Page 42 of Snowed In with the Jilted Duke

They would marry, of course, but he had not wanted it to happen like this, with her being humiliated before his entire family. He had wanted to speak with her father first, to be officially freed from his commitment to Penelope, to be able to approach her with a whole heart and not be held back by his duty. To break the news gently to his family, perhaps presenting it as a Christmastide prank.

Now it was all ashes.

At the door to her room, he hesitated for only a moment, and then rapped sharply. “Pippa?”

There was a long pause, and then it opened the merest crack so her maid could glare at him. “She don’t want to see you.”

“But I must see her.”

“She said to go away.”

“But…”

The door slammed in his face, and he stood there for a long moment, blinking. He looked around the hallway, where normally at least one footman was stationed, but it was empty. They must have fled when the commotion started, not wanting to be dragged into the family’s dramatics.

A heavy hand clapped onto his shoulder. His stomach sinking, he turned to see Pippa’s father scowling at him.

“Come. We must talk.”

Nodding, Oliver followed him miserably, unable to stop himself from looking back at the closed door.

He must speak with her. He must make her understand.

But he allowed Montgomery to pull him away and guide him downstairs, the older man’s strong hand never leaving Oliver’s shoulder until they entered the library. As though he expected Oliver to flee like a thief in his own home.

It was ridiculous for him to feel nervous. After all, he was the Duke of Kendal. This was his family seat. This was his own library. He could have Montgomery thrown out into the snow if he so chose.

Looking Pippa’s father in the eye, Oliver knew that would be a very foolish decision.

Joshua Montgomery was a middle-aged man of middle height, graying around the temples of his dark hair. His eyes were shrewd and the same unusual shade of hazel shared by both of his daughters. At the moment, those eyes were icy cold, far from the affable man Oliver was accustomed to.

As the door closed behind them, Oliver drew a deep breath and gestured to the chairs set in front of the roaring fireplace. “Please sit, Mr. Montgomery. Would you prefer brandy or whiskey?”

Montgomery’s eyebrows rose, but he said, “Whiskey, if you please.”

As his future father-in-law settled himself into a chair, Oliver poured the drinks and carried them over. He settled into the chair opposite Montgomery and sat brooding for a long moment. Sorting through it all in his head, trying to form an explanation.

“Well? Do you plan to explain yourself?”

“Yes. I do. I’m sorry.” Oliver took a deep breath, leaned forward, and looked the other man in the eye. “Penelope is missing.”

To his surprise, the other man merely took a sip of his whiskey. “I thought it might be something like that. Pippa would not pretend to be her if it wasn’t important.”

“She ran away from our wedding.”

“Hm.”

Oliver swallowed hard. “She left a note for Pippa that made it very clear Penelope has no interest in marrying me. And I do not want an unwilling bride.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“But I also know the loan will come due immediately if the engagement is broken.”

Montgomery’s expression was inscrutable. “That is true.”

“But I want… you see… I…”

Oliver sprang to his feet and began to pace. “You must understand. Neither of us wanted this to happen. We couldn’t help ourselves. But Pippa… Pippa and I… “