Page 32 of Taken By the Beastly Duke

"She is fine," he answered almost irritably. "What is this I hear about you marrying the Duke of Devlin? Tell me it isn't true."

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms at his theatrics. What did it matter to him if she married the Duke?

"It is and I see no reason why it should upset you so." She answered.

"No reason, Victoria?" He cried. "You're about to be wedded to that..."

"I will also thank you to choose your next words carefully or you might find that you're less one friend." She interrupted. "That man is about to be my husband and if I am to remain your friend, you will respect him."

"Victoria..."

"I mean it, Theo." She insisted. "If you cannot respect him, you might as well leave now."

He looked like he was visibly struggling to come to terms with her words but after a while, he sighed and sank into the sofa beside her. She put some distance between them for propriety's sake.

She didn't know why she defended the duke the way she did every time but she knew one reason was because didn't like the way thetontended to make anyone slightly different an outcast.

"Victoria I really don't know why you agreed to this marriage." He began again, softer this time as she shot him a glare. "You do not need to marry him."

"I do not need to, Theo. I have to." She explained. "My reputation has been tainted. Remember?"

"Yes but you do not have to be subject to such silly rules. You're a spinster."

She shot him a look and he withered.

"I apologize. I should have considered my words more carefully."

"Indeed you should have." She smiled, patting his hand. "But I forgive you. I understand your concern for me as my friend but I will be well. The duke is not as bad as he is rumored to be."

He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"I find that very hard to believe."

"Theo." She chided.

"You have seen how he glowers at everyone when he chooses to grace any event with his presence." He defended. "I have never once seen him smile. Does that seem the kind of person to take care of a wife?"

"You do not know him."

"Do you?"

"I cannot say I do but he has been..."

"Victoria please. There is still time to end this foolishness."

"I think you should leave, Theo." She told him, folding her arms and turning away from him. "If I am not going to get any support from you when I obviously need it then there's no need for you to be here."

"Vic..."

"Please."

"Alright alright." He agreed, raising his hands. "I promise that there will be no more slander from my mouth."

"Thank you."

"I cannot promise that I can come to like him though."

"Why not?" She asked with a raised brow.

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