Page 66 of The Duke’s Rejected Mate

How dare you interfere? Her marriage was to be to Henhaven. You were to suffer as you watched her marry another. How dare you flip the narrative and take her for your own?

I promise you this. If you go forward with this wedding, you will regret it.

Your Infuriated Thorn in Your Side

I sit on the edge of the bed and stare at the letter. How could the blackmailer have known? And why would they be rooting for Henhaven to succeed? None of this makes any sense.

To my knowledge, everyone but Lewis is actually happy to see me finally wed Cynthia. Just because my brother is wroth doesn’t mean he would rather I cast her to the side.

No. This is someone else. Someone completely different. What are the odds that it’s Henhaven himself? To date, I have seen no bets or wagers. I haven’t had any interaction with him save these last miserable weeks. It’s certainly a possibility. He could be devious enough to disguise his handwriting.

I tuck the note away with a few of the others in my bedroom desk to look at later. If this person wants to keep me from marrying Cynthia, then I’m just going to keep doing the opposite. Nothing, not even hell itself, will keep me from her side.

As the valet comes back in and finishes dressing me, I nearly forget about the letter in my excitement. Soon all will be well. I’ll have my wife, and no one will be able to take her from me.

Granted, even with the excitement, my body still refuses to move. It’s as if I know there will be far more fights and arguments before I give my darling omega the happy ending we both desire.

My eyes are heavy as I trot through London, seeking out their modest home in the parish. Henhaven’s letter must have arrived by now. If not, Cynthia’s father is in for a rude surprise.

As I go to knock, the door flings open. It’s not a footman as usual, but the Baron of Kirden himself, his face mottled red as he motions for me to come inside. He most certainly got the letter.

“What is this I hear about Henhaven calling off the wedding? He says in his note that it is impossible to go through with it. And now, here you are on my doorstep. That can only mean one thing. Scandal. Impropriety. Who saw? Who will all flock to the streets to share the news?”

“Only Henhaven and my friends.”

“Ah. So you do admit it. You compromised my daughter. A duke. An Alpha who could have anyone.”

“Not just anyone,” I insist. “I love your daughter.”

“Fie!” he cries out as he slams his hand on the desk. “Love. If you loved her, it would have been you asking for her hand at the very beginning.”

With a smug smile, I sit down in the chair in front of his desk and cross my legs. “If you recall, I did attempt to secure her hand. You were the one who refused.”

He turns and glares at me, his gaze nearly as hot and deadly as Lewis’s. “Don’t you dare put this on me, boy. You know I was constrained. He put in his request first. There was nothing amiss with it. I could not break it off without causing scandal to both him and my daughter.”

Despite him being correct in what he says, I narrow my eyes and lean forward. “I am not ‘boy’ to you. I am a duke. I understand that you are upset with the turn of events. Trust me, I would have rather it all turn out differently myself. Either way, I am coming here for your blessing in my marriage to your daughter.”

He turns from me and scowls. “You know you have it.”

“Then this concludes our meeting for today. I will go procure a special license.”

“And if he does not grant it?”

I rise and smirk at him. “Gretna Green looks very fetching this time of year.”

“You wouldn’t dare. That would be even more scandalous.”

“Fear not. With your written permission and the note Henhaven sent you, I see no reason the Archbishop won’t allow it.”

Furious, the man sits at his desk and pulls out some paper and writes in hard, harried strokes. “There. This should be everything you need. Oh, and Norhaven?”

“Yes?”

“Ever since my daughter was young, she fell in love with your family. In some ways, I even considered you a son. Do not force me to put you over my knee and discipline you like one.”

At that, I can’t help but laugh. It eases the tension a bit as I reach out to shake his hand. “I will make her my bride by any means possible.”

“See that you do. I like that Henhaven fellow, but you were the only one she ever wanted.”