His shoulders rose and fell with a deep sigh that held a note of surrender. “I would try to be.”
Clara knew it was as honest an answer as she would ever get fromanyman. He was right about the crystal ball. No matter who she married, there could never be any guarantees. Marriage, by nature, was a leap of faith for everyone.
He kissed her again and she gave herself over to the passion, for that was the one thing she knew they shared, the one thing she trusted. Then she let that passion carry her to a decision.
Clara smiled up at him and said, “I believe, my lord, that you have secured yourself a wife.”
Chapter 12
Dear Clara,
You said in your last letter that everything was a terrible mess. I hope things have improved. Just remember, don’t do anything hasty. Be careful in your decisions. Be sure to listen to the advice of Sophia and James. They have your best interests at heart....
Adele
Clara, Sophia, James, and Mrs.Gunther gathered in the drawing room after Seger left. The tea was now cold, but the parlor maid had not been allowed in to take the tray away.
“Sophia,” Mrs. Gunther said, as if Clara were not in the room, “you must realize the mistake your sister is making. The Duke of Guysborough proposed first. He is the wiser choice. He outranks the marquess, not to mention the fact that he is respected by society, where the marquess is not even invited into it.”
James strode to the mantel. “May I remind you of the old adage, not to judge a book by its cover?”
“How else can one judge it,” she asked, “when appearances are everything?”
“Not to me,” Clara said.
“Or me,” Sophia added, gazing up at her husband, who smiled down at her.
“You have lost your senses, all of you,” Mrs. Gunther said. “Your Grace, you must do something. The ladies are smitten simply because the marquess is a handsome man. They must be made to understand.”
Hands behind his back, James moved to stand behind his wife’s chair. He rested a hand on her shoulder. “I believe, madam, the only one here who must be made to understand anything is you.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I mean no offense, Mrs. Gunther, but you are not in full possession of the facts, and it is time someone enlightened you. The duke acted in a most ungentlemanly manner and he threatened to destroy Clara’s reputation if she did not accept his proposal. There. Now may we dispense with the arguments?”
Mrs. Gunther stared blankly at Clara and Sophia. “Is this true?”
“Yes,” Sophia replied. “He knew about Clara attending the wrong ball that first night. He threatened to use it against her.”
“But did he actually threaten it,” Mrs. Gunther asked, “or merely suggest that she would be better off avoiding the possibility that such a thing might get out?”
“It was a clear threat,” Clara said firmly.
Mrs. Gunther’s voice took on a desperate tone. “But he is the Duke of Guysborough. You should not have crossed him by refusing him, Clara.”
Everyone, including James, gaped at Mrs. Gunther. “Are you saying I should have accepted his proposal, regardless of his behavior?”
“Hisbehavior?Heis not the one with a scandalous past, Clara.”
Her meaning was the same. Make a mistake and pay the price. For the rest of your life.
James held up a hand. “I believe this discussion is over. Clara has made up her mind.”
“But Your Grace, the duke is.... Well, he’s a duke.”
“Meaning what, exactly?”
She shifted in her chair. “Meaning Clara would be a duchess. Imagine, two American duchesses, and sisters! It is too good an opportunity to—”
