“Nothing, my lord.” She lowered her gaze.
“Good.”
“Really, Father. I am happy that you are here to put her in her place,” Letitia said with a laugh. “An ungrateful smear should not be allowed the luxury of speaking back.”
Christopher nodded, clearly pleased with Letitia’s support. “Exactly so.”
Rachel made a move to leave the room again, wanting nothing more than to be rid of their company, but the butler came in, looking rushed.
“My lord, a guest is waiting for you downstairs.”
Christopher exchanged a glance with his daughter.
“Who is it? At this hour?”
“The Duke of Everly, my lord.”
The duke? Surely… it couldn’t be…Rachel suddenly felt pale.
Christopher turned sharply, his brows lifting in surprise. “The Duke of Everly? Here?”
“Yes, my lord,” the butler confirmed. “He is waiting in the drawing room.”
For a moment, Christopher seemed unable to respond, his mind clearly racing. Then, his expression hardened into a mask of purpose. “Of course. I will attend to him immediately.”
“Do you know anything about this visit?” He turned back to Letitia.
Letitia seemed to stumble on her own words. “I am not sure if I do. Do you think he is here to see me?”
Christopher cast a wayward glance at Rachel, who seemed to be red in the face now. “Of course. What other reason could there be?”
He meant it as an insult, but Rachel was too busy being a nervous wreck to take any actual offence.
Did he know?she thought to herself.
“This is a rare opportunity, my dear. Make yourself presentable. We may yet make a fine match,” Christopher said to Letitia, who seemed to be as delusional as she was cruel.
Her eyes widened with excitement, and she practically leapt from her chaise. “Of course, Father. I’ll be ready in no time.”
Christopher nodded, then glanced briefly at Rachel. “Stay out of sight,” he said curtly. “You’d only embarrass us.”
With that, he left the room, and Letitia followed him quickly. Rachel was left standing there, catching her breath.
The Duke of Everly. He must have found out. What else could explain the reason for his visit?
She considered the possibilities for a moment. Could Letitia have been on a mission of her own? Perhaps she managed to sweet-talk the duke, and now, he was here to ask for her hand?
No. The thought was dismissed almost as quickly as it came. Her half-sister had the charm of a brick wall. She could not see that happening.
Someone must have told him, she realized. There was no other way; after all, word travelled fast.
As she had intended for it to as well, butnot to him.
Rachel’s carefully constructed lie was unraveling faster than she could mend it. And now, the man himself had arrived.
Well,she thought to herself,I suppose I cannot outrun the consequences of my own actions.
The only thing that she could do now was face what was coming next. She reminded herself that she had chosen to do this for her sister, and that even if her attempt had failed, it would be worthwhile to try anyway.
