No, she couldn’t say that.
“I appreciate you having found me a Duke, but he does not wish to marry me, and I would not like to marry him, either. Thank you.”
No, that was too formal. And her notwishingto marry him wasn’t a strong enough reason. Her mother wouldn’t stand for her simply not wishing to. Not when he was a Duke.
Had he recognized her? At first, she had thought he had, but then he hadn’t turned her from his house in disgust or anger at her presumption of having gone there—something she wouldnothave done if she’d known he’d been telling the truth all that time ago.
The man she’d given her virtue to was aDuke.
He hadn’t been then, of course, but what did that matter when he was now and he had every power in the world to ruin her?
She groaned and flung herself on the bed. Ideally, she would never have to speak to him again, but that didn’t seem likely. They would see each other at all the same parties and events, they would have all the same acquaintances.
At least they would not meet at Almack’s, because she would never be granted a voucher, but that was hardly a comfort. Tears pricked her eyes.
And thewayhe had kissed her hand. Odious man. As though he wanted to remind her what his mouth could do—and of the fact she knew what it felt pressed against hers, and… well, against other parts.
The flush on her cheeks extended across her entire body until she was awash with humiliation and shame and something else; an emotion sherefusedto name because that only made it worse.
A knock sounded at the door. “Sybil?” Her mother’s voice was excited, which was frankly the opposite of what she needed. “May we come in? There’s been some news.”
Sybil buried her head into a pillow and wondered if she hid in the closet, whether her mother would give up and go away.
That question was answered as her mother opened the door and entered anyway. “Why are you lying on the bed like that?” she asked in surprise. “You met with the Duke.”
“You sent mealoneto meet with the Duke,” Sybil said, her voice muffled. She rolled over and sat up, knowing her hair was coming unpinned and not quite able to bring herself to care. “You sent me there with his mother, who I believe just wanted to cause mischief.”
“Nonsense,” Thomas said, who’d entered the room after her mother. Did no one respect her personal space? “She’s done us all a great favor.”
“You must have impressed him,” her mother said.
Maybe helikeddull, insipid ladies who barely opened their mouths except to recite well-practiced civilities. And in the beginning, she hadn’t evenbeencivil, because she’d known he hadn’t wanted to receive her.
Oh, the entire thing had beenhumiliating.
“Just fancy,” her mother said. “He sent Thomas word that he would like to court you. What do you think of that?”
Sybil blinked numbly at them. “He can’t have done.”
“No need to look like that. I knew you were right not to go, my love,” Thomas said to Scarlet. “The poor girl can’t shine when you’re beside her.”
“Do you have to say that when I’m right here?”
“This is such excellent news,” her mother said, catching one of Sybil’s hands and tugging her off the bed. “We shall have to discuss all the ways you can appeal to him. I have some ideas. From the ladies he’s accustomed to visiting, I think—”
“Mama, no!” Sybil jerked her hand free and stepped back. “I don’t want to marry the Duke.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes. “You told me you would be satisfied with any gentleman I found you.”
“Yes, but nothim.”
“Nonsense,” Thomas said, puffing out his chest with an inflated sense of his own self-importance. Sybil wished she could take one of her hairpins and deflate him again. “This is an excellent match and one that reflectsverywell on us. You must continue to charm him. Listen to your mother. She knows precisely what men like.”
Sybil pressed both hands to her burning cheeks. “Please, Ibegyou, say no more.”
“Come,” her mother said. “Let us leave her. She’ll need time to accustom herself to her new station. A Duchess. Consider, Thomas!” She said it with such love and pride, Sybil could almost have forgiven her for her next comment, “I shall ask Lucy to pad your corset, my love.”
Almost.
