“Lady Trowbridge, please,” Bridget tried.
But the damage was done, and the woman’s shrill voice was like a summons to everyone in the ballroom. Voices were raised, and whispers spread. A crowd gathered outside, curious eyes, dignified gasps, malicious smiles.
Leo slowly, deliberately lowered Prim to her feet. Shielding her with his body, his back to the crowd, he looked down at her. All color was drained from her face, her teeth gnawing at her lips to keep herself from crying. She was trembling, her breath coming shallow, in hitches. She didn’t look at him. She looked at the abyss opening before her. The future she had fought so desperately to build for Camilla and Myrtle was crumbling to ash before her eyes
A profound, icy calm settled over him. This was his fault. His family’s war. His reckless kiss. And he would be damned if he let her pay the price for it.
He turned to the crowd gathered with that easy, yet dangerous glint in his eye. He saw with satisfaction that most people were reminded of who he was, even in this vulnerable position.
“I see no scandal here,” he said in a sure, assertive tone, “but a deplorable lack of manners.”
Whispers of protest were raised, ready to turn into accusations, but Leo knew how to play the game better than anyone. His voice rode over them, clear and absolute.
“I have just proposed to Miss Jenkins. She graciously accepted my proposal.”
He allowed a moment for the shock of his announcement to settle in everyone’s minds, for reality to catch up with them.
“We were merely… celebrating,” he added with his trademark smirk.
For a heartbeat, there was absolute silence. They all stared and blinked, perhaps expecting Leo to admit this was some kind of jest. When Leo returned their stunned faces with teasing reassurance, as was his distinctive style, the hallway erupted. There was a cacophony of gasps and cheers, of murmurs and complaints.
Leo ignored all that, and he turned. Prim was there looking up at him, shaking her head lightly in utter disbelief. Her eyes were wide and unblinking, begging him to tell her that he didn’t just do that. He lifted his hand to rearrange her disheveled hair, to straighten her clothes. Prim simply breathed, wallowing in shock. When he was done, he lifted his chin so she would look upon him.
“It’s like you said, Prim. I did what I had to do.”
CHAPTER 16
Weight of the Ring
This spring was generous with splendid, sunny, and perfect days. The whole of London was enjoying this extraordinary generosity of the Heavens. Except for Prim. The sun coming through the windows of her carriage was blinding, the heat suffocating, and the good weather attracted crowds.
“You do look lovely,” her mother said from across the seat in the carriage.
Prim nodded anemically. Her mother put extra effort, hiring the best stylist in London to curate her look. And all so that no one would dare say that Leo was marrying her only for the scandal.
From her perfectly arranged curls to the last pearl around her neck, all was a strategy that was meant to convince others thathe wasn’t marrying her due to a scandal. That Leo was truly enamored with her, as his lie suggested.
What the ensemble accomplished, according to Prim’s bleak assessment, was to present her as a vixen, a siren who had finally snared the Duke. Which, as luck would have it, would have earned her a different set of vicious characterizations. But because Leo was a notorious, seemingly uncatchable rake, she was instead viewed with a kind of shocked awe, an almost mythical creature who had managed the impossible.
“We are very proud of you,” Her mother thought it was prudent to share her thoughts. “What you have accomplished changed the history of our family forever. Now we are associated with a Duke.”
“And not just any Duke,” Her father said with barely contained glee. “The Duke of Mildenhall. The fact that he didn't even agree to a dowry is testament to his power and wealth.”
Prim wanted to scream. To disillusion them with the truth of the situation between her and Leo. Not that she knew exactly what word to use when describing them. It was not a friendship and certainly not a love match. Perhaps Prim could settle with them not being hostile with each other.
“We are here!” Her father said with gaiety.
Prim took a breath in, and the air felt like she was inhaling glass shards. The carriage stopped, and her father was the first to walkout. He offered her arm at Prim, and she gladly took it. She wasn't feeling very stable.
She looked outside. The grey facade of the temple was intimidating, as if trying to stop her from entering. Truth was, Prim had thought a lot about not going through with this. But every time her eyes fell on the twins. Any other alternative meant destroying them.
“Remember, Prim,” Her mother said from right beside her. “You deserve to be a Duchess. You have worked hard for it.”
Prim, and all of the ton for that matter, they had strongly different opinions about her. They just couldn't accept that the man who was deemed an eternal bachelor was now getting married after a love match. And worst of all, with someone like her.
The doors to the church open. Prim, accompanied by her father, entered the relatively small church.
All eyes turned immediately to them. But among all that sea of tension surrounding her, she looked for the only one who knew the truth of this day. That one face that she hoped was still carefree.
