The youngest sister ignored her mother’s reprimand. “I shall fetch her at once, Your Grace.” She all but ran out of the room. A moment later, she came back with Marina, who looked bewildered. Her eyes met Evan’s, and then she looked down, her cheeks turning red.
Evan relaxed at the sight of her.Finally.This was the girl he was thinking of. He bowed slightly. “Miss Shirley.”
She curtsied. “Good afternoon, Your Grace.”
He turned to look at Lady Shirley. “I am here to ask for Miss Shirley’s hand in marriage.”
The Viscountess stared at him. “I—I do not understand. You want Marina?”
“Precisely.” They were finally on the same page, although he did not know for the life of him why it had been so difficult for them to understand each other in the first place.
“Her? Are you sure?” She looked bewildered.
“Why would I be here if I were not sure?” He looked at Lord Shirley, impatience tugging at him. “May I please have your daughter’s hand in marriage?”
The man shrugged. “As long as my wife agrees.”
“Forgive me, but I simply do not understand, Your Grace,” Lady Shirley said. “My eldest and my youngest are both available. Why?—”
“It was my dog in the river,” he said, interrupting her. “Miss Marina Shirley thought he was drowning and quite recklesslytried to save him, which led to her unfortunate mishap with the dress. I need a duchess, and I need to make amends for my part in the scandal. Marrying her will kill two birds with one stone.”
Lady Shirley looked delighted, but Bethany and Amelia cringed slightly at his words. Marina was glaring at him, her arms crossed. “I think I would rather go to Boston.”
He blinked. What did Boston have to do with anything? Why did she look at him as if he had insulted her?My marriage proposal is perfectly rational. I do not know why she looks so displeased.
“She does not mean that,” Bethany said quickly. She grabbed her sister’s arm and leaned up to whisper in her ear. Evan could barely make out her words. “The Heartless Duke is still better than finishing school in America.”
The Heartless Duke.
So that was what they were calling him these days.
At least they do not refer to me as the Brainless Duke. Rational thought is superior to emotion any day of the week.
Lady Shirley smiled up at him, completely ignoring her daughters. “My daughter is honored by your generous proposal. We are delighted to welcome you into the family.”
He looked at Marina, who was still glaring at him. “The wedding should take place as soon as possible. I will arrange for it to be held in one week.”
“I can’t,” Marina whispered.
Lady Shirley did not seem to hear her. “One week is perfect!” she said. “Imagine, my daughter a duchess!”
Chapter Five
Marina stared at first at the duke, and then her mother, feeling shocked and outraged at the two of them making plans to decide her future.
“I will not marry him!” she said a bit louder.
Her mother gave her a wrathful look. “Bethany, dear, please escort your sister out of the room before she makes herself ill with emotion.”
Bethany gently took her elbow, but Marina shrugged it off. “I will not leave. I am not marrying someone who compared me to a stoned bird!”
Her mother glared at her, and Bethany gave her a pleading look. The only one who looked regretful about the situation was Amelia. Unlike Bethany, Amelia was a romantic. Even though, as the eldest, she was expected to use her grace and beauty to marry well, she was secretly a romantic at heart who wantedherself and her sisters to have a fairy-tale ending with their true loves.
But even she looked conflicted at this predicament. After all, if Marina married this man, then she would not have to go to finishing school in America. They would still be able to see each other.
But the Heartless Duke?
Marina had thought the name a little absurd until he came to her home and delivered the most ludicrous marriage proposal she could have ever imagined.
