Page 2 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“That is not true.” Andrea forced herself not to rub her wrist, she would not give him the satisfaction. “If it was, I would have given you nothing. I would have left you to flounder in your debts.”
“If you were truly a proper daughter, you would be married, with children. That is a woman’s place; to be a mother and a wife.”
With children.Andrea’s chest tightened at the thought. “We had an agreement. If I could win the Dowager Duchess’s games and earn my independence, you would not force me to marry.”
“Because I thought you had at least some modicum of good sense. Every good woman wants a husband, and yet here you are, practically celebrating your singledom.” He spat the last words. “Do you know what people are saying about you? The things they whisper behind closed doors?”
“I expect it is the usual unimportant drivel. The ton is loathe to see a woman unshackled to a man.” Andrea made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “I do not particularly care what they think. I am perfectly happy on my own.”
“Do you truly think your happiness is more important than propriety? You are far too arrogant for your own good, and look what trouble it has already caused you. If only you had your mother’s looks or even her temperament, we might not be in this mess. At the very least, we might have had even one suitor.” Pain and anger flashed across her father’s face, and Andrea felt as though she had been slapped.
She took a step back, her stomach twisting as her father glared at her. His eyes met hers, and his scowl deepened. Her green eyes had often been a point of pain for him, though she scarcely understood why. Plenty of people thought green eyes were pretty.
She shook her head, and spotted a small painting on the wall of an oak tree growing tall and proud, on its own. It had been a gift from the Dowager Duchess and Andrea recalled the inscription on the back of it.
Your spirit reminds me of myself, let this oak remind you of your strength.
Andrea drew in a breath, turned to her father and smiled a dagger sweet smile. “Then I must take after you.”
He laughed bitterly and made a dismissive gesture. “We both know that is not true. Regardless, I have no intention of allowing you to bring such shame to my name and title.”
“Then disown me.” She lifted her chin slightly, standing up to her full height.
“You would like that would you not? You always were trying to shirk your duties.” His brow creased. “No, disowning you would only tarnish things further. It is far better that you are married.”
“Far better for who?” She folded her arms across her chest.
“For everyone.”
“I will not do it.”Andrea’s voice was cold, and she gesticulated at him angrily with her right hand. “Why should I?”
She did not need to listen to him. She had her own house. Marriage would mean she would have to give it all away. Her house would become her husband’s. Everything would be his.
Let alone the expectations that came with marriage. She knew all too well what that could lead to... Her chest tightened and she rested a hand against her thundering heart.
“Because even you are not heartless enough to trample upon the reputation of a dying man.” Her Father’s words hit her with the force of a bullet.
“What?” She stumbled slightly, clutching at a wall for support.Surely, I misheard.
“I am dying. The physician’s think it will be within the year.” He turned from her, his knuckles white around his cane. “I have no wish to die a failure, and your determination to be a thornback – for that is what they say you are – will be seen as that.”
That took Andrea by surprise. She would have expected to be called a spinster, but a thornback? Surely she could not have been old enough to be considered so thoroughly undesirable?
“I do not believe you. I think you are lying to me.” Andrea ran the pad of her thumb across each of her fingers in turn, using the feel to steady her heartbeat.
“And why would I do that?” Her father canted his head towards her, a glint in his eyes.
To control me.She almost said it, but could not bring herself to do so. She studied her father, looking at the way he leaned on his cane.
She made an encompassing gesture with her left hand. “You look perfectly healthy to me.”
“What I look like to you is immaterial. You are not a physician, you are a woman.” He laughed bitterly. “Truly, you have a heart of stone. Most women would hear that their father is dying and leap to his aid.”
“I am not most women, as you well know.” Andrea ran a hand through her hair.
“You know what you did. What you took from me. Though I confess, I am grateful your mother is no longer with us after the shame you have brought upon the family.” He met her gaze, a cold empty look in his eyes. “If you have any sense of filial loyalty, you will marry. Surely you would allow me the gift of a little peace in the time I have left.”
“Why should I, when you have given me nothing but grief my entire life?” Andrea clenched her fist.
