“It’s not a matter of me not loving you, Your Grace,” she said. “But regardless of our feelings, you are betrothed to Lady Katherine Preston. She’s a kind woman, and if you break off your engagement to her, she will be the target of the ton’s ridicule. I am not going to let you ruin her life by breaking your engagement to her.”
He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “So you will ruin our lives, then?”
She hesitated for a moment before turning away. “Oh, Evan,” she whispered. “Why could you not have proposed to me a week ago? Why do you have to do something as wonderful as helping my father, only to get betrothed to another woman on the same day?”
“I promise you that Lady Katherine does not want to marry me,” he said. “I met her once, before we started courting, and it was an uncomfortable afternoon tea for both of us. Come with me to Blackwell Manor, and we will get this sorted out.”
She hesitated a moment before saying, “All right, but not now. Mrs. Lucas will come with me tomorrow morning.”
Relief spread through him. He would be able to fix this after all. “I will come to pick you up.”
CHAPTER 40
The next morning, Joanna barely had time to dress and tell her parents about where she was going before Evan’s carriage pulled up in front of the manor.
The duke stood at the door, waiting for her. He smiled when he saw her walk out the door, with Mrs. Lucas trailing behind her. “Good morning, Miss Thorne,” he said.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” she said. “It was not necessary to pick me up in person, you know.”
“I wanted to ensure you would actually come to Blackwell Manor,” he said. His eyes darkened with a mischievous glint. “I can’t let my prey slip through my talons, after all.”
She smiled at that.
She had woken up tired that morning from the tidal waves of emotions she had been experiencing for the past two days. From the despair of seeing her name in the scandal sheets to seeing Evan betrothed to Lady Katherine, to the joy and relief she felt when her father told both her and her mother about what the duke had done for him. She could still scarcely believe it. There was a way out of poverty and disgrace for her entire family, thanks to Evan.
But because of all the emotions, she felt a little numb as she met Evan at the door. But a single comment from him already had her feeling lighter.
She felt a pang of longing as he helped her into the carriage. There was still a chance that things would not end happily for them. He could still end up married to Lady Katherine and she would never see him again. It could be worse. Lady Katherine was sweet and kind. Perhaps she and the duke would make each other happy with time, despite the circumstances of their betrothal. As for herself… well, she would manage.
However, she was happy they had a moment to talk before they reached the manor. “I want to thank you properly for helping my father the way you did. I haven’t seen him or my mother this happy in such a long time.” When she woke up, she had heard her mother singing from downstairs. It had been so long that she had forgotten her mother had a great singing voice. Her father was already talking about taking them out to celebrate before the Season was over. Nothing too extravagant, but maybe they would spend an evening at a smaller, more modestly priced theater.
His eyes were warm as he smiled at her. “I’m glad. Your father is a good man. I’ll be happy to work with him. And Peter will certainly be happy to have a new fencing partner. He seems intent to collect them the way some people collect antiques.”
She chuckled. “Why did you help my father?”
“I told you yesterday. I wanted to ruin the ton’s fun.”
She rolled her eyes. “What is the real reason?”
His expression grew solemn and he looked away. “Peter suggested that you would be begging to marry me if I simply waited until next Season. That your situation, and your sister’s situation, would drive you to desperation.”
She winced. It wasn’t a flattering picture, and it did sting her pride a little. But she had to admit there was a possibility, especially if Aurelia was having trouble with her Season. She would do anything to make sure her sister had a good debut Season. “Perhaps there is some truth to that,” she admitted. “My father doesn’t want me to find a governess position, and I admit I have few other opportunities.”
“The last thing I want is for you to marry me simply because you have no choice,” he said. “The only way I could ensure that was to ensure that your family won’t be destitute. London society has a short memory and it will not take too long for your family to regain respectability if your father stays away from the card tables. You’ll have more opportunities now, so you don’t have to marry anyone out of desperation.”
She smiled, feeling a lump rise in her throat. “Thank you.” Her voice was hoarse with emotion.
“Don’t thank me,” he said quickly. “Believe me, I did it for selfish reasons.”
She shook her head, feeling tears well up in her eyes. “We both know you didn’t. You did it to help me, and I can never repay you.”
“I don’t want you to,” he hissed, looking frustrated. “You owe me nothing, not even your hand in marriage, even though I desperately want it.”
She regarded him curiously. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want to marry me? Or anyone for that matter? You were so adamantly against it before.”
