Prologue
"Veronica, he’s here, " Rose Halewhispered to her sister, eyes darting across the crowded ballroom.
“Who is?” Veronica asked, feigning ignorance as she picked at a nonexistent thread on the skirt of her gown. She didn’t even look over, as though they hadn’t come to Lord Dudley's party simply because her parents heard he would be there.
Her younger sister snorted. “Truly, sister, you know who. You can’t tell me you aren’t curious about him.”
“What’s there to be curious about? I saw him the day our families agreed on our betrothal. He has chosen not to show himself since. If there were anything worthwhile to him, I would know by now.”
“Veronica, you should give him a chance.”
“If he wanted a chance he could have come to call on me at any point.”
Despite having met and agreed to the match, even seeming interested in her, months and months passed by without him calling, or even sending her a letter. And she could not help but feel a stab or rejection.
Was he truly that uninterested? Was every one of his reactions faked for the sake of… who? The ton, her parents? His?
She tried to push the rising feelings down, to protect and fortify her heart. Even as it started racing the moment Rose pointed him out to her.
“You are going to be married. That won’t change just because you chose to hold a grudge.”
“If he wants my forgiveness, he should work hard for it. It’s only fair after all.”
Rose sighed, shaking her head. “You are too harsh.”
“And you are too forgiving. If you were in my position, you would understand. Unless I can respect his person, I don’t care about his prestige.”
Rose gasped.
“I hardly think what I’ve said is that shocking,” she rolled her eyes.
“Excuse me,” a deep voice rumbled.
Veronica froze. That couldn’t be who she thought it was. Slowly, she turned and saw the source of that voice. Her heart sank.
He was tall with broad shoulders. His silky black hair curled down over his ears, accenting his piercing eyes; so dark they looked black.
He looked the same way he had when Veronica had met him at their engagement dinner—elegant, composed, and utterly reluctant to be anywhere near her. The man who’d warmed to her, however slightly, at that long-ago garden party was nowhere to be seen.
An amused smirk played on his lips. He had heard everything.
“Duke Ashton.” She forced herself to boldly meet his eyes, ignoring the way her heart fluttered in her chest. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of being embarrassed.
“Lady Hale, I must admit, I am surprised that it took until this late in the evening for me to see you here.”
“Perhaps you simply did not recognize me,” she snipped through a smile.
He ignored the barb. “It has been some time since we last met, but I recognized you, I assure you. I was wondering if I could have the next dance.” he said offering his arm.
“I would love to, but I have been keeping my sister company. I can hardly abandon her now can I?” she said, echoing the words she’d spoken the last time they met. If he didn’t recognize them, well, that was simplyproofof how little she mattered to her betrothed.
“Sister?” he frowned, glancing around. “I don’t see anyone else here. If you don’t want to dance, you are free to simply say that.”
Sure enough, Rose had vanished into the crowd, driven by whatever sense of romance the girl might have had. She crossed her arms.
Unbelievable.She was on her own now. “And you would accept it if I simply said no?”
He shrugged. “If you don’t want to dance, I won’t force you. I simply thought you might want to take some time to get to know one another before we have to walk down the aisle. If you decline the dance, I might suggest a walk, but if you would prefer to remain strangers until the last minute, I can leave you to it.”
