“Wait!” she cried after him, caring not that it caused a few people nearby to turn and look at them both. “Our— our deal,” she hissed. “What of our deal?”
The Duke said nothing at first. He looked at her, standing there, his brow furrowed, his jaw clenched. A serious expression on his face. The same darkness was behind his eyes as he studied her. Rose felt a pulse ripple up her body, the sudden feeling that she had willingly walked right into the jaws of a hungry lion.
“I have not forgotten,” he said finally. “Just as I will be seeing you soon. That, I promise you.” With that, he turned and strode away.
Rose breathed a sigh of relief to see him gone. And this sigh of relief turned into a smile unlike any she had ever produced when she turned about and saw Marianne watching her. Rose flashed her that smile, and Marianne’s frown grew deeper.
I cannot wait to tell her! Oh, how pleased she will be! She is free now, no longer tethered to the Duke; her life is her own, and I just know that she will not waste it.
She was about to join her sister and tell her everything when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the Duke crossing the garden. He walked quickly, his expression still serious, even angry, and it was enough to see those in his way hurry to remove themselves lest he trampled them.
He was a man of power. A man of respect and honor. A man whom many feared, most adored, and all stood below.
It was only then that Rose realized what she had done.
As strange as it might have sounded, Rose had not stopped to consider what would happen if she were successful. She was so concerned with her sister’s well-being that she had not once thought about her own future.
Her stomach dropped suddenly. The garden started to turn. Rose stumbled as her knees just about gave out, and it was all she could do not to collapse. Yes, her sister was now saved, and that was something she would never change. However…
What of me? What of my future? What is my life going to be like now that I am set to marry the Duke? And why did I not think this through?
Again, Marianne was who mattered, and Rose fixed that thought firmly in her mind. But it did little to dispel the sense of dread that started to creep up inside of her, just as it did little to dispel the fear of the unknown that was her life from now on.
CHAPTER FIVE
As promised, the Duke arrived the following day.
“Girls!” Lord Strathvale rushed into the back garden, waving his arms in a flurry to get their attention. With him was a valet, who had to hurry to keep up. “Girls, enough of that! Quickly, now!”
Rose and Marianne were sitting under a large oak tree, enjoying the warm weather as they read. Marianne was in good spirits, positively thrilled because Rose had assured her that she’d taken care of the Duke. She had not told Marianne how she had done so, only that she had.
As to Rose’s mood? Obviously, she was nervous about what she had done, but that would get her nowhere. She had made this decision and done so for the right reasons. As such, she had nothing to fear and knew that whatever would come, she could more than handle it.
This is about Marianne and her future, not my own. That she is now free to marry who she wishes is all I care about. Her happily ever after is what matters.
“What is it, Father?” Marianne asked.
“The Duke is here!” he hurried to explain. “Quickly, girls. Inside, please!” He came to a sudden stop and grimaced. “Marianne, is there time to change your outfit? Something more…” He clicked his tongue as he looked Marianne over. She was not dressed poorly, but her half-dress was certainly not elegant.
“It will be fine, Father,” Rose assured him as she and Marianne stood up. “You have a contract, remember? His Grace will not break it.”
“Let us hope not,” Marianne said with a knowing smile.
Their father breathed a sigh of relief as he took Marianne’s hand. “I am so glad to see you smiling, Marianne. I know that this is not something you wanted, but you understand how important such a pairing as this is, yes?”
“I do.”
“And that you have accepted it,” His smile was warm, and he squeezed her hand. “I am so proud of you.”
Behind them, Rose felt her stomach turn.
Never mind how nervous she suddenly was. There was also the little matter of what her father would say when he learned that the deal had been altered. That was assuming that the Duke kept his promise in the first place.
And was it so bad that a small part of Rose almost hoped that he did not keep it.
No, Rose. Do not dare to even think that.
It was all very confusing, and Rose did her best to appear composed and not at all put out as she followed her father and sister inside.
