Page 31 of The Duke's Accidental Wallflower
Minerva searched her sister’s face, looking for any clue, any sign that might explain what was really going on. But all she saw was Chastity’s reticence, her barriers..
And Minerva knew, deep down, that whoever this secret admirer was, he was dangerous. And she had to find out the truth before it was too late.
“Chastity,” Minerva said, her voice firm but calm, “you might think you can handle this on your own, but I know the kind of men who toy with hearts. Rakish men like the Duke—men who do not care about honor or feelings, only their own amusement.” She crossed her arms, her gaze intent on her sister. “I do not want you getting involved with someone like that.”
Chastity stopped pacing, her back to Minerva, her shoulders tense. “I am not involved with him. I told you it is not the Duke.”
“And I want to believe you,” Minerva replied, stepping closer, her tone softening. “But you haven’t exactly been forthcoming, have you? You won’t tell me who this man is, and You are hiding things from me. That is what worries me.”
Chastity turned to face her sister, her eyes flashing with frustration. “It is not like that. You think you know everything, but you do not! You do not know how I feel.”
Minerva’s expression softened, but her resolve did not waver. “Chastity, I do not doubt your feelings. I am not saying you are incapable of falling in love. What I am saying is that men—somemen—can take advantage of those feelings.”
She hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. “I have heard it happen,” she continued quietly. “They’ll make you feel special, make you think you are the only one in their world, and then... when they’re finished with their game, they move on. And you are left with nothing but heartache and a ruined reputation.”
Chastity’s face tightened, her jaw clenching as she tried to hold back whatever emotion was bubbling beneath the surface. “I am not some silly girl who cannot handle herself!”
“Whether it is him or someone else, you need to be careful. Rakish men—men who flirt and charm without any thought to the consequences—are dangerous. They won’t care what happens to you after they’ve had their fun.”
Chastity’s lip trembled, and for a moment, she looked like the little girl Minerva used to comfort after bad dreams. “But it is not like that,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “He is not like that.”
Minerva frowned, her concern deepening. She could see that her sister was conflicted, torn between her emotions and the reality Minerva was trying to make her see.But who is she talking about?If it wasn’t Evan, then who had captured Chastity’s heart?
She stepped closer, her voice gentle but insistent. “You deserve someone who loves you, Chastity. Someone who values you and would never toy with your emotions. Someone who would be proud to court you openly, not in secret.”
Chastity’s face crumpled, and she turned away, wrapping her arms around herself as if to shield herself from the truth in Minerva’s words. “You do not understand...”
Minerva’s heart ached at the sight of her sister so vulnerable, so confused. She reached out, placing a hand on Chastity’s shoulder. “Then help me understand,” she said softly.
But Chastity shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “I cannot.”
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears and secrets. Minerva’s grip tightened slightly, her concern turning into frustration. “Chastity, you are putting yourself at risk with this secret of yours. I know you think you can handle it, but you cannot do this alone.”
Chastity pulled away, her hands trembling as she wiped her eyes. “You have never been in love,” she said, her voice breaking.
The words struck Minerva like a blow, but she kept her composure.Maybe she is right,she thought, a bitter taste forming in her mouth.Maybe I do not know what it is like to feel the kind of passion she does.
But what she did know was that Chastity was in danger—danger from men who played with hearts and reputations without a care for the damage they left behind. And Minerva would do anything to protect her sister from that.
“Maybe I do not understand love the way you do,” Minerva said quietly. “But I do know how the world works. And I know that no man who genuinely cares for you would ask you to hide your relationship. Love doesn’t have to be a secret, Chastity.”
Chastity’s shoulders slumped, her tears flowing freely now. Minerva exhaled slowly, her hand dropping to her side.She has still not told me everything,she thought, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. But pushing Chastity any further tonight wouldn’t help. Her sister was already overwhelmed, and Minerva knew she had to approach this with care.
“All I am asking,” Minerva said softly, “is that you think about what I have said. Be careful, Chastity. Please.”
Chastity nodded, her tears still flowing, but she did not say anything more.
Minerva sighed, stepping back as she watched her sister retreat into her own thoughts. She had done what she could tonight—warned her, tried to protect her. But the unsettling feeling gnawed at Minerva’s chest.
Thirteen
Evan paced the length of his townhouse study, his boots striking the polished floor with measured force. The faint glow of the fireplace cast shadows over the room, but the glass of brandy he had poured remained untouched on the side table. He had been restless all day, his thoughts a chaotic jumble of regrets and doubts. Minerva’s face, her sharp gaze, her biting wit, haunted him. He didn’t understand how she had managed to settle so firmly in his mind—or why he felt so unmoored because of it.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Moments later, his butler entered, bowing slightly. “Your Grace, the Duke of Sinclair is here to see you.”
Evan sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Show him in.”
Cedric strode into the room moments later, his sharp green eyes immediately taking in Evan’s tense posture. He shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto a nearby chair, ignoring the butler’sdisapproving glance. “You look like hell,” Cedric said cheerfully, flopping into the chair opposite Evan’s untouched brandy. “Not your usual kind of hell either. This one seems... personal.”
