Page 69 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
“My daughter, Daphne, is set to be married to Mr. Percy Farton,” he announced.
Cheers filled the room as well-wishers came to congratulate them. She pasted a fake happy smile on her face but when her eyes caught Victor’s, her mask slipped.
She looked away from him and wanted to excuse herself, but Percy didn’t let go of her hand, pulling her forward to meet Victor just to gloat.
“The best man always wins, doesn’t he?” Percy smirked, trying to get a reaction from the duke.
“I congratulate you both on your upcoming nuptials,” he said with a bow. “I must take my leave now.”
She watched him go without even a glance at her. When Percy finally released her, she took hurried steps down the hallways so she could scream in the privacy of her chambers.
A gasp escaped her when a hand wrapped around her wrist and dragged her into a chamber.
“Calm yourself, Daphne. It is me.”
She opened her eyes to see Victor glaring hotly down at her. He was visibly angry.
She couldn’t understand why because he’d been the one to call off their relationship so why would he be angry at her?
“What do you want?” she asked, squaring her shoulders.
“What do I want?” he asked incredulously. “What is wrong with you?”
“Excuse me?”
"Why are you marrying that pompous prick?” he snapped. “You leave my chambers in one minute and the next you’re jumping into bed with another man.”
“At least he wants me there,” she said before she could analyze her words. “It was true what you said about us being a mistake. Thank you for freeing me when you did or I’d have had my reputation ruined for nothing.”
“Daphne I—” he started, then stopped. “After knowing everything there is to know about him, you still want to go ahead and marry him?”
“He’s the safest option I have.” She answered calmly because she didn’t have anything to feel guilty about.
“The safest?” he asked again with a bitter laugh. “Daphne, there are many gentlemen far more suitable than Farton that would fight for your hand.”
But I don’t want any of them.She thought.I want you.
“I will be happy with Percy, Your Grace.”
“Daphne—”
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, turning and moving as fast as she could out of the room.
To think she’d hoped that when he saw her marrying another man, he’d come to realize he couldn’t live without her, but he had only tried to stop her from marrying Percy just because he didn’t like him.
Tears filled her eyes again at the fact that she’d still harbored hope that something could come of their odd relationship. She shook her head once more, steeling her resolve.
Her father was right.
Love was a stupid thing.
Now it hurt, but soon she’d be completely healed of the duke’s charm. So, for now, she’d allow herself to grieve what could have been between them.
* * *
“Are you going to let her go like that?” Harry asked, stepping into Victor’s chambers and stopping short when he saw the state of the room. “You are leaving. Before the wedding?”
Victor didn’t need to look to see a disappointed look on his friend’s face. He had already berated himself for the cowardly move he was about to make, but compared with how angry he’d feel seeing Daphne and Percy together, he knew this disappointment was a better option.
