Phoebe pressed her fingers against the wood of the chair as her defiant mind recalled the look on Will’s face just before he stormed out of her room. His visible disinterest had struck her heart as fiercely as a prizefighter’s fist, and she could still feel its echo even now.
I won’t make the mistake of repeating such an objectionable proposition to you.
“Why are you doing this?” Phoebe couldn’t hide the desperation in her voice. “I already told him no. It’s done.”
Alex’s dark eyes bore into her own. “Not until he weds someone else.”
Phoebe flung herself out of the chair and began to pace. “I can’t listen to any more of this.”
“In all that time you spent together, did you really never consider it?”
“Of course not.” Phoebe shot her a glare. “He’s aduke, Alex.”
“He’s also Will. You know him.”
Phoebe shook her head. “Which is why IknowI can’t be the kind of duchess he wants. I’ll be a pariah and he’ll regret it within a week. And… and I won’t be able to bear it.”
Alex’s face lit with sudden understanding. “You’re afraid.”
Phoebe halted. “No.”
Yes.
“I always thought you didn’t care about society. About the gossip,” Alex marveled.
Phoebe gripped the back of the chair. “I don’t,” she insisted. “But… it’s easier to not care when you are removed from that world. And a duchess isn’t. She is expected to lead it.”
Just saying the words made her want to hide under the very chair she clung to.
“I understand your reservations,” Alex said. “And I can’t pretend it will be easy for you, but you won’t have to do it alone. You’ll have us, and Will of course.”
“But he wanted someone like Lady Gwen,” Phoebe said miserably. “The woman was born and bred to be a duchess.”
“Oh, to hell with that,” Alex broke out. “You can be whatever kind of duchess you want. And yes, Will thought he needed someone like her for far too long, but what heneedsis someone who makes him happy. Someone who wants him for who he is, not that damned title.”
Phoebe smirked. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you curse before.”
“I only do it when someone is being particularly dunderheaded.” Alex punctuated this with a glower.
“A good policy,” Phoebe said with a laugh.
Alex broke into a small smile before she turned serious once again. “The point is, I can’t imagine Will being much bothered by petty society gossip, especiallynow. The man did just willingly ruin any chance he had at becoming prime minister,” she added and gave Phoebe a knowing look.
“That wasn’tmydoing.”
“No, but I think you gave him the push he needed to be truer to himself,” Alex said. “I know the social obligations of a duchess aren’t very appealing, but instead of focusing on all the worst bits, why not imagine all the good you could do together?”
Your sisterishuman, despite her efforts to appear otherwise.
Phoebe’s mouth reluctantly curved at the memory of Will’s words. She blew out a breath.
“You’re quite insightful, you know.”
“On occasion,” Alex said with a brief smile.
Phoebe thought of Alice worrying about Maude’s future, and the crestfallen looks of the girls when they were told that the school had to close. She thought of Millie, wishing there was a school near her, and Mrs. Richardson, valiantly pushing on despite setback after setback. Phoebe’s heart sank with the heavy weight of regret. How much had she lost simply by being afraid? Alex was looking at her with the slightest hint of compassion in her gaze—a commiserating pout on anyone else—and Phoebe’s lip began to tremble.
“I don’t suppose you know what Will is up to now that Parliament is in recess?” she croaked.
