Page 22 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

The duke tilted his head as he studied her, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. She almost hoped that she saw a look of regret cross his face, as if this news might upset him. Sadly, there was no such indication.

“Is that right?” he said with a smirk.

“It is.”

“Does this mean you have found yourself a suitor?”

“It does.”

“And who is the lucky man, if I may ask?” His smirk grew. “He who has stolen your heart as well as your innocence... or rather, who will be.”

She looked at him flatly. “I would say that it is none of your business, but as you are going to find out sooner or later, there is no sense in hiding it. It is Lord Littlefield. Just today, he and my mother --”

The duke began to laugh.

“What!” The anger inside of her flared at his mockery. “What is so funny!”

“Tell me you are joking,” he continued to laugh. “Although if you were, I cannot imagine you would have come all this way to see me. Unless that was simply a ruse...” He winked. “What happened? Haven’t been able to get our dance out of your --”

“I am not joking!” she exclaimed with anger, even if the way her cheeks flushed was caused by something else. “Lord Littlefield and I are to wed. And within the month! Which means that you and I --”

“Will be seeing a lot more of each other,” he said, still chuckling lightly. “I am sorry to say, but despite this late-night assault, and how eager you clearly are to be rid of me, nothing has changed. Except for the fact that I now have a new dress, of which I have no need --”

“What do you mean!” Aurelia snapped. “Did you not hear me? I told you, Lord Littlefield and I are to be wed. And as part of my dowry, he has promised to cover our debts to you.”

The duke snorted. “I am sure Lord Littlefield promised you the world and everything in it, such is his desire to marry. But have you stopped to wonderwhyhe has not married until this point? And why the sudden urge?”

Aurelia frowned, not liking where this was going. “I... what do you mean?”

“Lord Littlefield is hopelessly in debt,” he said. “To me, in fact. He can no more cover your debt to me than can the horse which you rode here on.”

“No...”

He shrugged. “I do hate to be the bearer of bad news, alas, it falls on me to tell you. Marry Lord Littlefield or don’t, the result will be the same. You and I...” He raised an eyebrow at her and continued to smirk. “Are still very much involved, I am afraid.”

“That is... it can’t be,” she stammered as the world began to crumble.

This cannot be happening. He must be lying! But why would he? Surely, he wishes to have this debt paid as much as I wish to pay it? There is no reason for him to do anything but tell me the truth.

Aurelia felt the room turn around her. She felt her knees tremble. She felt like being sick, the excitement she had been feeling, the resolve which had carried her, dashing against the wall and smashed into a million tiny pieces like a pane of glass dropped from a great height.

It was hopeless. This deal she had made. This desire to find a husband to marry. Worse that she did not even wish to be wed! To be upset by something that she did not want in the first place was... it was... it was more than she could bear.

She stumbled back and very nearly fell.

“Easy there.” The duke went for her, quick to wrap an arm around her back and steady her.

“Get off me!” Aurelia snapped, slapping the duke’s hand away.

“Excuse me?”

“You...” She glared at him, anger infusing her. None of this was his fault. Not really. But he was the face of it, and she was sick to death of how damn reasonable he was being. How cocky. How arrogant! “You are glad this has happened, aren’t you!”

He frowned. “Is that what you think?”

“Of course you are,” she continued hotly. “Oh sure, you pounce about the ton, pretending at being the perfect gentleman. You like that people see you this way. But I know what you really are! I know the true you!”

“And what is that?”

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