Page 4 of The Duke and the Scarred Bride

“Do tell us what you wrote, Louisa,” Benedict urged.

“You do realize that Lord Pemberton will read the letter.” Duncan chortled, beside himself.

“I know you didn’t want the match, but you didn’t need to pull the Duke into it.” Selina shook her head. “I hope he takes your jest in good faith.”

“Imagine if he responds,” Diana said, and everyone burst into more laughter.

“Wouldn’t that be something?” Isabella giggled. “Do tell us if he replies, Louisa. I want to hear everything.”

“Who knows? This could be the start of a love story,” Selina teased.

“I truly hope you know what you’re doing, Louisa,” Lady Langham sniffed, stepping out of the room.

Louisa didn’t know what she was doing, but she hoped that no one, other than Lord Pemberton, would ever read that letter.

Chapter Two

“We do not have to do this, you know,” Diana complained as they stared at the Duke of Colborne’s imposing townhouse.

It was an impressive stone structure with quaint gardens and a well-kept stone-lined path leading to the house. It was like any other townhouse of any member of the ton, but the wrought iron gates and the storm clouds shadowing it gave it a haunted look as well as the silence, save the warning thunder.

Louisa shivered and drew her shawl tighter around her shoulders. She was grateful that Diana had agreed to come with her, or else she might not have had the courage to try and reclaim her letter. No one sound of mind would dare venture into this imposing house. She surely didn’t think Lord Pemberton was brave enough, but she couldn’t be too sure. A bruised ego would give him enough courage to brave this foreboding building.

“I have to, Diana,” she told her sister, alighting from their carriage. “I do not want anyone seeing it. Much less the Duke.”

“For all we know, Lord Pemberton didn’t deliver it,” Diana said, casting a wary look at the house again. “I do not think him capable of such courage.”

“You might be surprised by the lengths people would go to when they are scorned.”

Diana sighed but still shook her head, remaining stubbornly in the carriage. “Perhaps he might have taken it as a jest and thought nothing of it?”

“Diana, are you coming with me or not?”

“How are you not frightened, Sister?” Diana asked, still not moving.

“I am, but I have much greater worries than this,” Louisa answered.

“I cannot come with you!” Diana cried. “I will wait for you here.”

All Louisa could do was shake her head and set off on her mission. She had chosen to come at an hour when few people would be out and about, and if she wasted this window of opportunity, she couldn’t imagine the consequences.

Squaring her shoulders, she stepped away from the carriage and through the wrought iron gates into the estate. Lightning flashed overhead, almost foreboding as thunder followed. She drew her shawl tighter around her to ward off the chill. She would have to hurry if she was going to escape the coming rain.

Her steps were short and quick, her eyes darting around for staff, but she spotted no one. The house was awfully silent. She tried to find the mailbox, but it was empty. Sighing in defeat, she moved to return to the gate, only to spot a lit window as well as a dark figure peering down at her. She jumped and turned to run.

“Stop,” a commanding voice said.

She stilled, debating whether to run or not.

“Do not consider running,” he warned. “Why don’t you come inside and tell me why you are in my home.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw the heavy oak doors swing open. She could still run, and no one would be any wiser. He hadn’t seen her face, so there was no way he could identify her even if he chose to rejoin Society.

She tiptoed past the door, but when she saw no one there, curiosity took root where common sense should have been, and she found herself walking into the house.

Seeing no one inside, she vaguely wondered if perhaps she had imagined the man in the window and his voice, after all.

“Excuse me?” she called out. “Is anyone here?”

---