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“I trust you will be nice,” he said.
“When have I never been nice, Albert? For what it is worth, I think your fiancée is a good girl." She smiled and set her barely touched drink down. She placed a light kiss on his cheek before he could retreat from her. "I shall respect your engagement."
She left him feeling greatly disquieted. He had a lot to think about and he sat down at his desk, passing his hand over his brow. His goal had been to find Edwina a husband and there were some decent gentlemen in attendance.
Perhaps it was time to keep that promise. No, notperhaps.Itwastime.
Chapter Twelve
"Come now, spill it!" Kitty set down her paintbrush, regarding Edwina dubiously.
While her friend practiced her watercolors in the garden that morning, Edwina took to reading one of her favorite books. She had left the library in quite the haste last night despite Albert's insistence for her to stay and talk, but he had followed her into her dreams. And what he had started in the library, he had continued there—
"And do not you dare feign ignorance, Edwina. I know you, and I know that you are hiding something. You have been awfully broody all morning."
"I prefer contemplative," Edwina said with a sigh, closing her book.
Whenever Kitty discovered something interesting, she did not stop until she uncovered it completely. The girl was more insistent than a fly, thus it was pointless to keep things from her.
“Well, I was at the library last night and so was the Duke.” She was whispering even though there was no other person in sight.
“Oh! What happened?” Kitty’s eyes widened with interest and she moved closer to Edwina.
“Things that should not have happened.” She looked down at her hands dolefully. She regretted what happened even though it was pleasant. Well, such pleasure was always temporary. She should only do that with a man that was going to marry her.How could I have been so stupid?
“But you are engaged,” Kitty insisted.
“That is beside the point. Lady Stenton walked in on us.”
“Goodness! You do have a knack for getting walked in on, do you not?” Kitty teased her.
Edwina did not smile. “Remember we arranged the first one.”
“Oh, yes! But the second happened naturally. Now you have the Duke where you want him. The only way he can leave you now is if you wish it.”
If she only knew the truth. “So, what else happened?”
“Lady Stenton excused us and I left the library.”
"Oh, how romantic!" Kitty squealed.
"Oh, believe me, Kitty, it was hardly romantic from where I stood." She was still feeling the shame she had felt last night.
"You are such a spoilsport," she complained, pouting slightly. Edwina released a shaky breath and Kitty frowned, touching her shoulder, her eyes questioning.
“Kitty, I am afraid,” Edwina finally admitted. “I do not know where… what will happen.” Now that she had begun talking, she wanted to lift as much of the emotional burden she had been carrying as she could.
"Oh, I am sure he will treat you well, dear Edwina.” She squeezed her hand in reassurance.
"That is not what I mean. Seeing Lady Stenton last night reminded me of my falseness but it also made me feel the desire to keep my position. I dislike this feeling. I dislike being at the Duke’s mercy. This is what scares me."
"I don't understand," Kitty said. "You are the one engaged to the Duke. What cause have you to give up your position?"
Swallowing, she looked Kitty in the eye. "There is something I have not told you about our betrothal," she confessed. “We are not truly engaged.”
Kitty clapped a hand over her mouth. “What?”
“Yes,” Edwina continued. “We made an arrangement. We will appear to be engaged and this house party will serve as a means for me to find a suitable gentleman. Once I do, we shall dissolve the arrangement. He does not wish to marry me.”
