Page 70 of A Wounded Duke's Passion
The Duke of Norfolk looked suddenly very tired. “Neither of them has a dowry. We are buried in debt, and we cannot possibly manage on our own. Thornton agreed to pay all of our debts if he could wed Bridget.”
The Duchess of Norfolk shook her head. “You did not tell us.”
“How could I? It was my burden to bear, my dear wife.”
“No,” Bridget said, “it is mine. If I do not marry Thornton, the family will remain in debt, and Anna will not have a dowry either. That means she will be unable to marry Mr. Russell.”
“David will not care,” Anna said. “I am sure of it.”
“Bridget, my dear daughter.” Her father gazed imploringly at her. “Do not think of it as a burden. You may save your family with this marriage.”
It had been so very foolish of Bridget to think that she could avoid marriage to the Marquess of Thornton. Even when she agreed to Rose’s plan, Bridget had been unable to articulate precisely how feigning being courted by Anthony would enable her to escape this fate. Perhaps she had been foolish to think that she might ever marry a man she loved.
“There must be another way,” Anna said. “Surely you can settle the debts some other way.”
“Perhaps…” Their mother trailed off.
The duke shook his head. “And endure the ton’s gossip? The disgrace? Would you have me sell all our possessions?”
“If it means that Bridget may marry the man she loves, sell everything!” Anna cried. “She should be able to marry a man that she loves, just as I am! Bridget bears no affection for the Marquess of Thornton, and I cannot imagine that he feels any for her.”
“He wants an heir,” Bridget said. What care would he have for her happiness? She could not imagine feeling that same heat deep in her core that she did when she thought of Anthony.
“Charming,” Anna muttered mutinously.
“That is enough,” their father said. “Bridget will marry him. Thornton intends to announce the engagement at Lady Emily’s ball, and I expect that everything will go well.”
The duchess rose to her feet and shook her head. “How could you do this?”
“Louise…” the duke said, his voice softening. “I am doing what is needed to save us all.”
She did not listen. Bridget slumped against the settee, as her mother left without another word. It was unfortunate that her mother’s fury had no more power than Bridget’s own.
Silence descended between them once again. After a long time, Bridget’s father stood. “I will leave you to think about your engagement,” he said. “I am sorry, Bridget, but you have no choice.”
Once he was gone, Anna sighed deeply and grasped Bridget’s hands. “There must be something that we can do,” she said.
“I do not know that there is,” Bridget replied. “I have—I have thought about this engagement for so very long, and I have found no means by which I may avoid it.”
“Perhaps if you speak to His Grace,” Anna said.
Bridget smiled sadly. “And tell him what? I do not know if he loves me, and even if he does, I cannot ask him to wed me without a dowry. No man in the ton would agree to that arrangement, much less a wealthy duke.”
“But I am sure that he loves you!” Anna exclaimed. “If you love him, you must fight for him!”
“I cannot,” Bridget said. “Even if I wanted to, Anna, there is no solution! I have spent weeks in agony thinking about this situation and trying to find any solution! I have seen nothing for my efforts!”
“But Bridget—”
“Anna, no,” Bridget said, shaking her head. “There is nothing that can be done! I should not have assumed that I could have Anthony’s love. I should have accepted that I would have to wed the Marquess of Thornton.”
Anna frowned and shook her head. “No, Bridget…”
Bridget forced a smile. “You will have a dowry,” she said. “You will be able to marry the man you love if I wed the Marquess of Thornton. Have you considered that if I refuse, Lord Thornton may ask for your hand instead? Surely you are not willing to surrender Mr. Russell’s love to marry Lord Thornton.”
“Neither of us should have to sacrifice our loves,” Anna said.
“But one of us must,” Bridget said.
