Page 43 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“She looks good, doesn’t she,” Rosalind commented when they spotted her. “Marriage suits her.”

Eveline leaned over to get a better look. “Perhaps her husband has warned her that she needed to look her best, so that we won’t suspect --”

“Eveline!”

It had been over a month now since Aurelia had last seen Caroline, for she and her husband had been away on a trip, having only returned the previous day. She had always been close with Caroline too, the middle sister who wasn’t nearly as proper as Daniel and Violet and was nowhere near as troublesome as she and Eveline.

Again, Aurelia focused on the needed distraction. What she hoped from today was conversation about anything other than herself and what she had been up to. No mentions of the duke. No allusions to her own would-be marriage or anything that touched that subject. And most of all, she had to be present.

“There you are!” Caroline swept toward them when the carriage came to a stop, and they climbed down from inside. “I was about to send out a search party.”

“Are we late?” Aurelia made for her sister, taking her hands when they reached and pulling her into a hug.

“No,” Caroline laughed. “I was simply bored. Anthony has gone into town to visit friends, and I have found myself with nothing to do.”

“Oh no,” Eveline teased as she came in and gave Caroline a hug also. “A whole morning without your husband, how awful.”

Caroline did not take the bait. “I wish he was here, if for no other reason than to keep you in line.” She stuck her tongue out. “Perhaps I should rent him out to mother.”

Eveline snorted. “I am not scared of the duke.”

“Not yet,” Caroline winked.

The two of them laughed and then Rosalind joined in, hugging Caroline and kissing her on the cheek. Then, once greetings were made, Caroline led them inside and to the dining room where lunch was already being served. Nothing too heavy, as lunch was not a common meal and the girls did not wish to fill themselves before supper later, but some light snacks to sate their appetites as they caught up. Well overdue.

“So, what have I missed,” Caroline began. She beamed at the girls, excitement taking her expression. “Tell me everything – Rosalind, I hear that you are in the hunt for a suitor?”

Rosalind curled her nose. “Who told you that?”

“Anthony said that he heard something to the effect. You know how small the ton is. One lord or another is approached about courting a young lady and suddenly everyone knows it.”

“Urgh,” she sighed. “You can blame my brother for that.”

“Oh?”

Hearing the duke mentioned, Aurelia did her best to focus on the cucumber sandwiches that her sister had served her. She hadn’t eaten much these last few days, having even skipped breakfast this morning. She should have been starving but found herself unable to even feign an interest in the food on offer. Which itself was a rare thing.

“I love my brother, you know that I do,” Rosalind said earnestly. “But this Season especially, he has been a constant presence like I have never known before. Everything that I do, everywhere that I go, and everyone whom I speak with...” She sighed again and shook her head. “He refuses to leave me alone.”

Caroline tittered. “Welcome to the life of courtship.”

“It is worse than that,” Rosalind continued. “I understand well enough that he wishes for me to find the best possible suitor. And I know how important it is to him. Only...” She scoffed. “He treats me like a child, as if I am incapable of making my own decisions. It is beyond frustrating.”

Aurelia did her best to ignore the comment. She really did! And she as much as anyone was aware of how involved the duke had been in trying to find his sister a suitor. Once, she might have agreed with Rosalind too, very much of the same mind that her brother was an overbearing force who needed to be reined in. But she knew better now.

She saw the duke for what he was. She understood how much he cared. And most of all, she knew that he would do anything for his sister, and she felt a sudden need to remind Rosalind of this fact.Even though I know I really ought not to...

“He is only doing what he thinks is best,” Aurelia said before she could stop herself. She spoke softly, looking down at her plate, but her words were heard clearly none the less.

“Excuse me?” Rosalind asked as if she hadn’t heard her.

Aurelia grimaced. “I just don’t think it is fair to blame His Grace, is all. He cares for you, Rosalind. And all he wants is to see you happy.”

Rosalind looked confused. “Well, yes, I know that. But that does not mean he has to be so forceful. And so involved. Anyone would think that it was his marriage on the line.”

“To be fair, who you marry will reflect on his life,” Aurelia continued, again knowing better than to do so. “So in a way, it does concern him as much as it does you.”

“I...” Rosalind looked as if she could not believe what she was hearing. She was not typically argumentative, and Aurelia could not think of a single instance when the two had fought. It looked like that was about to change soon enough. “I appreciate the comments, Aurelia, but you know that my brother oversteps. You have said so yourself.”

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