Page 69 of A Virgin for the Ruthless Duke

“Goodbye, Richard,” she said in a voice that shook with emotion.

Pain clawed at his chest, but he had to leave.

Selina heard the door open as he left, her heart aching as she waited for the second slam of the door that would announce his departure, but when it didn’t come, she knew something had happened. Sure enough, when she turned around, she found Richard standing still in the doorway, staring at someone.

They had been caught. At that moment, Selina could not decide whether she wanted to laugh or cry.

CHAPTER 24

Selina had always imagined what would happen if they were caught alone, even while she crept down lonely hallways late at night to meet Richard.

She had always known that they would be caught—it was almost certain—but the reality of it was not as frightening as she had thought it would be.

Perhaps it was because, at that moment, she was emotionally numb, unable to feel anything after Richard had quite successfully shattered her heart into pieces.

It was difficult to feel fear when your heart was in pieces, or maybe it was hope—frail and insistent—that this situation might force Richard to marry her.

It was unfortunate that she did not want him that way. She wanted him willing, asking for her hand because he desired her and could not imagine a future without her by his side.

But if everything went downhill the way it looked like it would, she might not have a choice in the matter, and neither would he.

The silence was broken by the library door slamming shut as Herbert stormed in, pushing Richard back into the room. Now, she could see Herbert’s face. He was furious, and he had Richard’s collar in his hands, threatening to strangle him.

Richard was not doing anything to defend himself, allowing his body to be easily tossed around by Herbert. Herbert had slightly toned muscles due to sparring, but Richard was built like a Roman sculpture with pure muscle everywhere, and he didn’t want to hurt him.

“You will marry her,” Herbert said with finality. Cold and unyielding, just like their elder brother.

“I am afraid I cannot do that,” Richard replied, a note of apology in his voice.

His response seemed to anger Herbert even more, as his eyes blazed with rage.

“I took you as a man of honor, but you have shown that you are not. We duel at dawn,” he said decisively.

“I accept,” Richard said simply.

Selina arched her eyebrows incredulously. “You cannot mean to duel. It is outlawed in England!” she said in outrage.

“We would meet in a secret location,” Herbert said offhandedly.

“It is a barbaric custom unfit for English nobility,” she shot back.

“Nobility has nothing to do with this, Sister. He had dishonored you. I must demand satisfaction to preserve your dignity.”

“Dignity?” she asked with a bitter laugh. “What good will my dignity do me if either of you died or sustained life-threatening injuries because of me?”

“It is what has to be done, Selina. Please stay out of it.”

“Please, Herbert,” she begged, stepping forward so she could loop her arm through his. “There is no reason for you to duel with him. I was the one who found him here.Iwanted to meet. I promise you that nothing untoward happened. We only shared a kiss. That was all,” she said, staring earnestly into his face.

It was more than a kiss, of course, but what her brother didn’t know could not hurt him.

She kept staring into his face, using her most persuasive voice, and soon, his resolve faltered, bringing a smile to her lips.

“There will be no duel,” he said reluctantly, still eyeing Richard with distaste. “But the deal only remains if the Duke proposes to you.”

Richard opened his mouth to answer. Selina already knew what his answer would be; he had been saying it to her for the past few hours, and she knew it was not the right answer to give Herbert if they were to preserve the fragile peace she had managed to broker.

“I do not want to marry him,” she blurted out, effectively shocking Richard, who turned to her with an astonished look on his face.

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