Page 67 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
Usually, she would handle her father’s passive aggressiveness with ease but now, when mentally, emotionally, and physically she felt wrecked, she found herself irritated.
He spat angrily. “It displeases me greatly that the Duke of Kensington is yet to ask for your hand in marriage. That is offending me.”
Oh.
Amelia shook her head at their father. She was always the bolder one of the two sisters, facing down her father when he had a temper tantrum with great fierceness.
She had never really had to handle any difficult matters as her capable sister had always been there to solve them.
Now that she’d be far away building her own home…
“Father, that is in no way Daphne’s fault.” Amelia defended. “Besides, she only recently started courting the duke.”
If only they knew.
“What do you mean it’s not her fault?” he asked stubbornly. “In every way it is! Has she broached the subject to him subtly, to see what he has to say?”
Yes. She answered internally. He doesn’t want to marry anyone. Ever.
“I am sure he’ll ask soon, father. Do not fret so.” Amelia added before he could continue.
“So when will he?” Lord Wallace asked, putting a piece of buttered bread in his mouth.
Daphne sighed, placing her knife down. She’d been about to cut into a piece of blueberry pie despite the argument she’d been having with her parents since she came down for the morning meal.
They had chosen this morning of all mornings to remind her of Victor and their courtship, wondering when he would finally make an offer for her, despite her insistence that he would when he was ready.
“In due time, Father,” she answered with a sigh.
“I only ask because I care about you and your happiness. You’re no longer a little girl of sixteen. The girls who debuted with you are heavy with their second or third children now.”
“I know, Father,” she agreed.
“Amelia,thank God, is getting married tomorrow and will start building her own family,” he continued. “Melanie is still young, and it is up to you to set a good example for her to follow. You have always been the sensible one. That is why I believe you will understand why I have chosen to take matters into my own hands and in the manner I did.”
“What do you mean, Father?”
“What do you mean, Howard?” Gertrude, her mother asked.
Her father took a long swallow of his tea, ignoring the fact that his family’s eyes were on him with earnest expectation of an answer to their question.
“Howard?” her mother said again.
This time, displeasure oozed from her tone and even her father wasn’t fool enough to ignore the threat hidden in her tone.
“I have taken the liberty, as your father, of accepting Percy’s offer of marriage on your behalf.”
“What?” Cried the four women in the room.
“Father, you can’t be serious!” Daphne exclaimed, rising from her seat.
“Oh, but I am,” he answered, meeting her eyes with a stubborn look.
“I do not want to marry Percy,” she protested. “I have said so several times. I do not love him.”
“That is exactly why he’s a perfect candidate for you,” he answered matter-of-factly. “You do not need love to start a marriage.”
“But you need love to keep it,” her mother added.
