Page 18 of The Wedding-Crashing Duchess

Ronan’s concentration faltered just enough for Gregory’s foil to touch his shoulder.

“Point,” Gregory announced.

Ronan stepped back and prepared for the next move. This time, Ronan attacked more carefully. Augusta’s face had intruded upon his thoughts repeatedly since the wedding, usually accompanied by the memory of her voice carrying through the church.

The Duke of Ravenhill is a murderer.

No woman had ever humiliated him so completely.

Gregory broke away and lowered his weapon. “What will you do now? You never answered.”

Ronan’s jaw tightened. “I will find another bride. Sarah requires a mother.”

“Oh?”

“She is lonely,” he said. “Her governess confirmed it this morning. She needs affection, companionship, and someone who understands children.”

“And you’re not capable of giving her that?”

“When I enter a room, she becomes quiet. I don’t think I’m capable of giving her what she needs, and marriage is the only solution to this.”

They stopped fencing, and Gregory went quiet for a few moments. It was almost worse than his constant banter.

“Do you have anyone in mind?” he asked finally.

“I suppose we will need to find out.”

“A jealous debutante driven to madness by the sight of Phillipa marrying a duke,” Matilda announced.

“Is that what they’re calling me?”

“That’s one of the nicer things, yes.”

Augusta closed her eyes. Her sisters had been reading the scandal sheets together, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or be horrified.

Charity reached across the table and calmly removed the paper from Matilda’s hands. “I think that is quite enough.”

“I was only reading aloud,” Matilda replied.

Augusta turned to her sister. “Let her read it. She will hear the stories elsewhere if we attempt to hide them.”

“That does not mean she must recite it,” Charity said. “This is hard enough already.”

“You did stand in the middle of a church and accuse a duke of murder,” Matilda giggled. “It is rather strange to see your name in the scandal sheets.”

Augusta stared at her.

“I have to say, though, I am relieved that if I ever behave improperly, no one can say that I am the first sister to disgrace the family.”

Charity nearly choked on her tea. Augusta gave Matilda a severe look, but it was difficult to maintain her irritation when Charity began laughing behind her hand.

“I did not disgrace the family,” Augusta said.

“One paper says you may never receive another invitation; another says no respectable gentleman will court you.”

Augusta reached for the paper. “Give me that.”

“Neither of you will read another word,” Charity placed it out of reach.