“And the color of your dress. Are you trying to look like some sort of saintly martyr? It’s so awfully plain and forgettable. Then again, that fits you quite well.”
“Leave her alone, Letitia. Do you not have anything else to do?”
Rachel turned in surprise to see Marina standing there. Her sister rarely intervened in conflicts, of which there were many in this household. But now, she was stepping up to protect Rachel. It felt oddly endearing.
“You’ve barely been to a proper ball, let alone planned a wedding,” Letitia retorted, “so you are of no use to her. I am actually the only one who can help.”
“You’re being cruel,” Marina shot back. “If you can’t say anything kind, then you should leave.”
For a moment, Letitia looked genuinely startled. She was not used to this sort of treatment—by Marina of all people—but the surprise quickly gave way to anger.
“How touching. Defending your poor, helpless sister,” Letitia sneered. “But you should be prepared to take her place now.Perhaps she can tell you how I like having my room cleaned. It will give you something to make yourself useful for a change.”
With that, she sauntered out of the room. The door clicked shut behind her, and Marina turned to the seamstress.
“Can you please give me a moment alone with my sister as well?”
The woman nodded and obliged immediately. With her gone, Rachel was left alone with Marina, and she willed herself not to ruin the moment.
Who knows when she might get to see her sister again?
“You didn’t have to say anything to Letitia,” Rachel said softly, approaching. “But thank you for defending me.”
Marina shook her head as a tear ran down her cheek. “Her treatment of you makes me sick. And now, thanks to me, you must wed the duke.”
Rachel stretched out and used the pad of her thumb to sweep the tear from Marina’s cheek. “Let us not discuss that right now. Not today. Today, we focus on happy things.”
Marina blinked. “Pray tell, what is sohappyabout this situation?’
Rachel opened her mouth, but then found herself pausing, her mind blank. Whatwasso happy about this exactly? Her marriage to a man she barely knew? Leaving Marina behind to endure their father and Letitia alone?
Heavens.
Marina threw up her hands. “Everyone says he’s cold and ruthless. They say he doesn’t care for anyone or anything. And now you’re going to marry him.”
“He is not as bad as they say.”
“Rachel, you’ve met him only once, and that, too, under difficult circumstances. Why would he reveal himself to you then? And he’s hardly the type of man who’s forthcoming with his intentions or his emotions. What if he—” Marina stopped herself before she could complete the sentence. “I am only saying that it is quite natural for me to be worried about you.”
Rachel hesitated for a moment, thinking back to Simon Linwood’s piercing gaze. He was undeniablyintimidating,but cruel? She wasn’t sure.
At least not yet.
“He’s practical,” Rachel said finally. “And he hasn’t been unkind to me. Surely that’s something.”
Marina frowned, her brows drawing together. “Unkind? Is that all it takes? Surely, you deserve more than that. He is to be yourhusband.”
Rachel managed a small smile, hiding behind it a sadness that she knew all too well. “What I deserve has never been a priority, Marina.”
“Sure, you do not seem to care aboutwhomyou end up marrying, but what about him?” Marina’s brow furrowed. “Why would he agree to this at all? He could marry anyone.”
Rachel didn’t have an answer, nor could she lie to herself that it was something that she had thought of already. In fact, the question had been gnawing at her since Simon’s visit, and she suspected it would continue to haunt her even after the wedding.
Whydid the Duke of Everly choose to marry her? Was a rumor all that it took?
“I just don’t want you to be unhappy, Rachel.” Marina shifted the topic of conversation slightly. “That is my biggest concern—albeit one of many.”
“You’re the one I’m worried about more,” Rachel retorted. “You heard what Letitia said. Once I’m gone, you’ll be here with them. I worry I won’t be here to protect you anymore.”
