The Duke pressed his lips together in a thin line. “You have my word.”
Leopold crossed his arms and fixed the duke with a hard stare. “My brother’s right, Your Grace. Forgive me for being…crass, but you’re a rake of the first order. How can we trust you to take care of her?”
“I have never once soiled a lady’s reputation,” the Duke repeated with gritted teeth. It was clear that his patience was wearing thin from the ceaseless questioning. “However, at this moment, there is nothing I can substantiate my claim with. All you have is my word.”
“We are only worried, of course,” Arabella jumped in. “We hope that you are the morally upright gentleman that you are claiming to be, but we live in this society, and it is only natural for my sons to have their doubts.”
Moral uprightness. Honor. Reputation. It occurred to Violet at the moment that no one had bothered to askherwhat she thought about the matter.
“I have made my intentions clear.” The Duke cleared his throat. “Besides, you know better than anyone else how this is not a request. It is more of a necessity.”
His voice held so much authority that it overshadowed everyone else in the room. Even Jasper—who was never one to get intimidated—stood back.
“A special license will be obtained, and the marriage will be arranged promptly. I will ensure that the rumors are managed, and Lady Violet’s reputation is preserved,” the Duke continued. “Now, if you will allow me, I wish to the speak to the lady alone for a moment.”
“You will do no such thing.” Jasper stepped forward. “It is enough that our sister has been embroiled in such a scandal. It would be unwise for you to speak to her alone again.”
“Yes, whatever you wish to say, you may say here with all of us present,” Leopold agreed.
Nicholas’ eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, everything else fell away.
It would be better if we could speak in private,Violet found herself thinking against her own better judgment.
The Duke opened his mouth to speak—to defend himself, perhaps—and her brothers shifted uncomfortably beside her, but Arabella took a stand. “We should let them speak.”
“Mother—” the two brothers protested.
“It is for the best,” she concluded, her voice ringing with an air of authority.
“Thank you,” the Duke nodded.
Slowly, her mother and her two brothers slinked out of the room. Violet felt her heart start to beat faster now that they were alone, but she did not want him to see that he was having any sort of impact on her.
“Lady Violet?—”
“Your Grace?—”
They broke the silence at the same time.
Blushing, Violet pulled herself back, but he only seemed to strengthen in his resolve, taking a step towards her.
“Please, say what you need to. Our communication must be clear at this point and moving forward.”
Violet tried hard to keep her voice from wavering. “Your Grace, this is moving entirely too fast. I only met you for the first time the other day, and now you are here asking for?—”
“Lady Violet,” he cut her off, firmly, “let me make one thing clear here which it should already be to you. There is only one sane choice here. Marry me and secure your family’s honor, or refuse and face complete ruin. I will not force you, but you must understand the consequences.”
He was looking at her with an intensity that made her insides turn.
“I…”
Her lips parted, but no words came. She felt the weight of his gaze. For a moment, the room seemed to tilt.
Neverhad she imagined that she would be proposed to in this manner. Far from romantic, it felt like a negotiation. Not even that. It was acommand.It was not like she could turn down a Duke’s proposal. It would not only just destroy her but cast a questioning shadow over her entire family.
Nicholas held her gaze, his expression inscrutable. And then, for reasons she couldn’t fathom, she found herself unable to look away.Could I see myself spending my entire life together with this man?
Did she have a choice?
