Page 52 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

He snarled at Victor and then did the same to Rosalind. “My actions are not to be questioned. Nor are my orders.”

“Orders?” Rosalind scoffed in a way that was very unlike her.No need to say where she learned that from.“I am not yours to order.”

“That is exactly what you are!”

She widened her eyes in anger. “Tell me what this is really about, for I know it has nothing to do with Aurelia. Not really. You just don’t like the idea of me acting without you – you want to control me until you can pass me off to whoever it is that you decide I am to marry. That is what this is. Do not lie to me.”

“Rosalind…” He groaned. “I told you already, did I not? That I apologize for how I have behaved concerning your prospects of marriage. I thought we were in agreement.”

“As did I,” she said hotly. “But you continue to try and control what I do.”

“I do not,” he huffed. “As I said, this is because I do not want you spending so much time with Lady Hawkins.”

“Because you worry that she will be a bad influence. Again, because all you can think about is who I will marry. And how quickly you can be rid of me.”

This line of argument was as unexpected as it was infuriating. Gerald had enough to deal with of the moment without having to worry himself with his sister’s tantrums and feigned conspiracies. Yes, Gerald still wished to see his sister wed, and as soon as was possible. But he was serious before when he had told her that he would stop putting so much pressure on her. Truly, he only wanted what was best!

Of course, he could not tell her the real reason that he was objecting. That he wanted nothing to do with Lady Hawkins, or his sister to have anything to do with her for that matter. Or rather, the reason he wanted nothing to do with her…

“This is not an argument,” he said through gritted teeth. “It is an order.”

She curled her lip. “And to think, Aurelia was defending you.”

“She…” Gerald blinked. “She was?”

“I do not know why,” Rosalind snarled. “For some reason, she seems to think that you are more than what you seem – she even went so far as to tell me that I ought to be grateful to have a brother who cares for me as you do.”

“She did?” Gerald asked with bewilderment.

“If she only knew the way you spoke about her behind her back, she might think differently. Perhaps I will tell her myself.” She raised her chin and turned on the spot to leave.

“We are not done here!”

“We are…” She spoke over her shoulder as she walked from the room. “I will be home by supper!” Once through the door, she slammed it closed behind her.

Gerald stayed standing, glued to the spot, stunned by what had just occurred.

His sister had never spoken to him like that. He had not thought her capable of such a thing! She was changing before his eyes, fighting against the rigged structure and expectational modes of decorum he had forced upon her shoulders since she was a little girl. He probably should have expected it, especially considering who she spent her time with…

He wanted to blame Lady Hawkins for this, as that felt easy to do. Alas, he knew the blame fell at his own feet. He was a hypocrite, the worst kind of person, and finally his sister was beginning to see him for who he was.

“How sweet,” Victor chuckled.

“Excuse me?”

“Lady Hawkins defending your honor…” He flashed his eyes knowingly at Gerald and Gerald felt his stomach twist because he knew that look well. “I wonder if she would do such a thing, if she knew what you were doing to her family.” He began to shuffle through the papers. “My oh my, they are in quite a bit of debt, aren’t they.”

Gerald groaned and collapsed back into his seat. “I am dealing with it.”

“Clearly not. I wonder if perhaps I should send some of my friends to pay her family a visit.”

“I am dealing with it,” he snarled. “And that is the end of the matter!”

This looked to be the exact response that Victor wanted. He grinned wickedly and knowingly, that sense that he could read Gerald like an open book. And if that was the case…I need to deal with this problem I have found myself in, and soon.

Gerald was confused. He was unsure. Yet he was also convinced that the sooner Lady Hawkins found herself a husband, the sooner all of this would be over. And he needed this to be over more than he had ever needed anything.

ChapterEighteen

---