Page 7 of Claimed By the Duke of Ice

Aunt Tabitha let out a dramatic sigh as she shook her head and gripped at her kerchief—an act, Nathaniel knew, to be sure.

“So, you see, my dear nephew, a union between our family and theirs would simply not do.”

It was unfortunate to hear, surely, Nathaniel believed, but he also wagered that there were much worse things that could befall a family. Like a sudden death that ripped one’s very soul out of one’s body. Like never being able to touch someone ever again.

“That all sounds troublesome to be sure,” Nathaniel agreed after Aunt Tabitha finished talking, “but my decision still stands. I need a wife. And as you say, Miss Rowley is now on a desperate search for a husband who can restore her family’s name and reputation. Besides, I cannot allow her to face this most recent scandal alone. She tried to leave the room several times, trying to protect us both from what happened. But it was my refusal to believe that our meeting was accidental and my clumsiness that landed us both in such a precarious position.”

“Your Grace,” Aunt Tabitha pleaded, rubbing her temples, “while I respect your chivalry, Miss Grace Rowley is not the young lady you should be showering it upon. Her family has a reputation for being overly affectionate and under-mannered. Seeing as you have an aversion to such emotion and are stringent about decorum, I beg you to rethink this decision and allow me to arrange another marriage. Our choices are few, but we can still find a lady who doesn’t already have two additional scandals following her around.”

“My decision is final, Aunt,” Nathaniel replied decisively. “I shall pay her a visit first thing tomorrow morning, and we will make the necessary arrangements.”

His Aunt Tabitha looked at him, mortified, and he gave her a small, apologetic smile.

“This is what I choose, Aunt Tabitha,” he continued. “The only thing that will change my mind is if Miss Rowley says no.”

“And if she does?” Aunt Tabitha asked quickly as he began to walk away.

“Then you may marry me off to the first woman you deem fit,” he said over his shoulder as he left the room. As he headed toward the stairs, making his way toward his room, Nathaniel felt a slight panic rise and realized he didn’t want Grace to say no.

* * *

Grace sat in her family’s parlor, fidgeting as she looked around the room. It had once been decorated with the most fascinating baubles and paintings that spoke of their family’s wealth. Little by little, her father had sold them to pay for one thing or another. It wasn’t noticeable at first. A vase here. A painting there. But now? Aside from their furniture, artfully designed tables, and the bouquets of flowers from their gardens, the room was dismally bare.

It didn’t matter though. Not today. Today, Grace’s focus was pulled to other things, like how she had tried so hard to avoid scandal yet still ended up in one. Her mother hadn’t talked to her at all on the carriage ride home from the Harvey’s dinner party. In fact, she’d barely said a word to Grace for the last two days. To her, that was worse than any rumor the Ton could come up with.

To make matters worse, though, she couldn’t bring herself to feel guilty. After all, she had been trying to get away and had almost been successful until Nathaniel had tripped. But then they’d both fallen, and when she’d landed on top of him, he’d kissed her! She had only been trying to save him from the broken glass. But then, as he had held her to him, it seemed as if the moment had transformed into something else. Something romantic and not at all lifesaving.

Grace brought her fingertips to her lips as she thought about it yet again. His lips, full and warm, had pressed so tenderly to hers and had caused a heat she’d never experienced to spread through her entire body. His breath had become her breath, filling her with something she didn’t know how to describe. Something tingling had shot through her entire system, making her breasts sensitive and her mons grow moist. And she wanted to feel it again.

“What are you doing in here all alone, poppet?” her father asked, stepping into the parlor.

Grace wiped the tears that had been making their way down her cheeks, and she turned to her father with a false grin.

“I thought you and Mama were taking Letitia out for some ices and shopping?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Her father gave her a guilty look and fidgeted with a button on his coat. It had been long time since he’d purchased a new one, and the one he wore was starting to fray everywhere.

“We did,” he agreed. “Unfortunately, our day out was dampened by all of the talk and looks from the other ladies. Your mother insisted we head home.”

Forgetting the kiss, guilt poured through Grace as she heard this, and she felt her chest tighten with fresh tears all over again.

“I’ve ruined everything, Papa,” she rasped, feeling her chest grow tight again. “I tried so hard not to, I swear.”

“Oh, darling,” Aaron Rowley cajoled, going to his middle daughter. He sat his large frame beside her and pulled her into his arms. The moment he did, Grace’s tears erupted again, and she began to sob.

“Mama will never speak to me again,” she cried, holding onto his jacket tight.

“Nonsense,” he replied in a soothing voice, rubbing her back. “Your mother loves you very much. She just needs some time to gather herself.

“I told the truth, Papa. I swear I did,” Grace continued. “I tried to leave the room, but that man wouldn’t let me. He was worried I was spying on him. And then we were getting somewhere, he understood it was a mistake, and then he fell toward the shattered glass, and I just acted.”

“Darling, I believe you. Your mother believes you. It’s not that we think you’re lying,” Aaron assured her.

Before either of them could say anything else, they heard Susan Rowley in the hall, calling for her husband.

“Aaron? Aaron, where are you? Come quickly!” she called, sounding flustered.

“In here,” Aaron called to his wife. He then whispered to Grace, “Here she comes. I bet you she is ready to talk. Wipe your face, child.”

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