Page 50 of The Duke's Bride in Disguise
"See what?" Ava asked, taking a resolute breath before she looked at him, "See that you are an accomplished kisser? I will admit that you are,Your Grace, but it does not change the fact that Icannotmarry you. Please, just leave me be."
Never, in all her life, had she spoken such cold words to another human being, and the look on Kilbride's face left Ava close to tears. He looked as though she had physically slapped him—and who could blame him, after her enthusiastic response to his kissing? He must have thought her a tease—a lady who was happy to trifle with his affections for her own amusement.
"Well then, I must apologise again," Kilbride said, the open expression on his face changing to a mask of indifference, "For wasting your time, my Lady. Good day to you."
With a nod, Kilbride swept from the room, passing by Mary who had returned with a jug of milk.
"What happened?" Mary whispered, rushing toward Ava.
"I have ended our—I mean Emily's—engagement," Ava replied with a deep sigh. The very act that had brought her here, and that she had thought would be simple, had left her exhausted to her very bones.
"Merciful heavens," Mary exhaled, blessing herself and sloshing the milk from the jug in the process, "Thank goodness for that, now we can end this charade and bring Lady Emily back."
"Not just yet," Ava replied, casting Mary a beseeching look, "We still have to find Harriette."
"All you were supposed to do, was to break your engagement with the duke," Mary argued, "And you've done that. Poor man, he was quite besotted with you."
"You mean he was quite besotted with Emily," Ava corrected her absently, for she was looking out the window, trying to catch one last glimpse of Kilbride.
"No, I meant you," Mary replied hotly. Ava turned her attention to the lady's maid, whose hands were upon her hips, and whose face was creased into a frown of annoyance. "The duke was besotted with you. I saw him when he was with Emily—the real Emily—and he was a different man to the man he is with you. Then he was rude, bored and completely indifferent, but he has been dancing attendance on you since they day you arrived. Like a love sick-puppy so he was, the poor sod."
"Well he would not have looked so love-sick, if he knew that the lady he was pursuing was a nobody," Ava retorted, guilt making her short tempered. She could not bear to listen to Mary's judgemental tone; it was clear that the Irish woman did not like the way that Ava had treated Kilbride, but nor did Ava.
"Well," Mary blustered, "You didn't give him a chance to prove you wrong, now did you?"
"This isn't a fairytale, Mary," Ava cried, "And I am not Cinderella—why can't you understand?"
Ava's voice had risen in anger, and the moment she finished her outburst, she knew that she had insulted poor Mary. The lady's maid looked highly affronted, but before Ava had a chance to apologise, she spoke;
"Well, I know when I am not wanted," Mary said with a sniff, "If you need anything I'll be in my room,my lady."
Without a backwards glance, Mary swept from the room, leaving Ava completely alone.
What have I done, she thought sadly; she had swapped lives with her sister, thinking it would lead to happiness—but now she was more alone and sadder than ever.
