They found the Duke waiting for them in the reading room. He stood by the window, the light from outside pouring over his shoulders, softening some of the hard planes of his demeanor.
Despite that, his expression was stern as they entered the room.For a brief moment, when Rose first met his eyes, a smile touched his lips. He did, however, smother it, the seriousness of the moment once again taking him.
“Your Grace!” their father hurried across the room. “It is so nice of you to call on us like this. If we had known you might visit, we would have prepared a better welcome. Please, forgive us.”
“The fault is on me.” The Duke’s most serious gaze lingered on Rose for a moment longer. She tried to meet it, but it was so intense that she had to look away. “I thought to send ahead, butthere are matters that need discussion, and I always find it is best to get these things over with quickly. Don’t you?”
“Oh,” Rose’s father came to a stop, his cheery demeanor faltering. “And, ah, what exactly is it that needs to be discussed? I assumed we had settled the matter.”
“We have, to a certain degree,” the Duke said simply. “But there is one specification that I wish to be certain of, before we continue.”
Rose’s father chuckled nervously. “You are not trying to get out of anything, are you, Your Grace?”
“Is that the type of man that you think I am?” He looked right at her father. “The type who would try and rescind on an agreement?”
“What?” Her father’s eyes widened. “No! I did not mean – please, forgive me.” He laughed nervously again and searched the room. “Marianne, what are you doing over there? Have you greeted His Grace yet?”
“No, sorry, Father,” she said politely. “Your Grace, it is lovely to see you again.”
“As it is, you, Miss. Marianne.” Again, the Duke’s eyes flicked to Rose, who was still standing in the doorway. He frowned slightly, as if he could sense her thoughts.
“You wished to discuss something?” Rose’s father asked.
“It is nothing to be concerned with.” The Duke tore his eyes from Rose and looked at her father. “I just wish to confirm that, as per the contract, I am within my rights to choose from either of your two daughters. Is that how you remember it?”
“Either of my two…” Rose’s father blinked stupidly and looked between Rose and Marianne. “Yes, that is how I remember it. Might I ask, why the clarification?”
Marriane was standing just out of her father’s field of sight, and her eyes lit up when she found Rose by the doorway. Rose tried to match her excitement, needing her sister to believe that she wanted this.
I do. I want this. This is for Marianne. She is who matters.
“Good.” The Duke’s flat tone gave nothing away. “In that case, I have changed my mind.”
Her father balked. “What? What do you mean –"
“I have decided instead to marry Miss Rosalind Drayton, your eldest daughter. It has occurred to me recently that she will suit my needs more than Miss Marianne –"
“Now, Your Grace, why don’t we just –"
“ – ever could,” the Duke continued as if her father had not spoken. “I am to presume that the dowry will remain as is, as will most of the previously arranged particulars.” A beat as he let the words settle on her father. “That is, unless you have any objections?”
For Rose, it was fascinating to watch the Duke manipulate and bully her father. And with such little effort. His requests were commands, his suggestions to be taken as orders, and Rose doubted that rarely had the man been told ‘no’ before.
He probably doesn’t even know what that word means.
Her father leaned back in surprise, eyes wide like dinner plates, his mind slowly coming to terms with what the Duke was saying. He looked between Marianne and Rose, his brow furrowed. “You wish to marry Rosalind?”
“I will marry Miss Rosalind, Lord Strathvale. That is what I am telling you.”
“But why?”
“My reasons are my own, just as they do not concern you.” He glanced at Rose, and she could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile in his eyes, as if the Duke was enjoying himself. But she very much doubted that.
Her father swung to face her. “Did you know about this?”
“Me?” Rose said innocently. “How could I possibly have known?”
“Do we have a problem?” A growl emitted from the Duke’s throat. Her father started and spun back, biting into his lip, eyes narrowed as he worked through the situation… “Well?”
