Mama stood by the door, clearly impatient to make an exit, and I crossed to the window on the opposite side of the little room on bated breath.
“I have done a disservice to our family,” Ben started. “I have kept secrets. I have been blind. I have let my own ambition and selfishness get in the way of what has been right in front of us all along.”
Oh, no. This was serious indeed. In all my wallowing and wasting away, what had I missed? “Ben, what has happened?”
Ben looked directly at Father. “You told me once that the most important work a man will do is within his home. Within his family. I did not understand exactly what you meant at the time, but since the duke has arrived, I am starting to.”
Father looked solemnly at his son. He placed his hands on the top of his desk. “I have no reason to believe anyone in this family is unhappy. Is there something you wish to tell us, Benjamin? And must it really be said at this precise moment, when our visitors are sitting aimlessly in our drawing room?”
Ben’s gaze flicked to mine. He couldn’t be talking about ... me?
“Rosalind is unhappy,” he declared. “She does not wish to marry the duke.”
My nerves came alive, and my stomach bottomed out.No.Ben had no idea what he was doing. Trying to absolve my connection to the duke would hurt him and our family more than he could imagine.
“She has said nothing to me,” Father said flatly. Then he looked up, and his eyes widened when they met mine. “Rosalind?”
Tears threatened, and I blinked wordlessly to push them back. What could I do? What could I say? I had kept the truth from my family for so long, but now that it had been spoken aloud, keeping it inside was more painful than a physical blow to the chest.
“Ros?” Ben prompted. “You have asked me time and time again to be a responsible man. To uphold my duty to our family as you have done.” He swallowed and looked hard at me. “Sometimes the most responsible thing one can do is to tell the truth.”
Mama stood still as a board at the door.
“I only wish to please our family,” I said, forcing every ounce of energy into steadying my voice. “I will marry the duke. It will be my contribution to our legacy.”
“Yes, but do youwantto?” Ben spoke low, forcefully. “Do you actually want to marry the duke?”
“Ros?” Mama stepped forward.
All three sets of eyes watched me, and I shrank under their attention. What did they want me to say? If I told them the truth, if they insisted I break the marriage contract, the duke would stop at nothing to ruin them. He could. And he would.
My silence filled the room.
“I see,” Mama whispered. Her cheeks turned red, her eyes filling with tears. “Fredrick, what can be done?”
“No.” I raced forward, grasping the side of the desk beside Ben. “Do nothing. The duke is a powerful man. I see that now, and I must protect you from him.”
“No,” Ben said with a shake of his head. He took hold of my arm. “No, Ros. We can protect ourselves.”
Mama, Ben, and I crowded around Father. Mama turned to face me. “Rosalind, being a member of a family means our ambitions are the same.”
“Yes, Mama, I understand, which is why—”
“Ourambitions have always been to bring a title to the family.”
“—I will take my place in our family legacy.”
“Butyours, darling, is clearly to love and be loved. And who can fault you for that?” Mama took my free hand in hers. Her eyes were filled with tears. “If you would like to change your course, my love, you need only make yourself clear. Disappointment, we can withstand. Embarrassment will fade. But you will always be our daughter, and our priority. Our greatest ambition in life is to see you happy.”
I bit hard on my lip and stifled a sob. Could it be true? Could the people I loved the most truly love me despite my weaknesses and many, many mistakes?
I had wronged them in so many ways. I’d been dishonest. I’d told falsehoods. I’d pretended to be someone I wasn’t. But still, they offered me compassion and a type of love I’d only ever imagined. Love that was unconditional. Love only a family could give.
But I loved them—and Charlie—too much to hurt them.
“But Mama, you don’t understand. The duke is angry; he will force the marriage or ruin Ben and Jasper and Nicholas in every way.”
“He willwhat?” Father stood, his shoulders squared and his jaw set.
