Page 4 of His Godsent Duchess
"That is very brave of her, My Lord. I wish her a swift recovery," Victor said, according her merit for her actions.
"Most certainly, Your Grace. Do you have any more questions to aid your deliberation?"
"Yes." Victor shifted slightly in his seat. "How willing is Lady Christina to marry me, having never seen me?"
"She has seen you at balls, Your Grace," Hillsbury corrected. "It is you who have not seen her. When I discovered you were searching for a wife, I asked Christina for her consent before writing to you."
"Very well," Victor said, deciding immediately. "I am willing to proceed with the engagement. How soon can I marry Lady Christina?"
Hillsbury smiled calmly. "As soon as her foot is fully healed, which should be in a sennight. She has diligently obeyed the physician's instructions, and I am most proud of her."
"It is arranged, then," Victor declared. "I shall obtain a license for the wedding."
Hillsbury leaned back in his seat, and Victor thought he looked relieved.
Christina reached for a sugar-covered biscuit, savoring the sweet treat as her friend Juliette, the Duchess of Statton, remarked, "I must steal your cook, Christina. He bakes the most wonderful treats."
Christina laughed. "You would need the Earl of Hillsbury's permission first."
"Then I shall never be able to steal him." Juliette shook her head and took a bite of lemon cake, closing her eyes and savoring the taste. The delicate aroma of lemon wafted through the air as she chewed slowly.
Joanna, the Duchess of Nettledown, smiled slyly. "Anything is possible with the right amount of persuasion, my dears." She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Christina raised one eyebrow. "Have you ever tried to persuade my father?"
They all laughed, knowing well the stern and domineering nature of the Earl. Christina relished the moment; it was always delightful to have her dearest friends with her, especially when the threat of being married off loomed like a shadow over her.
Joanna and Juliette suddenly stopped laughing, and when Christina looked up, she found her father in the doorway. The air in the room grew tense, and the cheerful atmosphere vanished. He smiled when their eyes met, and Christina's stomach knotted. It was never a good thing when her father smiled.What is he looking so triumphant about?He acknowledged her friends with a nod before stepping further into the room.
"How is your foot, Christina?" he asked, sounding excessively pleasant. His tone was almost too sweet, an opposite of the stormy expression he often wore.
Christina glanced at her foot, stretched out in front of her on the sofa and propped on a small velvet pillow. "It is healing quite well, Father," she replied, her voice steady despite the anxiety tangling her nerves.
"I have been informed that you have not attempted to defy any of the physician's instructions," he continued.
"Well, it is not as if I have many opportunities to climb trees indoors." She punctuated that with an insouciant shrug.
Her father's smile faded, and she quickly schooled her features. "I am pleased with your progress," he said. "You will be able to stand tall and even dance on your wedding day, which is in a week."
Christina's heart plummeted. She blinked at her father, unable to speak. Beside her, she heard Juliette gasp. Her father's smile broadened as he asked, "Now, my dear, why do you look as though you've committed murder and been caught?"
Christina finally found her voice, though it trembled. "Did I hear you correctly? I am to be married next week?"
"Yes," he replied, his gray eyes gleaming. "To the Duke of Kilton."
"What?" Christina exclaimed, her voice shrilly with disbelief and panic. Her breath came in short gasps, and she felt as if the walls were closing in.
"Comport yourself, Christina!" her father admonished. "The Duke is very particular about the manner of woman he is seeking. He asked to see you when he arrived an hour ago. I told him you were resting because you sprained your ankle in a very brave effort to save a child from a wayward horse at Hyde Park." He "looked at Joanna and Juliette, "Your Graces, you" were both there with her. I am sure none of us in this room would wish to have Christina viewed as a liar."
How devious!Knowing they could not argue with him, they nodded and gave Christina apologetic looks.
"That is not what happened!" she protested. How could she not?
Her father silenced her with a withering look. "I will not have the Duke interact with you and see how prone to excitement you are. You will be his problem once he marries you, but until then, you will be the perfect lady. Am I understood?"
Christina gritted her teeth. "Why are you doing this to me?" she asked.
He shook "his head slowly, something akin" to pity in his gaze. "If you had listened to me, perhaps you would have had the chance to make the choice yourself."
