“What?” Victoria gasped. “How could he…when did he? What does this mean?”
Her exclamation was followed by a few curses, causing her older sisters to widen their eyes.
“Vicky! Your tongue!” Marianne scolded, aghast.
“What do you expect me to say when another stranger makes a claim on my sister?” Victoria snapped back.
“I’ve met Wolfcrest only a few times,” Dominic said, eyes narrowing slightly. “Astute, perceptive, and undeniably charismatic. He is a man to watch closely. While I cannot speak from experience, I understand that Wolfcrest can sway hearts as easily as he can unsettle them.”
Daphne held a gasp. Her brother-in-law had just perfectly described the Duke, and she wondered if he was right about his presumptions.
“I’ve only heard of the Wolf Duke,” Alasdair added, folding his arms. “Not met him personally.”
“The Wolf Duke?” Daphne asked.
“Aye. Tis’ what Englishmen here call him,” Alasdair explained. “I assumed it was because of his title.”
“It’s not only because of that,” Dominic offered.
“You don’t have to meet a man like Wolfcrest to get to know him. He has a reputation,” Gerard said. “His wealth is rumored to extend far beyond the genteel ventures of the ton. His influence is widespread, going beyond polite society.”
“He sounds just like Briarwood to me,” Marianne said, wrinkling her nose.
“Have we handed Daphne to a man more dangerous than Briarwood?” Victoria asked, her eyes flashing.
“I have not beenhanded, Vicky. I accepted the Duke’s proposal,” Daphne countered. “I did it out of my own volition.”
“But… wait a moment. Daniel said hedeclaredyou were his betrothed. Nothing was mentioned about a proposal.” Victoria’s eyes roved over Daphne’s face. “Did you fall in love with this Duke while you were away? Did he offer you an honest proposal?”
Daphne shook her head. “The Duke offered his hand properly after Briarwood left. He swore that he’d protect me from Briarwood and keep our family name clean, so I accepted,” Daphne replied.
“Had you met Wolfcrest before Briarwood found you, or did he just happen upon the scene and interject?” Wilhelmina asked, after exchanging a look with Gerard.
Daphne hesitated, aware of how easily her family seemed to read her thoughts.
She swallowed, steadying herself. “We encountered each other briefly… last night,” she said meekly.
“What?” Daniel asked, his eyes widening.
“It’s nothing important, brother,” she reassured him.
“It must be, as you neglected to mention it before,” he snapped back sharply.
“What do you think of him, then?” Marianne asked, cutting off the argument before it began, and leaning in slightly.
The question brought back the memory of that evening by the stone archway, waiting for the rain to pass. Chilly and drenched as she had been, the memory now made her feel inexplicably warm. His nearness, the glint of mischief in his eyes… it had left her flushed, though she could not admit it aloud.
“It doesn’t matter what I think of the man. I am grateful to him for interceding on my behalf,” she said quietly. “What’s done is done.”
Marianne frowned. “Of course, your feelings matter. This is your life, Daphne.”
“What you think matters to us, dearest,” Elizabeth added gently. “You should feel free to speak your mind and know that we will support you, regardless.”
Daphne felt that tears would rise, so she swallowed again. Her family’s selfless support, their sacrifice… What had she done to deserve it? She was so lucky to have them.
For this very reason, she had to marry the Duke of Wolfcrest and ensure that Briarwood would not come anywhere near them again.
“Thank you,” she breathed, smiling at Elizabeth.
