Page 37 of The Duke's Indecent Match
Kalina did not know what to think.Her head whirled even as her body remained motionless in shock.
The footman scooped up the duke’s shirt from Kalina’s floor, using it to help cover the man, at least a little.His long legs were still visible up to mid-thigh as he was led from the room, his first steps stumbling before he became more sure-footed.
Pressing her lips together, Lady Astrid focused her attention on Kalina’s father, who had turned to look at her.Her voice was cool.Aloof.She’d drawn back from the warmth with which she usually spoke to them.
“The library will be open for your use, Mr.Little.I will ensure the duke knows to meet you there.”
There was a pause before Kalina’s father answered, as he could hardly be unaware of Lady Astrid’s suspicion that her home had been used to trap one of her friends into marriage.Kalina’s stomach heaved.Now, she really felt like she was going to be sick, just like the duke.
“Go.”Mother tilted her head at Kalina’s father.If Lady Astrid’s tone had been cool, Mother’s was glacial.“I will stay with Kalina.”
“I… yes.”Kalina’s father nodded.“Right then.”He glanced back at Kalina, his expression unreadable.“I will take care of everything, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Father,” she whispered, the first words she’d been able to summon.
Her father was going to take care of everything.Relief slowly began to unthaw her limbs as he walked out the door, followed by Lady Astrid, who closed it firmly behind her.
Immediately, her mother rushed toward the bed, reaching out her hands.Kalina lifted her own to meet them.
“What happened?”her mother asked in a low voice, squeezing Kalina’s fingers.“Tell me the truth.Did you and your father plan this?”
“What?”Kalina’s voice rose in a high shriek.“Of course not!”Hurt surged through her.How could her mother think such a thing?Of course, Kalina had not…
Relief, swiftly followed by anger, crossed her mother’s face, and she closed her eyes, which was when Kalina realized what her mother was thinking.
“Father did not… he would not…” She stumbled over her words, trying to think.
Of course, her father would not put a man in her bed while she was sleeping, entirely unaware.Not even to marry her off to a duke.
Would he?
“I am going to murder him,” her mother muttered, the anger in her expression quickly growing.Then she took in a deep breath.“We need to get you dressed.You need to wear your best outfit.Today is going to be difficult.”
Feeling utterly numb, Kalina let her mother pull her from the bed.She felt like a doll, letting her mother and Margaret make the decisions about what dress, what jewelry, and how to do her hair.It felt like they were adorning her with armor.
Which she was going to need.
Nothing had actually happened.She was still a virgin.Even she would not have been able to sleep throughthat, surely.Besides, she did not feel any different.Nothing hurt.Nothing was sore.Going by her mother’s descriptions, she should have felt something if he’d… if they’d…
She was not actually ruined.But it would not matter.The duke had been in her bed, which would have been bad enough, but his clothes were also scattered across her floor.Margaret had set to collecting them while Kalina’s mother brushed Kalina’s hair.Society would deem her ruined.
The only way her reputation could be salvaged would be if he married her.It was also the only honorable route for him, so she had to hope he would take it.
But she did not think anyone was going to be happy about it.
Nathanial
Though he’d emptied his stomach, Nathanial did not feel any better.His tongue felt like he’d licked a wet dog.He was able to mostly stay on balance, though he was grateful for the footman’s assistance on the stairs, which were far more treacherous than the halls.
He had not felt like this since the morning after he first looked at the estate’s books and accounts after his father’s death.Twice in his life now, he’d done this, but last time the worst thing he’d woken to was a headache… not a marriage.
How had he ended up in Miss Little’s room?
Trying to cast his mind back, his memories of the previous evening became increasingly fuzzy through the meal.He’d drunk too much.He knew that.He’d known it at supper.
“Ah, Your Grace?”The footman murmured, drawing Nathanial’s attention, and he nodded ahead.
A cluster of dukes was around his door.Gregory must have sprinted up the stairs to rouse all of them after Lady Astrid had removed him from Miss Little’s room.They were all standing in the hallway in their dressing gowns, frowning in confusion.
