Page 40 of The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna

“What is going on?” Abercorn called gruffly, his head popping up from behind the lounge Lucianna sat upon. “Why, I never—“

“I can ask you the same thing, Lord Abercorn,” Roderick thundered, the tone so deep and menacing it shook the portraits on the walls. “What is the meaning of this?”

Lady Edith stepped hesitantly around Abercorn as he struggled to push himself to his feet, and she hurried to Torrington’s side. They began to whisper between one another, but Roderick couldn’t take his attention off Abercorn. The man was dangerous, Roderick was certain of it.

He was at Lady Lucianna’s side within the blink of an eye, and he took her hand, pulling her to her feet and dragging her into his arms. “Is everything as it should be? I was so worried.”

“I am well, Roderick, I promise.”

He could barely hear her words over the thrashing of his pulse, but he pulled her tighter to him, his embrace only softening when she pulled away to stare over his shoulder.

Lady Ophelia gasped and collapsed onto the bench near the window, and the color drained from Lucianna’s face, leaving her looking green.

Thundering footsteps sounded from the hall, entering the room behind him.

“Lucianna, girl,” the Marquis of Camden’s voice boomed into the room. “What is the meaning of all this?”

“Father, I—“

“Your daughter,” Abercorn said, back on his feet and moving closer to where Roderick continued to hold Lucianna, though not as closely as he’d like. “Arrived a few moments ago, her two friends in tow“—Abercorn paused for a moment, nodding to both Lady Edith and Lady Ophelia—“to accept my proposal. She said she is honored to become the Duchess of Abercorn. I fear I was so overjoyed, I tripped over a settee in celebration.”

“What?” Lady Ophelia exclaimed, jumping from her seat on the bench.

“That is preposterous,” Lady Edith shouted, setting her hands on her hips.

“That is not at all what transpired,” Luci said, pulling away from Roderick to stare at her father, her head shaking back and forth. “I would not accept Lord Abercorn’s offer of marriage.”

“Then what is happening here?” Another woman, far more matronly than Lucianna and her friends, cut in. The adornment on her hat bobbed precociously as she pushed her way into the room and rushed over to Lord Abercorn. “Are you hurt, Frannie?”

Roderick looked to Lucianna and then Torrington, but no one seemed to know what in the blazes was going on.

“Oh, do not fret over me, Sissy,” Abercorn pushed the woman’s hands away. “I am only filled with excitement and was not careful enough. Can you believe Lady Lucianna has agreed to be my wife?”

Abercorn and the elderly woman shared a quick embrace before Sissy placed a quick kiss on the duke’s cheek and receded back toward the door—where Camden still stood, silently watching the room.

“There is a mistake. This is a mistake. Abercorn is addlebrained,” Lucianna said, moving toward her father. “I was not here to accept Abercorn’s proposal.”

“She is only embarrassed to be caught in my home by so many.” Abercorn chuckled. “She is such a delicate lady; however, there is no need to keep hidden what we have any longer, Luci.”

Roderick wanted to pull Lucianna back to his side and punch Abercorn in the jaw at the same time. Unfortunately, only one was possible.

“I assure you, Lord Camden,”—Roderick grasped Lucianna’s arm, but he didn’t need to tug to have her return to his side—“Lady Lucianna and her friends were not here to accept any form of courtship or betrothal from Abercorn.”

Camden’s shoulders stiffened, and his narrowed stare landed solidly on Roderick as if he were the unsuitable, unwelcome occupant of the room.

“Lucianna,” the marquis seethed, never taking his glare off Roderick. “What is the meaning of this? I did not instruct you to call on Lord Abercorn, nor did I allow you to spend more time with Montrose. Did you seek to thwart my plans, much like you do in our home?”

He advanced on his daughter, but Roderick took a step also, pushing Lucianna behind him as he held up his hand. “Lord Camden, allow us to sit down and discuss this—mayhap without so many prying eyes?”

“I do not see what we would need to discuss,” Abercorn blustered, looking between Camden and Lucianna, the first hint of doubt crossing his face. “Lady Lucianna and I are ready to make our betrothal official. Camden and I were just in the library going over the agreement.”

Roderick’s stomach sank when Camden made no move to deny Abercorn’s words.

“Father,” Lucianna said, her voice laced with hurt. “Tell me you have not decided my fate.”

Chapter 15

Luci did her best to glare at her father, but inside, she was falling apart, crumbling, caving in. She blinked rapidly to hold back the tears that threatened to cascade down her face. Crying before Roderick was bad enough; however, she adamantly refused to allow her father or Abercorn to see her weaken. Or show any sign of giving up.