Just the thought was unbearable after their meeting the morning before. Besides, it would be better for Evan if she stayed awayfrom him. She just could not understand why he would talk to her father in public and invite him home after her courtship with the duke had ended so publicly and disastrously.
Mrs. Lucas came into the room to tidy up things from tea. Joanna caught sight of a folded-up paper sticking out of Mrs. Lucas’s dress pocket and realized neither she nor her mother had read that day’s newspaper.
Joanna had been so distracted thinking about her father that she had completely forgotten. Perhaps she should pay more attention to the newspapers and gossip rags if they were going to keep mentioning her and her family. It was better to be prepared instead of caught off guard in public by another scandal. “Is that today’s paper, Mrs. Lucas?”
The housekeeper gave her a guilty look. “Yes, miss. But there wasn’t anything interesting in it.”
Joanna raised an eyebrow, feeling suspicious. “Can I see it anyway?”
The older woman hesitated a moment before sighing, taking the newspaper out of her pocket, and handing it to Joanna. She left the room without another word.
Joanna looked through the paper, half-expecting to find mentions of herself or her father. But instead, she found Evan’s name. Her mouth went dry at the sight, and her stomach churned.
“What is it?” her mother asked. “How bad is it?”
Joanna looked up at her, feeling herself tear up. “It’s Ev—the Duke of Blackwell. He is betrothed to Lady Katherine Preston.”
Her mother froze. “How can that be?”
“I-I don’t know.” She set down the paper and started to pace around the room. “He told me he never wished to marry.” Her voice broke. She had believed him to be sincere when he said that. Now she was simply bewildered. “I didn’t even know he knew Lady Katherine.”
“Do you know the lady?” Her mother picked up the paper to read the words for herself.
“I met her once, only briefly. She’s very sweet, and very pretty. Perhaps she and the duke will make each other happy with time.” It was difficult for her to picture Lady Katherine on his arm. She had been so timid, and had confessed that no man in the ton interested her. Joanna could not imagine the duke would take much happiness from taking an unwilling bride.
“I don’t understand,” her mother said. “Why would he invite your father to spend the night, only to announce his engagement to someone else in the paper?”
Joanna sat down, feeling bewildered and devastated. “I don’t know if he’s the one who did it,” she said. “I don’t know who would go behind his back in such a manner, but he was adamantthat didn’t want to marry.” A lump rose in her throat. “Perhaps he changed his mind. Perhaps he just didn’t want me.” A tear ran down her cheek.
“He proposed to you,” her mother said. “Of course he wanted you.”
“He proposed because he is a man of honor,” she said. “He didn’t want to ruin me. That’s all.” Before that article came out, the most he wanted to offer her was an extension of their false courtship. If his opinion on marriage had changed, it had nothing to do with her.
“I don’t believe this,” her mother said. She stood up and started to pace. “Perhaps this isn’t a real engagement. It must be an unfounded rumor published in the paper.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Joanna said, her voice hoarse. “If he breaks off that engagement, that would ruin Lady Katherine’s reputation. I would never wish that.” The young lady had been so kind. The last thing Joanna wanted was for her to become the target of the ton’s gossip. She took a deep breath, hoping to compose herself as she accepted the reality: any possibility she had of marrying the duke had officially dissolved into thin air.
CHAPTER 39
Matthew bid them goodbye that afternoon, after thanking both of them profusely. Evan walked him to the door and shook his hand. “I look forward to working with you,” he said.
The viscount smiled. “I look forward to it as well. Thank you.”
The front door opened, and Evan caught sight of the sky, which was darkening with rain clouds. He quickly said goodbye to Joanna’s father and hurried to make his way to the library before the rain started.
As he grew closer to the library, he heard Peter and his grandmother arguing.
“What were you thinking?” Peter hissed.
“I am thinking of his future!” his grandmother said. “We both know this is for the best. The sooner he ends his infatuation with Miss Thorne, the better?—”
Evan opened the library doors, and they both fell silent. His grandmother looked guilty, and Peter looked angry. His eyes settled on his grandmother. “What did you do?”
Her lips tightened into a flat line. “I am looking out for you.”
Peter handed him the paper. “This came while we were spending time with the viscount,” he said.
Evan looked down to see the paper was already open to the betrothals announcement page. He was stunned to see his own name in the paper, connected with Lady Katherine Preston’s name. He glared at his grandmother as he handed the paper back to his brother. He wanted to shout at the dowager duchess until his voice grew hoarse.
