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Chase gave a terse nod. He’d better make this good. He needed to give Ophelia the fairy tale she craved so as to convince her to accept his proposal.
Chapter Thirteen
Ophelia woke the next day, stretching in her bed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so soundly.
Then she bolted upright as memories flooded her mind. She’d allowed him to…and he’d tucked her in bed…and…
Her face flamed with heat and honestly her most intimate parts throbbed with desire. What they had done had been wicked and wonderful. She got out of bed, spinning in a small circle. If this was wooing, she liked it.
Then she covered her mouth. Chase was a rake—or had been. The heroes of her stories had been gentlemen. She’d been searching for her own fictional story come to life but perhaps reality was better. No, he hadn’t declared his undying love but he had begged for her hand, held her tenderly, and made her shake with passion. Maybe this was what real women got. She went into everything in her life with fantastical expectations. Perhaps it was time to face the real world.
With that in mind, she carefully dressed, pinning her hair in an elaborate arrangement before she went down to breakfast. The day was already warming and she hummed as she made her way down the hall.
Her sisters were all talking in the breakfast room and she smiled, wondering what life would be like when she didn’t hear them every day.
Stepping into the breakfast room, all conversation stopped as everyone turned to look at her. Her father sat at the head of the table, carefully sipping his tea. He didn’t meet her eyes after he set down his cup. “Good morning.”
Ophelia squinted, wondering about her father’s chilly demeanor. “Good morning.”
Bianca rested her chin on her fist. “So…” She pressed her lips together. “Anything interesting to report?”
What was happening? “No.” she stepped into the room and crossed to the buffet that had been laid out already. “Not since we spoke last night.”
“Really?” Juliet asked. “Nothing?”
Cordelia cleared her throat. “Come now. Ask her outright if you want to know.”
“I told you girls,” her father interrupted. “We’re not asking her anything.”
She looked over her shoulder, assessing her father’s unusually drawn face. “What’s the matter, Papa?”
“Nothing,” he answered, rising. “We’ve a dinner date tonight. I’m off to work early so that I might return early.” Then he walked from the room without kissing any of them goodbye.
“What’s gotten into him?” She turned back to the table, making her way to her seat.
Adrianna stood, letting out a huff. “What’s gotten into you? You’re getting marr—”
“Adrianna, hush,” Juliet bit out.
But Ophelia stopped, her plate slipping from her hand and smashing to the floor. “Don’t hush. What did you just say?”
Adrianna crossed her arms, giving Juliet a black look.
Juliet stood as well. “Papa told us not to say anything. Adrianna, however, can’t make it five seconds without spilling the beans.”
Adrianna smacked her hand on the table. “What I don’t understand is why our sister marrying a duke needs to be a secret at all.”
The blood had surely drained from Ophelia’s face and swayed on her feet. “Marrying a duke?”
That made all her sisters stop to look at her. “Ophelia?” Cordelia came toward her. “Are you all right?”
“What did Papa say exactly?” She pressed her hands to her cheeks trying to make her mind work. Chase had gone behind her back and asked for her father’s hand when she’d yet to agree. She’d wanted a bit of romance and he’d taken even that away from her.
“That you were marrying the duke. They’d decided last night but that we shouldn’t bring it up just yet.” Bianca said, twisting her hands together.
Why had Papa trusted them with that information? They couldn’t keep a secret to save their lives.
“I was considering his proposal but I hadn’t decided yet. I know you all feel this too, but without a season, this is my one chance for flirting and romance. Papa and the duke couldn’t allow me to even have one day of fun before they went behind my back to make plans.” Tears came to her eyes. “I’ve been the grown-up since I turned sixteen. Couldn’t I have just a few frivolous days?” And then she spun on her heel and left the dining room. She was angry at her father for making this choice without asking, mad at her sisters for ruining the secret, and furious with Chase for going behind her back.
