Page 16 of The Insufferable Duke
A silence descended on the room. Lord Gibbs nearly fell over and was scarcely held up by his spindly wife who struggled to grasp the plump man in her arms. The Duke of Dunton merely gawped, his jaw slack, and the Duchess repeatedly shook her head as if she did not believe her ears.
“Ahem.” Christopher cleared his throat, trying to shift that awkward silence. “It is time for cards on the table, Your Grace. A secret relationship has plainly bloomed between your daughter and my brother. I give my blessing for the match if you do.” He held the other Duke’s eye, not wanting anyone else to be a part of this discussion, especially not Lord Gibbs, who looked ready to murder Robert. “A special license would, of course, be obtained, so they could marry quickly before any scandal could befall either family name.”
“You would accept this?” the Dunton asked, his voice shaking. “After the division of our families?”
“I must for my brother’s sake. Hate me if you will, Your Grace, but I know what would make my brother happy. It is he I am here for.” Christopher didn’t look at his brother though he felt the strength of his gaze upon him. “What do you say, Your Grace?”
“Brother, don’t listen to him. You cannot believe the lies. He will leave her at the altar, I am certain of it.” Lord Gibbs pulled on the Duke of Dunton’s jacket, desperate to be heard.
Sighing deeply, Christopher looked away, not knowing what else to do.
Abruptly, there was movement in the room. Lady Helena took her sister’s hand and dragged her across the space. She pushed Lady Julia toward Robert, so the two stood awkwardly side by side, smiling at one another.
“Father, pray, ignore my uncle’s rants for a minute,” Lady Helena stepped forward, her voice confident.
“Rants!” Lord Gibbs repeated in outrage.
“Look at Julia,” Helena pleaded. “If you cannot accept a marriage out of fear of the Moores, then accept it for your daughter’s sake.”
Robert had taken Julia’s hand. The two stood close to one another. It was a sweet and intimate thing, but the Duchess looked ready to sprint across the space that separated the two groups in the room, just to tear her daughter away.
“Father, accept it. Please,” Lady Helena implored.
Christopher stared, uncertain what to make of her interference. More than anyone else, he had been convinced that she would argue against this match. After all, who looked at him with the coldest contempt in this family? Lady Helena, it was always her!
We are enemies, yet now she pleads my brother’s case. Why would she do that?
“Father, look at Julia then make your decision,” Lady Helena added, taking a step forward.
“Don’t do it, Benjamin. Don’t do it,” the Duchess begged, pulling on her husband’s other arm.
“Mother, enough of this, I beg of you.” Lady Helena looked at her mother across the room. “If you will not listen to reason for your daughter’s sake, then I will appeal to the rhetoric you understand instead. You wish to blame the Moores for all of this. If you do not accept this match now, then the Moores will have destroyed Julia’s reputation for good. Do you not believe there should be some reparation for the damage done?”
The Duchess said nothing but stared at her daughter, her skin paling in shock.
“What of you, Uncle? Do you have anything to argue in the face of such a statement?” Lady Helena challenged, looking at her uncle.
“I have something to say.” Lord Gibbs stepped toward his brother. “You know you cannot do this. Would you unite the two families forever?”
“Would you see Julia ruined, Father?” Lady Helena’s words were enough for her father.
He sighed deeply, capitulating to her request, then nodded.
“Very well, Lord Robert, you have what you ask though I fear whether this is the right decision or not.” He glanced at the ceiling as if pleading with the heavens for strength to go on speaking. “I will give my blessing to the match.”
He turned his back and returned to his wife and brother. “May the Moores not bring hell and damnation on us for good.”
As Lord Gibbs and the Duchess protested against the Duke of Denton’s decision, Lady Julia and Robert stepped closer toward one another. Robert took one of her hands and raised it to his lips.
Yet Christopher couldn’t look at his brother’s happy face for long. His curious eyes were drawn to Lady Helena.
Why did she fight for this match?
CHAPTERSIX
“It will be fine.”
“How can you speak so? It will not be fine,” Kitty hissed as Helena took her arm and drew her into the assembly rooms. “We’ll be stared at, gawked at, and everyone will be asking where your sister is.”
