The duke and his marriage were none of her affair.
Scanning the announcement, Helen read that the Duke of Roxboro had wed Lady Sophia Simmons, daughter of Lord Canterbell. Yesterday as it happened. There were other details. Guests in attendance. Flowers. An unflattering description of Lady Sophia’s dress. But none of that mattered because she was now the Duchess of Roxboro. The pair were due to depart London after the wedding for Roxboro’s estate in the country.
Well, that was that.
Cerise rather dramatically let out a wail and collapsed on the floor. Only to begin pounding at the rug with her fists.
Good lord, what a spoiled brat.
“He didn’t come. He promised to speak to my father.” She looked up at Helen with swollen eyes. “You heard him say so.”
Actually, Roxboro hadn’t said that, exactly. But she didn’t bother to argue with Cerise who was clearly…distressed.
“My lady,” Helen started, resolved to be as gentle as possible, though the girl didn’t deserve her kindness. Cerise had never even been introduced to Roxboro prior to the Stout ball. She’d hadoneconversation with the duke.One. A brief flirtation. Theyhadn’t even danced. Their acquaintance was incredibly brief. Why Cerise would ever imagine Roxboro would simply discard what little honor he possessed, toss Lady Sophia, daughter of a powerful man, aside to pursue Cerise because he’d seen her in the park was…. Well, it made Helen wonder at her charge’s state of mind. Who believes such nonsense?
“Perhaps it was simply too late, my lady, for the duke to alter course. As I said, the entire wedding was already—”
“There must be a reason he didn’t come. He wouldn’t change his mind. Not aboutme.” She thumped her chest. “I am adored by every gentleman in London. Sought out. Begged for dances. I am adiamond,” she screeched. “Did you…do something? Dear God, did you offend the duke in some way?” She pressed a palm to her throat. “Good lord did you throw yourself at him?”
Helen blinked, stunned at Cerise’s accusation. Mainly because it was somewhat…true.
Perhaps she isn’t completely a cabbage.
She thought of her hands curled into Roxboro’s coat as he kissed her in the park. The way she clung to him, wishing he’d never let her go. The twist of her hips against his.
Did that constitute throwing herself at him?
Yes, Helen. It does.
She swallowed. “What would make you say such a thing?”
“You did not immediately follow me back to my father at the Stout ball after interrupting my conversation with Roxboro. You lingered.”
“I did not.”
She had.
“You claimed that you dropped something.” She glared at Helen, wiping a tear from her cheek. “A pin or whatnot. Roxboro is incredibly handsome. A duke. Did you….offeryourself to him?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Youarehorribly jealous of me,” Cerise sobbed. “Lady Hester has mentioned it often. I can see how you might attempt to seduce him like some common trollop.”
Oh for goodness sakes.
“Well, he is rather fond of them, isn’t he?” Helen shot back, furious. First compared to dripping and now a trollop. Usually, she was only considered an unwelcome burden. Her temper, which so typically well-contained, had been unraveling. Fraying around the edges like an old shawl.
“My lady,” she begged her tongue to stay polite. “I would never do such a thing. You are my charge. I am your companion and chaperone. Under no circumstances would I entertain Roxboro’s advances or encourage them.” A shiver ran through her at the lie, slight and easily ignored.
Cerise wiped at her cheeks. “I misspoke. I am incredibly distressed. You are far beneath the duke, and I doubt he’d ever look twice at you with your childlike form. Not to mention your hair.”
My hair?Helen’s fingers clenched, wanting so badly to simply slap Cerise.What is the matter with my hair?
“I am…deeply offended by your accusation, my lady. I am sorry for your distress, but I did warn you that the duke is a notorious libertine. One only has to read the gossip columns to see a list of his sins which is rather extensive.”
Cerise turned away. “It is only gossip.”
“Lord Canterbell is apowerfulman, more so than even Lord Galway. Vastly influential. Do you believe he would have allowed Roxboro to break the betrothal to his daughter? Cause her untold humiliation? Lord Damon Viceroy, whose political ambitions are well known would not have allowed his nephew, duke or not, to beg off foranyreason. Despite your…charms, there was never any hope that Roxboro could extradite himself from the situation.”
