David chuckled, lounging against the mantelpiece. “I never imagined they would go as far as this.”

Mélisande made an unladylike noise.

He shook his head and laughed. “You’ve not changed at all.”

“They will be livid. This marriage is the culmination of generations of planning.” Sighing, she rubbed her tired eyes. “I find it ironic that I’m even held to this agreement at all, given the circumstances. If your father knew...”

He came and sat next to her. “But he doesn’t. As far as he or anyone else knows, you’re the first female born to the Compton line in almost a century and the last of that line. You’re also Wilmington’s last hope. If he hadn’t claimed you as his own, he would have no heir and the land would revert to the Crown upon his death. He knows what he’s doing. As for my father, I don’t think he’d care about the blood in your veins, if you want to know the truth, so long as our lands are joined.”

“Thanks. I feel so much better for knowing that,” she said with sarcasm. “Regardless, we’ll be lucky if they don’t disown us both for this.”

“They’ll get over it,” he told her, rising. “Life is full of disappointments. I’m my father’s biggest, and he hasn’t disowned me yet.”

She couldn’t help but smile. David had, as she’d always known he would, grown into an absolute terror. Indeed, his latest affaire had been with a married woman, resulting in the crossing of blades and near imprisonment that had, in turn, caused his father to insist that he marry her immediately in order to prevent further scandal.

“How can we keep them from forcing us to the altar?”

Casting her a mischievous look, David stalked over to the window and eased it open.

Mélisande shook her head. “You know those ruffians your father hired are just waiting for you to try something like that. You’ll never even make it to the village.”

“Don’t bet on it,” he muttered. “Just make it sound as though we’re still talking for as long as possible, and I’ll borrow one of your father’s horses and disappear for a while. I’ve plenty of friends in France who’d welcome a long visit.”

“I’ll just bet you do, you scoundrel. Am I to play the jilted fiancée, then?” she inquired with just a touch of acid. “You know what people will say if they find you’ve climbed out of a window rather than marry me. You might not wish to wed until you’re thirty, but I have other plans.”

His face fell, then brightened. “Why not marry Reggie? The Stantons’ lands also adjoin yours. We could pose it as a possible solution—more of a delay, rather than a total loss. Perhaps our children will be more amenable to the idea of a marriage?”

Mélisande allowed her expression to tell him her opinion of his suggestion.

“It was just an idea,” he grumbled. “I thought perhaps he might not repulse you as much as I apparently do. My poor, bruised ego is much gratified to know I’m not the only one you’ve blacklisted, truthfully,” he laughed. Sighing, he walked over to stand before her, all traces of humor gone. “Then our only choice is to refuse, no matter the consequences. I already know what’s in store for me, and I’m prepared.”

Mélisande gazed at the floor, thinking how much she hated to disappoint her parents, especially Papa. But she simply could not marry David. “Let us get it over with, shall we?”

David went to the door and knocked. “Tell them we’re ready to talk,” he ordered the footman guarding it. Turning back to Mélisande, he gave her a hard stare. “Melly, we could always have an arrangement. I wouldn’t care, and it would be an easy way out of this whole sticky mess with our parents.”

She shook her head vehemently. “I’ve had enough of ‘arrangements,’ thank you! And we’ve already agreed we’d be miserable living that lie. They would expect us to eventually have children, and though the rest of the females in the world might view such a task with joyful anticipation, I don’t. And neither do you,” she stressed, jabbing a finger at his chest.

The lock rattled, making them both jump, and the door opened, admitting their parents.

“I presume you’ve both come to your senses?” the old duke rumbled as he filed in behind Mélisande’s parents.

“Father, I cannot and will not marry Melly,” David immediately announced, ignoring his father’s thunderous expression. “You can’t force me to marry a woman I don’t want, and I certainly won’t marry one who doesn’t want me.”

Mélisande spoke before David’s spluttering, purple-faced father could gather his wits enough to respond. “David is like a brother to me. I would never be able to share a bed with him without feeling as if I were committing a—a mortal sin. I cannot marry him,” she finished, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Aghast at hearing such words from a young, supposedly innocent girl, the duke’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly, like that of a fish, for several seconds before he broke the silence with a bellow that was likely heard all the way in the village. “By God, girl, you will marry him! No more delays, no more prevaricating! You’ll marry, and there’s an end to it!”

“You cannot make me!” Mélisande shouted back. He was an intimidating figure, but she would not back down, she would not show fear. “I don’t want him, and he doesn’t want me!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, girl!” the duke scoffed, slamming a fist on a tea table, rattling the delicate figurines adorning it. “You don’t know what you want! Now stop this foolishness!” He turned to the earl and countess. “Wilmington, make her see sense!”

“Now, Melly, you know your mother and I are only interested in what’s b—”

“I swear by all that is holy, if you force me to the altar, the union will never be consummated.” Her voice shook, but her gaze was hard as she met that of the furious duke. “You will never have an heir—at least not a legitimate one!”

“And what the devil is that supposed to mean?” the duke snapped menacingly, taking a step toward her.

Isabelle calmly stepped between the two and faced her daughter. “Enough of this! Mélisande, you’ll do as you’re told. I promise you’ll feel differently once you are married, ma petite,” she said smoothly, reaching out to straighten the lace on her child’s gown.