Page 71 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
She initially thought she understood this and that she could carry on the feigned courtship with him for her sister’s sake. To carry on without getting her heart involved either. However, the feelings she developed for him with every encounter had proved her to be a liar. And now, she was bearing the consequences of her actions.
When the wedding ceremony ended and the couple descended the aisle smiling widely at the guests, her heart tightened in longing. There was so much contentment and joy on her sister’s face. She wished she could have it for herself.
“This could have been us a few weeks ago at our own wedding, happily anticipating our beautiful future together. But you chose to be stubborn and wasted time with that bastard who has raked his way through half of Europe. I am glad you have come to your senses.” Percy whispered proudly into her ear. “Our wedding will be a lot more lavish than this. I promise you that.”
A red tide of anger blanketed her vision and she turned sharply towards Percy. The look of surprise on his face pacified some of her anger and she fled the church before she succumbed to the almost overwhelming urge to slap the annoying look off his face. She didn’t want to bring scandal to her sister’s wedding after all the trouble the couple had gone through to avoid it.
With every day that had passed, Percy had revealed even more annoying sides to him that she wondered how she’d cope with for the rest of her life.
At this point, she didn’t want to marry at all. She just needed some time away from everything to think. If she stayed in that hall for a second longer, she would explode in the most unpleasant way.
She fled the hall until her feet stopped in front of the family’s library. She went in, curled herself up on the sofa, and then proceeded to cry out her frustration.
Today was her sister’s wedding. Daphne was supposed to be there for her, cheering her up, and helping make sure everything for the wedding breakfast went according to plan. But she had to admit that in the emotional state she was in, she was no good to anyone. She would just cast a sad pall on an otherwise bright and joyful day.
Melanie would just have to fill in for her. Considering her cousin’s overly cheerful personality, she would suffice since she was able to summon up more excitement than three people could. Daphne sighed with a slight smile curving her lips. Amelia would be fine, she was sure of it.
But for herself, she hardly knew.
* * *
“Finally,” Victor sighed as he spied the top of his family’s estate in the distance.
The journey from Harry’s estate to his had taken longer than he’d expected, and he was feeling even wearier than he’d been when he’d left.
He got off the carriage before it even slid to a stop and climbed the few steps to get into the castle.
“Welcome home, Your Grace,” his butler, Mr. Killian, greeted.
Mr. Killian had served his family for many years. His hair was now completely gray.
“Thank you, Killian.” He smiled at the man. “How are your old bones today?”
“They are thankfully better.” He smiled.
He nodded and walked to his study, deciding to get started on any work he had that his man of affairs wouldn’t have taken care of in his absence.
He stumbled back in shock seeing his mother already sitting in his chair in the study when he stepped in.
“What are you doing here, Mother?” he asked. “When did you get here?”
“A few hours ago,” she answered, glaring at him. “I knew you’d be a pigheaded fool, so I decided to come and talk some sense into you before you ruined everything.”
“Mother what?—”
“I am talking about Daphne,” she snapped.
He had not heard her name uttered in hours and had forgotten just how wild that single word drove him.
“How can you give up on her so easily?”
Easily?
It was not easy getting into that carriage. It was not easy watching how depressed she was on the announcement of their marriage. It was not easy leaving her behind when his heart clawed in his chest to be reunited with hers.
Nothing had ever been easy since the day he was born. Daphne, however, had been his most wearing challenge.
“I thought you liked her?”
