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CHAPTER1
“Ihave some great news, girls!” Aaron Cooke, the Earl of Galpin, announced to his two daughters as the three of them were seated at the breakfast table.
Jane, his younger daughter, whose complexion and visage were as sweet and naïve as her nature, believed that the news her father had was truly wonderful. Amelia, her older sister, knew better. She immediately placed the crumpet she was holding back onto the plate, brushing her fingers gently against the napkin. Although, she could not brush off that clammy feeling from the palms of her hands.
“I have been discussing things with the Duke of Mosebridge, and I am extremely glad to tell you that he has agreed to purchase our winery,” the Earl declared importantly. Not once did he wince at the mention of that name, which horrified Amelia.
Everyone knew what horrible reputation followed the Duke of Mosebridge. Some even said that the fire that claimed the lives of both his parents might have been his own doing. Naturally, no one had dared make such a bold claim directly to his face, but it was one of the theories that had been circlingthe ton.In addition to that, his utterly disgraceful behavior after the fire had led his betrothed to leave him just days before they were to get married. Amelia could not understand how wicked a man had to be for a woman to leave him, a woman who loved him with all of her heart. Taking all of this into consideration, she could not have imagined a more odious man to have any dealings with, be it business transactions or anything of the like.
Still, she was well aware of the fact that the winery would be their ruin. Her father was monstrously unskilled with money and business affairs, and it was no wonder that the winery was not doing well. In fact, not doing well was an understatement. It was on the verge of ruin, and it threatened to take them all down. Selling it was the only reasonable solution to this predicament, even if it meant selling it to the most despised man ofthe ton.
“And that is not all,” the Earl suddenly interrupted his daughter’s tumultuous thoughts, bringing her back to the present moment.
This was where both of his daughters aimed their gazes at him more fervently, anticipating what he might say. Amelia was even more fearful now than a moment ago, and for the right reason, because her father’s next words felt like she was suddenly in the epicenter of a devastating earthquake.
“He has also graciously agreed to marry one of you two, without a dowry!” He almost shouted these last words out loud, accentuating them to the point of an outburst.
At first, Amelia thought she didn’t hear him well. Shehopedshe didn’t hear him well because if what he said was true then their lives were about to turn into a nightmare. There were so many things she wanted to scream back at him, but she couldn’t find her voice. It was lost somewhere in the despair of the words she just heard from the person who was supposed to keep them protected and safe, yet instead, he was throwing them right into the lion’s pit.
“Father, you cannot possibly agree with this,” Amelia finally spoke, feeling her throated getting parched with each passing moment.
Perhaps this was all just a dream, she thought to herself. No. Not a dream. A nightmare. A nightmare she would wake up from immediately, and all would be well. The winery would still be on the brink of ruin, but they would eventually come up with something. They always did – even if that meant they had to find a way to succeed in spite of the fact that their winery had always been a direct competitor of the Duke’s business.
“Whatever do you mean, darling?” the Earl wondered sweetly. He already sounded as if all of his problems and concerns had been taken care of.
“You know of the Duke’s reputation,” Amelia reminded him, making sure that her voice remained respectful.
“Yes,” he nodded as he pressed his thin lips together, only to continue speaking again. “I am well aware of the fact that the Duke is not the most popular person in the eyes ofthe ton.”
“If that isn’t the understatement of the century, then I don’t know what is,” Amelia scoffed, unable to control herself this time.
He frowned at her. “I never thought you would be the one to judge someone you’ve never met, Amelia. I thought your dear mother and I taught you better than that.”
Amelia felt caught off guard. Every time he brought their mother into the conversation, it was to prove a point. Amelia hated that, and this time, he was right. Their mother, God rest her soul, was the sweetest, kindest woman there was. She taught them to always take everything with a grain of salt, and never to believe that something was black or white, simply because other people told them so.
However, it was impossible to think anything about the Duke apart from what they had heard about him. Rumors existed for a reason. Where there was smoke, there was bound to be some fire. Otherwise, the rumor would have died down, no?
Amelia tried to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but it was hard to do this with the Duke when everywhere she turned, there was an onslaught of horrible rumors regarding that man.
“I am merely stating that there wouldn’t be rumors unless something instigated them,” Amelia pointed out.
“Or someone,” her father corrected her, dabbing the corner of his mouth with his napkin although he had not eaten anything in well over fifteen minutes. It was more to signal that the conversation was coming to an end, and nothing either of his two daughters said would make him change his mind once it was made up.
Amelia looked at her sister, but she knew that Jane would be of little help here. She always saw the best in other people, refusing to believe that someone was downright wicked or rude or guilty of any other ungentlemanly characteristic they exuded.
“I think, I don’t need to remind either of you,” the Earl continued, “that this is the only way in which we can surface from this situation without suffering utter financial ruin.”
Amelia was not privy to her father’s business accounts. He had people who handled those sorts of things, but she could tell that he wasn’t very good at his business at all. She could see that they had less and less money left without much influx of profit. The winery, which started off as such a lucrative business during the time her mother was still alive, now stood as a stark reminder of the fact that they were unable to handle loss, both emotional as well as financial.
As daughters, Amelia knew that their role in a family was to aid through marital means. That meant that, more often than not, their happiness would be sacrificed for the good of saving the family. It was an unspoken rule, which everyone was aware of. Up until now, she was hoping that she and Jane would avoid that fate. She still hoped that they would somehow rise above these financial troubles and emerge victorious. Now, those hopes were dashed against the rough shores of reality.
“I shall do it,” Amelia finally said, catching even herself off guard with this sudden statement. Jane’s troubled look did not escape her, but Amelia merely smiled reassuringly.
She would never allow her little sister to fall into the pit of this nightmare. She loved her far too much to allow such a dreadful thing to happen. Ever since they were left without their mother at such a young and tender age, Amelia vowed to herself that she would make sure that Jane never lacked for love and care. Amelia would teach her everything that a mother would teach her daughters. Amelia would assure Jane’s happiness, no matter what the cost might be to herself.
“Splendid,” the Earl said, smiling, obviously glad that the discussion was finished, and he got exactly what he wanted. “To be honest, Amelia, I don’t believe a single thing in those ghastly rumors. Besides, I have met the man on several occasions, and he has proven himself to be quite the gentleman. I have absolutely no concerns that your life with him will be comfortable.”
Comfortable.That word echoed inside Amelia’s head. It gnawed at the insides of her heart, like a little rat trying to find its way out. But it never would. It would remain trapped inside of her for the rest of her life because up until this point, Amelia still held out some hope that she might eventually, after making sure that Jane was well married off and happy, find her own happiness in life with someone. Now, she was sure no such thing would ever happen. She would forever be…comfortablewith the Duke of Mosebridge.
