a little worried as her father had said nothing about considering matches for Charity. Perhaps he forgot to inform her. She would go to him immediately she was done.

"It's the Duke of Devlin!" she cried. "Oh Victoria what do I do now? I don't want to marry him. I cannot marry him. Why will Father agree to such a match? He is too old for me!"

She wondered what her father could be thinking too. True, they could benefit from such a match but one to someone that much older and who terrified her sister so?

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