Page 18 of Wedded to the Ruthless Duke

Aaron had had his own fair share of difficulty and heartbreak in his life, but something Aaron always focused on was doing the right thing. A soldier, through and through, he toed the line and followed the rules.

Philip doubted Aaron would have kissed a woman out of wedlock in the first place, but to have been discovered doing so, Aaron would have undoubtedly gone to the lady’s house in question this morning and proposed.

Marry Grace? Can I?

An image of Grace walking down the aisle toward him filled his mind. She was wearing another one of those ridiculous dresses with the high collars and baggy material that hid everything about her. Something about the image infuriated him, he couldn’t stand the thought, but another thought curdled his gut even more.

I can’t do this to her.

“Have you seen her this morning?” Philip asked, turning back to face his sister.

“Not yet.” Eleanor huffed and sat back in her seat, offering Aaron a small smile as he passed her a coffee cup. That smile didn’t last. “After reading the scandal sheet, I resolved to come here at once. If I had known Celia’s dare would lead to this…”

“Celia’s dares tend to have a habit of leading to trouble for you all, don’t they?” Philip muttered darkly. He chose to ignore the glower his sister sent his way.

“That is beside the point,” she continued on with vigor. “This has happened now, and I would jolly well like to know what you’re going to do to help my friend. I see you haven’t denied it, have you? You did indeed kiss Grace.”

Philip knocked some of the coffee down his throat. It was too hot, and he burned himself. He slammed the cup back down on the table and turned away, grimacing.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Eleanor muttered, shaking her head. “Honestly, you of all people, Philip. You never are improper, ever! What possessed you to go and be improper with Grace of all people?”

“She is hardly the pillar of propriety, is she?” Philip asked, wheeling around to face his sister again.

“She has never kissed anyone before. I can tell you that much,” Eleanor protested. “But you, Philip. You!”

He couldn’t answer her anymore. Unable to sit as the others had done, he marched up and down his drawing room. He folded his arms but found himself too restrained then he thrust a hand into his dark hair and pulled on the tendrils instead.

“You’ll have to do something, Phil,” Aaron said after a minute of silent pacing. Philip was glad of his friend’s presence. It was calming in these minutes of turmoil. Philip nodded briefly at him.

“I cannot believe it.” Eleanor shook her head vigorously. “I must see her. I shall see her later today.” She was clearly resolved on the matter before her eyes flashed with anger, and she looked at Philip again. “The scandal, Philip. What have you done to her?”

Philip felt a rage burning within him. It was nothewho had done this to Grace. She did it to herself by agreeing to go through with Celia’s ridiculous dare in the first place. Even though he insisted on this, a voice hidden deep within the folds of the back of his mind spoke up.

I still kissed her, didn’t I? I didn’t have to do that.

“Must I remind you again of what the scandal sheets said about you once upon a time, Eleanor?” Philip reminded her. “It’s a wonder you can sit yourself on any pedestal to preach at me now.”

“That’s different!” She shakily got to her feet, her hand trembling around her coffee cup with so much rage that Aaron snatched it from her before it could go tumbling to the ground. “I am in love with Dorian as he is with me. And we’remarriednow anyway, so it hardly matters.”

“Pff.” Philip waved off this fact with an errant flick of his hand. There was much he’d like to say about Dorian and that man’s actions. He might have begrudgingly accepted Dorian, even tried to like him, but he was hardly enamored with his sister’s choice of husband.

“At least he did the right thing,” Eleanor added, lifting her chin an inch higher. “He’s much more honorable than you, it seems.”

Philip jerked his head to look at his sister. It was as if a bucket of ice had been thrown over him, and the dregs had bled into his veins. Behind her spectacles, her eyes were watery. He saw for the first time just how much he had let her down, disappointed her.

“I shall leave you.” Aaron cleared his throat, excusing himself as he stood.

“Aaron, you don’t have to —”

“It’s best.” Aaron cut him off, holding a stilling hand. “I’ll still see you for the opera tomorrow night, as we agreed, but right now…” He cast a wary glance toward Eleanor. “It’s time for you to talk.” He nodded his head in parting and left the room.

As the door closed behind him, Eleanor lifted her glasses and wiped her eyes, stopping the tears before they could fall.

“Grace is one of the best souls I know in this world.” Her voice shook. “She has the best of hearts. She has had enough misery in her life, too; she doesn’t need anymore because of you.”

Philip flinched at this news.

What misery has Grace had in her life?

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