Page 16 of A Virgin for the Forbidden Duke

Utterly useless.

Matthew turned back and locked eyes with the drunkard, who was now sneering and seeming unrepentant. The booze was giving the bastard an illusion of strength.

Matthew leaned closer to the man, his voice dripping with a potent mix of fury and authority. “Do you have any idea who you just disrespected? This is Lady Letitia Fitzroy.”

The drunkard only sneered, his arrogance undiminished. “Lady, commoner, or whatever you call yourself, you’ve all gotten too big for your britches since that title fell into your laps,” he said and then yanked his arm away, staggering as he walked off.

The encounter left a bitter taste in the air. Matthew was torn between defending his sister’s honor and the risk of escalating the confrontation with the intoxicated stranger. He growled and ran his hands through his hair.

He thought it was just the rich folks who were disgusting. Even the commoners he was fighting for in courtrooms hated him and his family.

Letitia smiled and touched her brother’s arm. “It’s fine, Brother. Don’t be vexed. I need to go and visit my friend now.”

Matthew ran his hands through his hair and tried to keep his anger in check as he gritted out, “I will go with you.”

“Of course not!”

“But—”

“I’ll accompany Lady Letitia. You need not worry, Matthew,” Stephen said as he walked over to them, his eyes too serious.

He had witnessed the incident.

Matthew hesitated for a moment, reluctant to leave his sister’s side, but he ultimately agreed. “Very well, Stephen, look after her.”

* * *

As Letitia’s carriage departed, with Stephen in tow, Matthew mounted his horse to head home, a swirl of thoughts and emotions occupying mind.

Would he ever be accepted? Loved? Would his hard work ever be recognized?

If these people ever needed help, he would help them in a second because he was almost one of them. But would they ever see past him being born a commoner no matter how the circumstances changed?

Manna. Manna fell from heaven and into their family, that was what they always said, and even though Matthew was really grateful for all the riches he now possessed, he did not know how to explain to people that life with the snobbish, rich people wasn’t manna at all.

The rhythmic clip-clopping of his horse’s hooves on the cobblestone streets seemed to mirror the steady stream of contemplation in his mind.

The weight of the recent encounter with the drunken man and the humiliation his sister had endured bore heavily on his heart, and he felt so useless that he couldn’t even be respected enough, couldn’t stand up for his sister the way he wanted.

Matthew’s thoughts turned to the drunkard’s biting words.

“You’ve all gotten too big for your britches since that title fell into your laps.”

He couldn’t help but mull over the years of his family’s struggle to be accepted by the aristocracy after they had been thrust into the world of the ton. The gossipy whispers, the malicious rumors, and the disdainful glances—his family had borne it all.

Yet, despite their best efforts to prove themselves, they remained on the fringes of high society. His father’s health had suffered, and, ultimately, he had passed away. Matthew couldn’t shake the suspicion that Society’s treatment of his family had played a role in his father’s decline.

The anger, bitterness, and resentment he felt toward the snobbish elite, particularly figures like Mary, intensified during the ride home.

As the familiar scenery of London passed by, Matthew found himself wrestling with the complexities of his newfound nobility and his ongoing war with Society.

* * *

Matthew arrived at the grand estate that served as the Huntington family’s residence, Sempill Estate, situated just outside of London. The moment he rode through the imposing iron gates, the vast expanse of meticulously maintained gardens and the majestic manor house came into view. The architecture was a testament to wealth and power, boasting impressive columns, intricately carved details, and sprawling grounds.

As he rode into the courtyard, stable boys and footmen were quick to assist him. One young stable boy, whose uniform bore the Huntington family crest, took charge of his horse, speaking softly to the magnificent steed.

Matthew dismounted, his riding boots making contact with the cobblestone, and handed the reins to the stable boy, who led the horse away to the stables.

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