Page 93 of If the Duke Dares
“It’s not as if you didn’t know you needed to wed. Your father and I have been patient for several years now, waiting for, as you say, the ‘right’ man to come along. It is apparent that will never happen without guidance.” She frowned at Persephone. “You ruined a perfectly good opportunity to wed a duke. I will never comprehend why.”
How Persephone wanted to tell her she’d also refused to entertain an actual proposal from that duke! But what would be the point of that besides enjoying a few minutes of gloating? Persephone didn’t need that. She just wanted to be away from this toxic person.
“That is why it’s pointless to explain, Mother. Because you will never comprehend why. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Persephone tried to remove her arm from her mother’s grip, but the baroness’s fingers tightened around her.
“I will not,” her mother said in a low, angry tone. “You and Lucinda have been going about the party saying the announcement of your betrothal is a mistake. You must marry him, Persephone. Your father and I will be ruined if you don’t.”
“I will never marry Cousin Harold.”
“Then marry Wellesbourne,” she pleaded, her eyes wild as she continued to squeeze Persephone’s arm.
“Ouch.” Persephone used her free hand to break her mother’s grasp. “I won’t be managed. Or manhandled. That you would continue to push me toward Wellesbourne is pathetic. You should know he is not an option.”
“Isn’t he? We asked him if he would wed Pandora since the two of them appeared to suit, but he said if he were going to marry anyone, it would be you.”
“You’re lying again,” Persephone said, massaging her arm where her mother had squeezed her so tightly. “He didn’t say that. When would you even have seen him?” As soon as she said that, she realized they could have encountered one another tonight already.
“He most certainly did say that,” her mother said with an irritating smugness. “Earlier today when he came to see us to insist that we leave you and Pandora alone. He’s quite championed your cause against us.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I must wonder why that is.”
Persephone’s pulse quickened. Acton had gone to see them? “Because he’s a kind human being. I realize that’s something you may not recognize.”
“Now he’s kind? I thought he was a rogue beneath contempt.”
How Persephone wished she could take that back. She’d judged him entirely before knowing him at all. Granted, he had changed from the rogue he was. Or so it seemed. She recalled how he’d been when they’d first met—flirting with her and eager for an assignation. Then he’d been flirtatious with the maids at the Black Ivy as well as that other woman.
But she hadn’t seen him do that since. Granted, she also hadn’t seen him with other women, except at the gardens the other day, and on that occasion, he’d been entirely engaged with her and their party.
Could he really have said that to her parents? She sent her mother a cool glare. “This is another attempt at manipulation by you and Father. I doubt Wellesbourne even came to see you.”
The baroness raised her chin defiantly. “Go and ask him, then. He’s downstairs in the library. On the ground floor. Your father is there too, or he was a few minutes ago.”
“I will.” A rush of sadness hit Persephone, as if she’d just received terrible news. Except she hadn’t. She was simply realizing that things would never be the same between her and her mother. “Why are you doing all this, Mama?” she asked. “Is it truly just because you need money?”
Pressing her lips together, her mother glanced away. “It is true that we are in need.”
“Is it bad enough that you have forsaken your daughters and even sought to take advantage of family and friends? I understand you were very kind to the dowager duchess when she first came to Bath with her daughters. That sounds like the mother I thought I knew. What changed?”
“Nothing changed.” The baroness sniffed, and she didn’t sound convincing. “As I said, we are in need, and needs must.”
It seemed that was all she was going to say. Persephone was left wondering if her mother had ever really genuinely sought to help Acton’s mother, or if she’d been kind and supportive to the duchess because she thought it would be socially advantageous.
Heavy with disappointment, Persephone turned and went back down the stairs. She continued descending to the staircase hall, where she asked a footman for directions to the library. He escorted her there personally before bowing and taking himself off.
Persephone moved inside the doorway and scanned the room. It was not as crowded as the drawing room, but there were many people milling about. Finally, she caught sight of Acton’s dark auburn head. He stood on the opposite side of the room.
Making her way around people conversing, Persephone looked toward him. When she reached the middle of the room, she had a clear line of sight to him.
He was not alone.
A beautiful woman with glittering blonde hair, creamy, luminescent skin, and sumptuous pink lips curled in an alluring smile, hung on his arm. He was entirely engaged with her, laughing and smiling. Flirting.
He looked exactly as he had with the other women at the Black Ivy. No, this was worse. He was even closer to this woman, and she was now pressing her hand against his chest. Not pressing actually, her fingertips curled beneath his lapel, as if she were holding him close to her.
Acton did not seem to mind in the slightest. On the contrary, he appeared utterly captivated. Why wouldn’t he be? Indeed, why shouldn’t he be? It wasn’t as if he were married. He wasn’t even betrothed.
He had, however, been conducting a liaison with another woman.Had.Persephone now considered that activity in the past.
What if hehadcalled on her parents earlier and told them he would marry Persephone? If that were true, it would only be due to the consequences of their affair. He felt beholden to make her his duchess.
