“He?”Thalia felt her blood turn cold.
“But to present yourself as you are…” She shook her head as if the idea literally terrified her. “Although I suppose it won’t make much difference. All things considered.”
“Aunt Isadora!” Thalia hissed, doing her best to keep her voice low because she did not wish to wake Olivia who was now starting to stir. “He? Who is he?”
“Who do you think!”
A lump appeared in Thalia’s throat, and she swallowed it back with some difficulty. “His Grace…” Another lump. Again, she was forced to swallow it. “He’s here?”
“Arrived just now, Thalia. And he does not look happy.”
“Does he ever?”
Her aunt’s face paled. “This isn’t funny, Thalia! The look he gave me when he asked to see you…” She shuddered from head to toe. “That he is here is a good sign, and likely what we were both expecting. Only…” She bit further into her lower lip. “The Duke of Westvale, Thalia. You know enough about him to know…” Another shudder.
“Know what?”
“How dangerous this is. Nothing good will come from this marriage, even if you think itisnecessary.”
“I do not think anything.” Holding Olivia tight into her body, Thalia stood from beside the window and went to her aunt. “But I know for a fact that itisnecessary. And if not for my sake, for this one’s…”
She gestured to her daughter, then kissed her softly on the forehead. That made Olivia smile as she continued to sleep, a sight which managed to fortify Thalia’s resolve and beat back her fear. “She deserves the world and as things stand, His Grace is the only one who might be able to give it to her.”
“You’re right,” her aunt conceded, not sounding happy about it. “You are right.”
“I often am. Now, if you don’t mind…” She held Olivia out for her aunt to take. “And tell me, how do I look?” Still half-asleep Olivia reached her arms out and wrapped them around Thalia’s aunt’s neck, suppressing a yawn as she snuggled herself into her newcarer. Free of her daughter now, Thalia stepped back, arms out as if to show off the very plain dress that she was wearing.
“Is that a serious question?” Her aunt held Olivia in her arms, but her expression as she looked the dress over was one of stern contempt.
“Too late now,” Thalia said with a shrug.
Too late for a lot of things. I made my bed and now I must lie in it. Even if the bed is filled with thorns and the sheets are made of fire.
She wanted this. She needed it. Not for her, but for Olivia, and that was all that mattered. A mantra that Thalia repeated in her head as she left her aunt and daughter behind, determined to meet with fate and confirm once and for all if this was the smartest thing she had ever done, or the most stupid.
In all likelihood, it would be both.
Thalia found the duke waiting for her in the sitting room. And when she saw him for the first time, she faltered, her mouth dropping open in a way that she should have expected but for which she was still unprepared.
He was standing by the main window, his back to her as he looked outside onto what was a modestly sized garden. The daywas a sunny one, and the light flooded the room so all was bright beneath its shine… all but the duke, that is. Despite standing in direct sunlight, he somehow still managed to appear as if cloaked in shadow. As if his very being absorbed and smothered any light that dared to touch him.
Dressed in black. Even bigger than she remembered. His back was broad, his shoulders hulking, his presence demanding attention while at the same time warning off any who might dare to give it. The room almost seemed to shrink around him. Thalia, one foot through the doorway, found herself shaking.
She must have made a noise because the duke stiffened suddenly, tilted his head, and then turned to find her there staring at him.
Nothing was said at first. His expression was devoid of emotion, but his eyes wore a snarl behind them. And the scar on his face… Thalia could not look away. In all her life she could not remember ever seeing someone so darn terrifying.
“Miss Carstone,” he spoke eventually, his voice a deep growl that she felt in the pit of her stomach. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“I…” She forced herself to breathe and straighten, refusing to be intimidated or give the appearance that she was. “Of course, Your Grace. I was expecting you.” With that she walked into the room.
“You were?”
“Perhaps the circumstance was unclear, but I assumed that after last night…” She offered an apologetic smile as she came to a stop still ten feet away from him, not daring to get too close. “I felt that you and I might need to speak of what happened.”
“Nothing happened,” he said with a grumble, sounding angered at the notion. “You fell and I caught you, as any decent man would have done, were he in the same position.”
She winced with guilt, quick to smother the look on her face because she could not let him know the truth.If he is angry now… I can’t imagine what he would say about that particular transgression.
