“Oh, then I’ll stand up to them,” Marina replied defiantly. “I suppose you’ve taught me that much by now.Oh,I cannot believe that you’ll be wedded off. I will miss you so much.”
The two sisters embraced, but were interrupted by one of the maids.
“Miss Rachel, the viscount wishes to see you in the drawing room. He says it’s urgent.”
A feeling of dread filled her instantly.
“I will be right there.”
The last thing Rachel wanted was a lecture on the day of her own wedding—but she supposed there wasn’t much to be done to avoid it, knowing her father.
“Go on,” Marina said, managing a small smile. “You’ll be a duchess soon. Make him realize that.”
Rachel let out a small laugh at that. “I’ll be sure to.”
Rachel descended the stairs in her gown and paused right in front of the drawing room. She took a deep breath, pushed it open, and stepped inside.
The viscount did not say much at all at first.
“You called for me?” Rachel finally broke the silence.
“And you took your time,” he said coldly.
“I was speaking to Marina,” Rachel replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Always full of excuses, just like your mother was.”
The mention of her mother always struck a nerve.
Usually, she would let it go—to maintain the peace—but today, she simply could not help herself.
“Don’t speak about her like that,” she said.
“Oh?” her father said. “She cannot see you defending her like this—she is long gone. And I am only saying the truth.”
That made Rachel flinch, and her father seemingly appeared to derive some kind of joy out of seeing her like that. “
So naturally, he continued.
“She was a maid with no discipline, no sense of propriety. She snuck her way into this house on her looks alone, and when she was gone, she left nothing but her burdens behind.” He made sure to emphasize the wordburdens.
“Mother loved us, which is not something I expect you to understand. But it does not matter; you no longer have to worry aboutthisburden. “
Christopher barked a bitter laugh. “Love doesn’t put food on the table or secure a family’s standing. Your mother thought she could rise above her station, and look how wrong she was. And now, you’re following in her footsteps—trying to entrap someone of a higher status.”
Rachel gritted her teeth, but Christopher was not done yet.
“The duke might tolerate you now, but it won’t last. Men like him don’t waste their time on women like you.”
Rachel wanted to lash out, but she controlled herself. Any reaction would only confirm his words in his eyes.
“You’ve said enough,” she managed to say finally. “I’ll marry the duke and face whatever comes, but I won’t let you demean her memory. She was worth more than you’ll ever understand. Now, if you excuse me, I have things left to attend to before the wedding. Whether you like it or not, I will be a duchess.”
With that, she left him standing there.
One thing at a time. She would get through this nightmare.
CHAPTER FOUR
