Page 73 of The Duke’s Rejected Mate

“To Bedlam with her,” he snarls.

My father, pale and distraught, merely nods, unable to do anything more. The woman continues to rant and rave, spittle dripping from her lips as he drags her out. The moment his growl is gone, Teresa hugs me tight, holding me in her arms as she rocks me back and forth, soothing me in such a motherly way that I cannot help but sob into her shoulder.

All these years. Every single day. I thought she hated me. I thought she despised me. She was right. And the pain hurts so much more now that the truth is revealed.

Pulling away, I wipe my eyes. “Am I not to marry now?” I whimper.

“Oh my dear, sweet one. Why would you think that? Norhaven will still have you despite that woman’s vitriol. Nothing can make him love you less.”

“But I trapped him. I… my heat… I didn’t know. How could I have known?”

She hugs me again as Joseph places a brotherly hand on my shoulder. “You are not so far gone that there is need to worry. If that were the case, he would have attacked you in the library, committing unholy acts for all to see instead of the kiss I bore witness to. You did not trap him. He’s been besotted with you from the very beginning. We were all just too foolish to see it.”

I blink up at him, hopeful. “He… he truly loves me then?”

“Never doubt it. Do not let that woman poison your marriage. He loves you. Has always loved you. Will always love you. Now then, I’m sure Charles will agree that you are not to step one more foot into that house. It is not safe for you there. Not until you’re married and fully under his protection. I will write to him at once to relay what has happened here.”

“But what will happen to Mother- I mean, Harriet?”

“That is between her and your father. Possibly Charles, if he has anything to say about it.”

“But my possessions. What will happen to them?” Fear and longing grip my heart as I picture all my things destroyed or left.

“Fear not. Charles will make arrangements to get them. Anything you hold dear, he does as well.”

Turning, I give Teresa a look, hoping to convey my concern through my expression. “Yes, but there are some things that only a woman should see. What then?”

“Can his sisters procure them for you?” Joseph asks, fully oblivious. Just the way I want him to be.

“No. I’d rather they not see my personal effects. Can Teresa, or perhaps Augusta, or Alessandra fetch them?”

He narrows his gaze at me, studying my expression. “The very fact that you mention these three makes me believe it is something scandalous in nature. Something you ought not possess in the first place?”

Teresa reaches forward and places a hand on his forearm. “Women are allowed to keep their own secrets, my love.” With a smile, she turns back to me. “You do know all will be revealed when Norhaven bonds with you, anyway. Right? There should not be secrets between you two this early into your relationship.”

Joseph snorts and crosses his arms. “Fine advice, wife.”

“I’m ensuring their marriage starts in a far less tumultuous way than ours, husband.”

The two laugh as I rest upon Teresa’s shoulder. Warmth and love surround me as they continue to chuckle, their affection evident in every smile, every giggle, and every touch.

With a love like this as an example, I don’t see why Charles and I can’t have a marriage like this. Once I am wed, everything will be well.

Chapter 37

Charles

Saturday

I pace Cynthia’s room, anger still up in the forefront. As much as I wish to thrash her father downstairs, I cannot bring such fury to our wedding day. Harriet, on the other hand, should be quite content that she is a woman and omega.

Were she a man, I would have no issue taking her to task in front of all of London. Damn that she is a woman. Damn that I cannot properly avenge my love. Especially when she said such horrid things.

Edward, Robert, and William stay down there with them, keeping both at bay, as I scour the room, grabbing everything of sentimental note and placing it on the bed for the servants to collect once I’m gone.

I don’t dare let anyone in as I sink to my knees and run my hand over the floorboards, looking for the loose one. My lips quirk up into a smirk as I try to imagine what horrible thing she has locked away. Knowing the woman who raised her, it could be anything she felt needed to be kept a secret.

Once my fingers find purchase, I pull it up and look inside. So many things fill the space until it’s near bursting. Small toys, trinkets, little things a girl growing up would want to keep safe.