Page 35 of The Duke's Inconvenient Bride
“The deed is done,” he said.
The last bastion of Emma’s hope vanished. Violet was married. There was no sweeping this under the carpet. No coming back from it.
Unless she made it happen.
Her heart heavy, she knocked on the office door, then pushed it open and stepped inside. She straightened her back and held her head high. She was strong. She could do this.
Then, later, she’d cry where no one could overhear her.
“If the duke is amenable, I will marry him,” she said.
One thought kept bouncing around her mind:Please don’t let him agree.
CHAPTER 9
“Tea?”Vaughan offered Longley as his friend sat on the opposite side of the desk in the office.
“No, thanks,” Longley replied.
Vaughan gestured to the decanter. “Brandy?”
“Oh, go on. The occasion merits it.”
Vaughan poured a small portion of brandy each for Longley and himself. It would be rude to make Longley drink alone. He passed one to Longley and cradled the other in his hand as he lowered himself onto his comfortable chair.
“So, you received word from Carlisle that Lady Violet is married?” Longley said.
“Indeed. I’m sure most of London will know soon. Do you think the news will worsen the scandal or lessen it?” Vaughan could never predict society’s behavior, and he wanted to know how wary to be when leaving the house.
Longley savored his brandy, his expression thoughtful. “Worsen. For a short time, anyway.”
“How do you figure?” Vaughan asked, placing his glass on the desk. He didn’t really feel like drinking it.
“If they choose to return to London, it will cause a stir. Hostesses will not be able to decide whether to invite her to events in order to entertain their guests or to exclude her so as not to offend you.”
Vaughan gritted his teeth. “And this will impact on me?”
Longley looked at him as though he was stupid. “Everywhere you go, people will stare and whisper. But it will be short-lived.” He hesitated, then added, “Perhaps you ought to resume your wife hunt next season. You know you don’t deal well with being the center of attention.”
Vaughan eyeballed him. “I also don’t deal well with being told what to do.”
“Touché.”
That said, Longley had a point. The attention would be unpleasant, and it might hinder his progress.
“Do you think it will be impossible for me to find a bride this season?” he asked, valuing his friend’s opinion.
“No,” Longley said.
Vaughan slumped in relief.
“But finding your second fiancée may take longer than finding the first did,” Longley added.
Dread seeped into Vaughan’s pores. “Damn.”
Not for the first time, he considered how badly he wanted to prevent Reginald from inheriting, but then an image of his cousin mocking his father for crying at the news of yet another affair flashed through his mind. He gritted his teeth.
Reginald would not inherit the dukedom. Nor would any of his devil-spawn offspring.
