Page 29 of As the Earl Likes
The duchess stood. Some color had returned to her face, but her features looked as if they’d been carved from ice. “I will need time to acclimate myself to this…situation.” Then she strode from the room.
“I didn’t know she could walk that fast,” the duke muttered, moving back to the liquor cabinet to deposit his empty glass on the tray. Turning to face Sheff, he smoothed the lapel of his coat. “Ignore her. She’s always been demanding and unforgiving.”
Unforgiving? Was she going to be angry with Sheff forever? “You say that because she will never forgive you for your behavior. I am not you.” Except parts of him were.
“No, you are not, thank goodness. Your mother possesses deep convictions. She also applies different sets of morals and expectations to everyone. It’s bloody confusing.” He massaged his brow.
It seemed as though his father might say more, but when he did not, Sheff asked, “What, exactly, is confusing?”
“Never mind. Forget I said anything.” He gave Sheff a half smile. “Your mother winds me up like an automaton. I’m happy for you, my boy. Jo seems a delightful young woman, not that I know her very well. If she’s anything like her mother, you’ve found an excellent helpmate—strong, capable, and likely to make sure you don’t cause a scandal.” He chuckled as he left the library.
Sheff frowned after him. Was his father trying to say that his wife—Sheff’s mother—wasn’t able to prevent him from causing a scandal? As if it were her fault.
“That is precisely the expression I would expect to see on your face after meeting with Mama and Papa,” Min said as she walked into the library. “Percy said you were in here with them. Did they give you a deadline for marriage?”
“On the contrary, I requested the meeting so I could inform them that I am betrothed.”
Min narrowed her eyes at him. Skepticism radiated from her as she set her hands on her hips. “You are betrothed?”
He nodded. “As of today.”
“Who was foolish enough to say yes? Or is there a scandal that hasn’t broken yet?” She cocked her head. “You were at the Phoenix Club for a while last evening, but if something had happened there, I would have heard about it already.”
“There isn’t a scandal. Nor will there be.” That was perhaps the greatest lie he’d told yet. He just hoped it would be a minor scandal, particularly since the dissolution of the betrothal would happen outside of the Season and outside London. Most of all, he would ensure the scandal was entirely about him. Jo would be unscathed.
“You aren’t telling me her name,” Min said, her features still cloaked with doubt. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing is wrong with her. In fact, I think you’ll approve, unlike our mother. It’s Jo.”
Now Min’s expression changed to one that resembled their mother’s reaction to Sheff’s choice of bride. There was shock and even a bit of horror. “Jo? As in my friend whose mother owns the Siren’s Call? Jo who hasn’t set foot in a proper Society event in…forever?”
“I would argue that a Phoenix Club assembly is plenty proper. But I am not concerned about any of that.”
“Clearly, else you would not have proposed.” Min crossed her arms over her chest and moved closer to him. “Why Jo? I can’t imagine you’ve fallen in love with one another in the last five minutes.”
“We danced last night, and it was most revealing.”
“Bah. I spent the rest of the evening with her, and she was not a woman enamored.”
“I believe she likes to keep her emotions close.” Sheff had no idea if that was true, but it was a good excuse for both of them to use through this ruse.
Min studied him a long moment, her brow furrowed as she seemed to consider what he said. “Jo doesn’t want to marry. How did you convince her?”
“I don’t want to marry either, so perhaps that makes us perfect for one another,” he replied smugly.
Min shook her head. “Something doesn’t smell right about this. I happen to like Jo very much. If you hurt her in any way?—”
Sheff cut her off. “I won’t.” He’d expected Min to express disbelief, but this level of skepticism was more than he’d anticipated. Perhaps that was because he’d failed to take Min’s friendship with Jo into account. Sheff would speak to Jo about expressing her feelings in such a way that Min wouldn’t question their betrothal.
But honestly, did it matter if they were in love or had never planned to wed? Sheff was expected to wed—his wishes be damned—and what young lady would say no to marrying the heir to a dukedom? Even a young lady who didn’t wish to wed.
Put like that, Sheff wondered if they ought to just wed anyway and agree to lead separate lives. Both their parents did it. Why not them?
Because Sheff didn’t even want that much of a commitment to someone. He wanted absolutely zero chance of disappointing a spouse.
Min was still watching him with concern, prompting him to consider just telling her the truth. Except then, she’d have to hide it from their parents. And from Ellis. Or he could just tell Ellis too. But Sheff didn’t want many people knowing. It would increase the risk of the secret becoming known, and that would be damaging—especially to Jo.
“You say you won’t hurt her, but you’re a terrible rogue,” Min said. “And she knows that!” Min uncrossed her arms and made an exasperated sound in her throat. “Rest assured, I shall learn the truth of this scheme.”
