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“If this isn’t love, then what is it?” the Duke thundered. He stood up from his chair and began to pace the room. “Utter madness is what it is. The girl has bewitched you.”
“Ariadne doesn’t know that I have come to speak to you about us.”
The Duke glared at him. “There is nous, there never will be.”
Edward straightened his spine as he met his father’s glare head on. “I think I would like to make that decision.”
“Do you realize what this will do to your political career once word gets on the nature of your relationship?” the Duke demanded.
“I’ve not thought about the future,” Edward said, but doubt trickled into his mind despite himself. He cursed himself for being swayed by his father again. “But once Ariadne is my wife—”
“She will not be your wife. There will be no further discussion about this. I’ve already given word to the Viscount that you shall marry his daughter. The deed was signed at her birth. You were destined for this matrimonial match.”
“And who chose this destiny for me?” Edward asked.
The Duke scoffed. “Do you have any idea who you’re consorting with?”
Edward blinked. “What do you mean?” His father hadn’t looked surprised when he had mentioned Ariadne. It was almost as if…a chill ran down Edward’s spine. “You’re the one having her followed.” Ariadne had mentioned a man following her steps.
“I know you have been visiting her every day for the past few weeks,” the Duke said. He leaned back in his chair and sneered at him.
“Why didn’t you say anything about it before?”
“I wanted to see how far you would go,” the Duke replied. “The girl—Ariadne,” he said as he if he had tasted something bad. “She’s the daughter of a whore.”
Edward recoiled at his father’s choice of words. “Do not speak ill of the dead. She has lost both of her parents, her father only months ago.”
“I know who she is. Her family’s doors have been darkened by one of the biggest scandals of London. The daughter of the second son of an Earl who was quite mad and at the peak of it, he ran away to marry a prostitute and relinquished his land and rank,” the Duke sneered. “Her father was banished from their home, never to return.”
Edward’s mind spun at his father’s words. Could this be true? Or was he telling more lies to make a point? Then he remembered what Leda had said. She had mentioned an Earl—their uncle.
“This isn’t right,” Edward murmured to himself. Ariadne had never talked freely of her mother.
“She didn’t bother telling you all of this now, did she?” his father asked. “Imagine if the gossips get even an inkling of the nature of your relationship. Our house will be destroyed, and the very name we have built for ourselves. Do you want to throw all your political ambitions away for one woman?” he demanded. Edward couldn’t counter his father’s questions. He knew how cutthroat papers were, especially when it came to a politician like him. They would rip into him like vultures without showing any mercy.
“Leave Ariadne alone. She’s innocent.”
“Not as innocent since she managed to trap you so well. God, you can’t see anything past her, can you?” the Duke sneered.
Something else occurred to him, which made things even worse. “Are you the one who has been sending her the threatening letters?” He had already resorted to threatening her. The Duke narrowed his eyes but didn’t accept or deny the accusation.
“Father,” Edward said in a warning voice, “no harm must come to Ariadne at any cost.”
“Fine,” the Duke finally said. “I’ll leave her alone. But you must never see her again.”
“That’s impossible,” Edward said.
“If you can’t manage to live without her, you can always take her as a mistress,” the Duke suggested. “I’m certain the girl will happy to take you up on such an offer.”
“Father, this isn’t like that—” Edward began. He couldn’t do that to Ariadne but the Duke cut him off. “I’ve told you my decision. You will not go to her again and if you do, I’ll make sure to ruin her.”
