Joanna told her friend about the arrangement she had with the duke. Penelope’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly understood.
“That was a smart arrangement for both of you,” she said. “But I don’t believe for one minute that he was entirely indifferent to you. I saw the way he looked at you. The man was infatuated with you. He was jealous every time another man stole your attention away. I just didn’t know what his intentions were until you said he proposed to you.”
Joanna sighed. “He wasn’t indifferent to me. He desired me, the way I desire him. But he never had any intention of marrying anyone. He is an honorable man who offered to save me from ruin. Who is saving Aurelia from ruin? I will be forever in his debt for that. I don’t want to trap him.”
“But if you don’t marry him, you will be ruined! No other man will have you.”
“Then my life will not be so much different from before, will it?” Joanna said quickly. “I didn’t exactly have suitors lining up to meet me before the duke took an interest in me.”
Penelope sighed. “Please, Joanna. He offered to marry you to protect you. It might not be too late to make that happen.”
A tear slipped down Joanna’s face. “Please, stop,” she said. “I have heard as much from my mother. But I have already entered into one business arrangement with him. I don’t want to do another one, especially when it would hurt him so much.”
“But—”
“It was my actions that put me in this situation, not his. He is a wonderful man, Penelope. He was so kind to me, and it was that kindness that made him extend his hand in marriage, but it is not what he really wants. He deserves a chance at happiness, and he can’t have that if he’s saddled with me.”
Penelope stared at her. “You are in love with him, aren’t you?”
She bit her lip, not wanting to say it, but also not wanting to lie. “I am.” The truth felt like a thousand knives, all at once. But she could not deny it. “He’s so kind, Penelope. He’s warm and funny. He’s nothing like what everyone says he is.” She hugged her arms around her middle, as if that would stop the ache in her stomach. “I am going to miss him. Truly.”
Penelope pulled her friend into her arms and held her close. “I know,” she whispered. “I am so sorry.”
Joanna closed her eyes, savoring the comfort. “It’s all right. I will be all right.” She didn’t need a fairytale ending. Somehow, she would find a way through this.
CHAPTER 36
“Why are you investigating one of your own footmen?”
Evan barely glanced at his grandmother, instead pretending to be busy studying the paperwork on his desk. “Because I think he is the one who talked to that gossip writer, and I intend to find them.”
“Evan, you should stop this madness at once,” she said, a note of panic in her voice.
He looked up at her with a frown. “Why would I do that?”
She glared down at him. “It’s not worth your time. You have other things to focus on at the moment.”
With a hint of wistfulness, he thought of Joanna. He wished he were planning their wedding now, but unfortunately, that was just a fantasy. “Unfortunately, I do not.”
“You need to stop this nonsense with Miss Thorne and focus on your future,” she said. “You are going to marry Lady Katherine Preston in two weeks’ time.”
He stood up, outraged by her impertinence. “Who the bloody hell is Lady Katherine Preston?” he shouted. “And what has gotten into you?”
The dowager duchess had been nagging him about marriage for years, but she had always been adamant that he could marry whoever he wanted. Now she was trying to dictate his life choices?
“You had tea with her before you entered into that farce with Miss Thorne. She’s a respectable lady from a good family, and you are better off with her than the likes of Miss Thorne.”
Evan glared at her. “Do not speak ill of Miss Thorne in my presence.” His voice was cold, colder than he had ever been with his grandmother. She paled and took a step back, surprise flickering across her expression. But he didn’t back down. “I am no longer a child that you can order around. I am a duke. I have tolerated your meddling in the past because I knew it came from a place of affection. But this overbearing snobbery is not welcome, and if you continue with this nonsense, then I will ensure you have a very comfortable dower house to live in, but you will not step foot inside the manor again. Do I make myself clear?”
She clenched her jaw and blinked rapidly, as if clearing tears away. She gave a single nod.
“Good,” he said. “I hope you come to your senses soon.” He brushed past her and opened the door to his study to see Peter on the other side, his hand raised to knock.
“So you finally know what knocking is,” Evan said dryly. “Walk with me.”
Peter hurried to catch up with his brother’s pace. “I just thought you should know. I have found out Jimmy has left the city. Apparently, his brother worked at Somerton Manor as a stableboy, but he was recently dismissed and no one has seen him since.”
Something nagged at the back of Evan’s mind about the name Somerton, but he could not quite connect it. He shook his head in frustration. “Thank you. We are going out tonight.”
