“It matters not,” the lady replied. “My daughter has told me he touched her intimately. I will not leave this room until he is pledged to marry her.”
Chapter Four
“Your Grace,” Ariadne tried to be the voice of reason even while she felt utterly mortified and only wished to run away and hide. “I will happily forget this… mishap if you allow us to leave without anyone being the wiser.”
“Absolutely not,” Ophelia snapped, outraged. “The lord’s actions were unconscionable.”
“And what if I don’t force the marriage?” The duke narrowed his eyes.
Ariadne suddenly gave him her absolute, undivided attention. That face. That savage, masculine face was all angles and intrigue, and his eyes were sharp, intense mystery. The myriad of puckered skin and jarring sliver scars on the left side of his face made her want to look away—but she did not.
The shadow of stubble shading his sharp jaw and firm slant of his lips only added to his mystery, just like the dark hair falling rakishly over his brow.
“Did your brother not touch my daughter?” Ophelia asked.
“By mistake,” Leander pressed. “I mistook her for… someone else?”
Cedric rubbed his brow. “You are not helping your case, Leander.”
“He just admitted it,” Ophelia replied, crossing her arms. “How do you not see this as enough proof? Do you dare to risk the chance that he gets foxed and brags about the innocent woman he compromised, rendering her a pariah to any other suitor?”
A muscle in the duke’s jaw jumped. “I do not take blackmail lightly, my lady.”
“It’s not a threat,” Ophelia said. “It is my utmost fear, and I know your brother is prone to drunkenness. If she is labeled such, she is utterly ruined, and so are her sisters.”
Ariadne felt her head begin to swim again—and she knew it was not for the wine. “Mother, I do not feel so well.”
Pulling her brows together, Ophelia asked, “Oh dear, how are you feeling? Do you need a basin or?—”
“I feel faint,” she replied as she did the mistaken move of standing. She wobbled instantly, and before her mother could react, Cedric stepped around Ophelia, practically pushing the woman out of the way to grab Ariadne before she collapsed.
She gasped in surprise, keeping her gaze fixed on his as he took three large strides and placed her on the bed. Meeting her eyes, clearer this time, he was surprised to see a glint of something entirely unexpected in her eyes.
Desire?
Surely not, it had to be repulsion.
No woman ever wanted him this way.
Her body was petite with rounded hips and a full, heaving bosom, an attribute he loved in a woman, but he’d be damned if he made the mistake of giving her ideas. Especially after last night. Once again, he wordlessly warned her not to say a word.
Efficiently, he placed her on the bed, “You need to rest, my lady.” To her mother, he said, “I’ll call the physician to attend to her and Leander. Your wedding will be in three days. In those days, I ban you from leaving this house.”
“What?” Leander gasped. “You cannot imprison me twice!”
“It’s a harsh lesson, but you called it on yourself,” Cedric said. “In the meantime, my butler will handle the details of relocating you to your proper room and have the doctor see to her.”
Pale as a sheet, Leander spun on his heel, “You cannot do this to me!”
“Unfortunately, Lady Fairbrook makes a good point with your recklessness. I cannot have you mouthing off to hither and yonder about the poor girl and draw your name, mine, and the girl's into scandal.” Cedric said stonily. “You will make the announcement at breakfast with the guests who are still staying with us.”
He gave his brother a searing look, “Good day, my lady and Leander, if you dare disturb my sleep, I will have you married on the morrow,” Cedric declared. “Do not leave this room until my people have made sure the floor is clear. If you’re intending to cause more trouble, be warned, madam. I’ll not suffer your machinations.” His disdain for her was palpable. “Leander, come with me.Now.”
With that, he turned and strode through the door, taking all the air with him. Still faint, Ariadne only wanted to get out of the room and have the privacy to cry her heart out.
“It’s going to be all right,” Ophelia said as she drew up a seat and began to stroke her hair. “I know this was unexpected, but it will be for the best.”
Forcing her eyes open, Ariadne did not understand the wash of pure relief on her mother’s face, which admittedly could have come from the outlook of the tense situation a while ago, but … it did not feel right.
