“Perhaps he will be discreet.”
“He has not been thus far. Can you really live with that shame?”
“And how will it be different than the shame I must already live with? At least this will not be a surprise.” Lydia’s temper flared,getting the better of her. “I will go into this with my eyes wide-open.”
Landon’s eyes widened, and he hung his head. Lydia ran a hand through her hair as her heart raced. She was marrying a rake. A man who played with women’s hearts for pleasure and then discarded them as though they were little more than a used handkerchief.
And he dared talk of honour.Lydia sat on the edge of the desk, her legs trembling as the reality of her situation hit her. “I have already agreed, Land. It is too late to get out of this. You heard him.”
I do not tolerate betrayal.She swallowed, thinking of the way the Duke’s eyes had held her in place, pinning her there like a bug.
“I am sorry, Lydia.” Landon buried his face in his hands. “I have ruined everything, and you are paying for my mistakes.”
“That is what big sisters are for, Land. And at least now, I know what I am getting myself into.”Even if I do not like it.Lydia felt as though everything had fled from her, a chill settling over her that had nothing to do with the dying fire.
“What are we going to do?” Landon asked. “How can I keep you safe?”
“I don’t think you can, Land.” Her voice was small, and the words felt like a promise. “I am entirely at his mercy.”
Chapter Three
“You went to a duel, and you have come back with a wife?” Lady Cora Baine, looked at her brother with her mouth agape as she leaned back in the armchair, her feet on the coffee table.
Archer Baine, Duke of Dashings, massaged his temples with the tips of his fingers. He had returned from his duel to find his sisters, Cora and Juliet waiting for him in the drawing room of Dashings manor. Both had been white faced with worry, and Archer could tell by his sister Cora’s ruffled and wild hair that she had been pacing ever since he had left.
“A fiancée technically.” He shrugged and poured himself a drink, arching an eyebrow at Cora as his eyes fell to her feet.
She removed them swiftly, her cheeks reddening, but before she could say anything, Juliet interjected, “Did she really throw herself between the two of you?”
“Yes.” Archer’s jaw tightened at the memory of Lydia flinging herself in front of his gun, his heart thumping wildly as his finger pulled the trigger. “It is a miracle she wasn’t killed.”
“I can only assume that is because you were not trying to shoot her brother, but simply to scare him?” Cora arched an eyebrow at him knowingly.
“There is little point in taking a life for a debt. The boy is headstrong and a fool, but that does not mean he deserves to die.” Archer sipped on his drink.
“And what about his sister? If she was foolish enough to throw herself in front of bullets, are you not worried about her character? About her influence on Iris?” Juliet chewed on her lip, tugging on a strand of her long black hair, her amber eyes full of worry.
“She seems more determined than foolish.” He massaged his jaw thoughtfully, thinking of the way Lydia’s eyes had blazed in the moonlight. “She wanted to keep her brother safe, no matter what. I can understand something of that.”
He felt a tug in his chest and swallowed hard, pushing away the memories that threatened to surface. He forced himself to continue, his eyes drifting to the floor above him. “She agreed to the proposal to clear Lord Nittinghill’s debt. Her dowry for his freedom. A noble sacrifice.”
“You sound as though you admire her.” Juliet canted her head towards Archer.
“I do.” Archer shrugged, and the scent of lavender filled his mind as he remembered the way she had refused to back down from him, her eyes full of anger and desperation in equal measure.
He ran the pad of his thumb across his fingers absently. “I trust I can count on the two of you to make her feel welcome and to show her how I expect things to be done around here?”
“Of course.” Juliet gave Cora a look.
“Good.” Archer took another sip of his drink. “I will speak to Iris in the morning; I do not want the addition to upset her.”
“Iris will be delighted. You know she has wanted you to get married for ages.” Juliet laughed. “She will be singing little songs about you finally being in love.”
“I’m guessing you will not want to tell her the truth?” Cora arched an eyebrow at him.
“No. Let her have her dreams.” Archer made a dismissive gesture, picturing the wide amber eyes of his niece with her sunny blonde curls. “She is only a child after all.”
“And who knows, maybe her dream will become a reality?” Juliet teased.
