Page 2 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“Gerald,” Rosalind said with a forced smile that looked suspicious. “I was just coming to find you.”

“Is that so?”

“Y -- yes,” she stammered. “But I bumped into Aurelia on the way, and you know how she is. She could talk the ear off a dead horse.”

“Guilty,” Aurelia said, offering a smile for the duke. “Your Grace, wonderful to see you again, as always.”

“Lady Hawkins.” He gave a short nod to Aurelia before fixing his gaze back on his sister. “Rosalind, what have I told you about eating sweets? It is perfectly acceptable on occasion, but in public like this? A lady should exercise more self-control than that.”

Despite herself, Aurelia snorted at the comment. She did not mean to, but she found the chastisement a little uncalled for, even hypocritical, for she had seen many a lord tonight stuffing their faces with the same treats, caring not for so-called social decorum.

“Something funny?” the duke asked her.

“Oh...” Aurelia balked, wishing to offer a sharp response, but knowing that she should not.Now is not the time to be combative, nor is it the time to draw attention from His Grace.“I am sorry, Your Grace, I simply had something stuck in my throat.”

“Quite," the duke said, a look on his face which suggested he did not believe her. “Now, Rosalind, I hate to pry you from your friend, but I was hoping you might join me. There are some friends of mine I wish for you to meet.”

“I...” Rosalind looked helplessly at Aurelia. “Must it be now? Perhaps later, I will come find you. I promise that I will.”

The duke gave no reaction. “Yes, Rosalind, it must be now.”

In their world, meeting friends meant that the duke wished to introduce her to possible suitors, men whom he deemed worthy of his sister’s hand. And where this was a common enough practice, Rosalind had told Aurelia of the men who she had so far been introduced to, none of which her best friend had any interest in. That was mostly because they were all a little too similar to her brother.

It was times like this where Aurelia felt grateful that her mother had given up on Aurelia’s potential of finding a suitor worthy of their family name, having since pivoted to Eveline. It meant that she felt no pressure to wed, which meant that she likely never would, as she had no love of the concept.With my upbringing, how could I possibly.

However, seeing her friend caught in position such as this was frustrating to say the least. Rosalind was not a particular rebellious creature – their planned adventure tonight a rare instance of her attempting to break from character – and she was well and truly controlled by her brother, the duke. Although Aurelia had no doubt that he cared for her and only wanted what was best, his perception of what was best aligned in no way with Rosalind’s.

Aurelia should have just kept her mouth shut. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself and risk the duke prying further. But her friend was in need, Aurelia had always had a big mouth and a sharp tongue, and the wine she’d spent the night drinking was starting to have its effects...

“Perhaps I will join you,” Aurelia said. “If you do not mind, Your Grace.”

The duke frowned at Aurelia with obvious confusion. “Excuse me?”

“These friends of yours,” she continued simply. “If they are as wonderful as I am sure they are, I might be pleased to meet them. As they will be me, I am certain. My mother is always saying I need to make myself more available, and I can’t imagine a better chance than this.”

Clearly, the duke did not agree. “I... I do not think that is such a good idea.”

“Oh?” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Why ever not? Is something wrong with me?”

Aurelia was aware that the duke was not a huge fan of hers. With how proper he was, and with how combative she was known to be, their personalities were fire and water such that she doubted he wanted her anywhere near his friends. If for no other reason than it would reflect poorly on his sister.

“Of course not,” the duke said with a forced smile. “But I have been telling them of my sister, and they are not expecting me to bring a friend.”

“I am sure they will not mind,” she pressed, unable to hide her smirk for she could see how put out it was making the duke. “Two for one, as I see it. They should be so lucky.”

“That is not...” The duke considered, remaining calm and poised as he so often was, even if she sensed his frustration. “Perhaps another time, Lady Hawkins. Now, I would much prefer if it was just Rosalind.”

“And you would just leave me here on my own,” she shot back. “Surely, a gentleman such as yourself would never dream of doing such a thing.”

She could see the side of his lip twitching with vexation.I knew it! For how desperate he is to appear proper and rational, he has a temper like any other man. A dark side. “Perhaps your mother or sisters...” He looked about for them. “I will happily walk you to find them, if it pleases you.”

“It would please me to remain with my friend,” she said. “And perhaps meet some gentleman while I am at it.” She reached out and rested a hand on his arm, feeling him tense under her touch. “My best friend, as it is. I am sure your friends would love to meet she who is like a sister to Rosalind, for that would only reflect well on her. No?”

He eyes her hand around his arm, his lips pressed firmly together. “Another time.”

“Why not this time?”

“Truthfully...” The duke’s calm facade dropped and behind his piercing blue eyes she saw a hint of the duke’s other, more hidden side. “I do not think my friends would appreciate meeting you.”

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