However, once he’d been named duke, there hadn’t been a woman in London who hadn’t wanted to read it. The city had been full of rumors of how the poems had laid bare the young and handsome Camberly’s heart.
Cassandra reverently turned the pages. “I tried everything to find it. How did you manage?”
“Father’s money.” Willa took her seat, crossing her arms tightly against her waist. She sat on the edge so her feet touched the floor. “That book is why I agreed to marry Camberly. I mean, he called upon me perhaps twice before he and Father agreed to a marriage. It was all very quick. However, I had read those poems, and for the first time, someone’s words spoke to me. There is kindness and compassion in them. He talks about how true, everlasting love is a haven in life. And a man in love owes his beloved his honesty, loyalty,fidelity.I believed Camberly the man was the same as Camberly the poet.”
“He must be,” Cassandra answered soberly. “He wrote them.”
“He couldn’t have,” Willa responded. “I’ll never believe it. The duke isnothinglike the poet. And I expected you to be more understanding.”
Cassandra closed the book. “I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t give you my honest advice. Willa, what you have done will more than make your father angry—”
“Oh, he will be furious.” Willa was not looking forward to that conversation. She tapped her toe impatiently.
“As he should be. This path you are taking will ruin you. It won’t be terribly kind to Camberly, either. And it doesn’t make sense because, let us be fair, you, Leonie, and I would have done anything to land such a catch only months ago. You won him. You will be hisduchess.”
Willa untightened her arms and aimed a punctuating finger at the book. “I don’t want to be a duchess. What I wanted was the man who wrote that poetry. That man is attentive and kind. He respects women. He values the people in his life. Camberly himself has proven he is notthatgood of a catch.”
Cassandra began ticking off the reasons she was wrong. “He has an enviable title—”
“There are better titles,” Willa muttered. She reached for an iced cake off the tray. Eating cake always calmed her nerves.
“He is handsome—”
“I can’t quibble over his looks. He turns female heads wherever he goes. I haven’t met one yet who didn’toglehim.”
“You are jealous,” Cassandra noted, as if it was a mark in his favor.
“I am not,” Willa insisted. “Women can stare at him all they wish.”
“Some have done more than stare.”
“You are speaking of Lady Bainhurst.” Willa’s appetite left her. She set the cake back on the tray. “I’m not pleased about that.”
“I don’t blame you. He was besotted with her. But I was under the impression she gave him his marching orders weeks before your betrothal. Is he still trailing after her?”
“I don’t know. Her name was linked with someone else’s, but they say her husband is watching her closely. Father insisted on inviting them to the wedding breakfast. He adores currying favor wherever he can.”
“Lord Bainhurst is quite powerful, but still, to haveherhere on your wedding day?”
“I know.” Willa shrugged her opinion. “Thankfully, they are out of town and not scheduled to return.”
“Then that means Camberlyhasn’tbeen around Letty.”
“I don’t know if he has or not.” The subject made her physically ill. Cassandra had set the book on the table by the tray. Willa had a strong desire to knock it to the floor. She stared at the cover as she said, “Letty is married. An honorable man respects those boundaries. I find it disgraceful. Disgusting, actually. If I hadn’t read those poems, I would have seen Camberly sooner for the man he is.”
Cassandra sat quiet.
Willa met her eye. “I don’t want to marry someone like my father. He disrespects my mother with the women he keeps. Please tell me Soren does not do this. Would you tolerate it if he did?”
“I would skewer him on a spit and roast him alive if I caught him behaving like your father.”
Willa nodded. “I fear I’d do the same thing. You worry that I’m ruining my reputation with this decision. I believe I’m rescuing myself from being charged with husband skewering.”
“The law does frown on it,” Cassandra had to agree with a smile.
“Pity,” Willa answered. “I think my mother would have enjoyed skewering my father years ago. Now she just ignores him. After all, it is what is expected, but her life seems so empty.”
“Many women take on their own lovers.”
