He nodded.“Yes, thank you.My family and I grieved her greatly, and there is now a yawning chasm in our lives that shall never be filled.”
A deep black hole of loneliness that she understood all too well.
“I never knew my parents,” she confessed.“I’m an orphan, you see, though my late father left me a comfortable legacy.At least, I think it was my father.Truthfully, I am not sure of my parentage.”
Aurelia was accustomed to people questioning her birth and whispering about her circumstances behind her back.The implication that she was illegitimate was nothing new, yet she chose not to dwell upon it, for she might never know the truth either way.
She might be a princess or she might be a foundling.All that mattered was that she treated others with dignity and respect and showed them the same level of kindness that she demanded in return.
The Duke of Brantingham grimaced at her admission.“It’s a rare thing to be both an orphan and an heiress, Miss Goldsworthy.You seem to have received a thorough education, and your deportment is excellent.Why come to me with your hand out when you could live comfortably on your own?Surely, you don’tneeda husband.”
“No, but I want one,” she replied, bristling, “and I didn’t come to you with my hand out.I’ve managed perfectly well thus far, and you’re right that I don’t need anything—not from you or anyone else.I came here because I wear your ring.I offered my hand only because yours was promised to me first!”
He angled forward, nearly spilling his tea.“I find nothing of my mother in any of this.The cards are a forgery.I didn’t write them.I have no recollection of sending any gifts to anyone, and definitely no ring.We are not betrothed.I’ve never even heard of you.You are surely an illegitimate child looking to improve your station.Dukes don’t marry—to put it kindly—girls without lineage.”
Aurelia had never been so insulted in her life.If she’d held her cup and saucer in her hand, she might’ve slung them both at his arrogant face.Instead, she fought for composure.She had the bearing of a duchess even if she never wore the ermine robes.
“I came to you in good faith, Your Grace,” she said, rising from the sofa.“I am not a schemer.My only crime is being a naive and lonely girl who gave her heart to the wrong man.”She reached into her reticule and produced the bundle of Christmas cards he’d sent her.She threw them onto the Aubusson carpet at his feet.“You may keep them or burn them, but if you read them, you’ll see they are very convincing.”
The duke abandoned his teacup to retrieve the first card.The illustration was simple but festive, and the words written inside were saccharine—precisely the sort of lovemaking guaranteed to turn a young lady’s head.Thecoup de grâcewas, of course, his unmistakable scrawl at the bottom of the card.
His handsome face paled.One by one, he examined each card.He studied each signature until he’d been forced to admit the truth, “It seems I owe you an apology, Miss Goldsworthy.This is definitely my handwriting.If I didn’t know better, I would say it came directly from my desk.”
At last, the man saw reason!Yet her victory felt hollow, for someone somewhere was making sport of them both.
“Who would play such a cruel trick?”she asked, resuming her seat.She almost collapsed into the cushions, suddenly exhausted.“Taking advantage of me is one thing, but to make an enemy of a duke?Somebody was determined to cause trouble for you.”
“Worse, they sought to embroil you in it.”His Grace crossed the drawing room to place her cup and saucer into her hands, urging her to drink.She needed something to warm her bones, to give her fuel for the fight ahead.
She took a long sip of the milky, sweetened brew.“Could you imagine the scandal, Your Grace?I would forever be known as the orphaned creature who tried to catch a duke.”
He knelt before her, the legs of his grey trousers stretching taut across his long, muscular thighs as he begged for her forgiveness.“I am sorry for what I said earlier.My words were unconscionable.It’s neither the behavior of a duke nor a gentleman to call a lady a liar, and I should never have accused you of being illegitimate.Your parentage is none of my concern.”
The Duke took her hand and held it in his.Had she been muddle-headed, Aurelia might’ve suspected a marriage proposal, yet they were too far past that now.“Please, Miss Goldsworthy, allow me to make it up to you.”
There was nothing he—or anyone—could do to make this right.She’d been duped, humiliated, and he’d witnessed it all.She carefully extricated her fingers from his.“I ought to go home.”
“Back to Cheltenham?”he asked, rising.He returned to his chair across from her.“It’s too late to travel now, as you won’t return home until well after dark.I assume you know no one in London?”
She shook her head.Sadly, she knew nobody outside of her own town.
“Then you must stay here at Brantingham House,” said the Duke.“You’ve already had your luggage sent here, and I have room enough to spare.You are welcome to spend Christmas with my family and me.”
When she opened her mouth to argue, he silenced her with a wave of his hand.“If you’re worried about propriety, my sisters will likely suffocate you from morning until night.They’re good girls, but…well, you went to a ladies' college, you understand what I mean, I’m sure.”
She imagined his sisters were lively and chatty, and would want to involve her in all manner of mischief and merrymaking.“Shall I be the Harriet Smith to their Emma Woodhouse?”
He balked and laughed.“Good Lord, I should hope not!”
The Duke of Brantingham had such a handsome smile.His laugh was deep and masculine, and strangely dignified.He had shown her his softer side when trying to rectify his ill-treatment of her.He was not a pushover, but he wasn’t afraid to admit that he’d been wrong.
What would be the harm of spending Christmas with the Charlton family?Besides, it wasn’t as if anything awaited her back home in Cheltenham.Aurelia did not wish to pass the festive season alone, and His Gracedidowe her a good turn.
“Alright,” she answered with a smile.For once, she would know how it felt to celebrate with a family.“I’d be delighted to stay.”
***
Selwyn felt a wave of relief wash over him.He’d behaved badly toward her.Even if most of his kinfolk questioned why he’d invited her to join them at Brantingham House, his conscience wouldn’t allow him to abandon her.
