The words cut through the noise like the crack of thunder. Everyone fell still. The duke had turned from the window at last and moved to the center of the room.
His gaze drifted to Cecilia then and held. Then, he turned from her just as calmly, addressing the room once more. “The lady here,Miss Lockhart, from what I have gathered, entered the room by mistake. That much was very obvious.”
He let out a frustrated sigh and pressed his fingers on his forehead, almost as if this was all inconveniencing. “You speak of scandal like it’s already happened. But if it has, it is you who has created it, with whispers and outrage and baseless accusations.”
“Your Grace,” Marianne snapped, stepping forward. “This has nothing to do with you, but rather concerns the disgrace brought upon this family, and my niece’s reckless behavior.”
“Lord Lockhart, if you are so concerned that I have somehow ruined your daughter’s reputation, then allow me to put your mind at ease. She shall be the one I marry.”
There was a heavy silence that fell over the room, as if every breath had been held and time itself had paused. Cecilia’s heart pounded so loudly in her ears that she wasn’t certain she hadheard the words correctly. Slowly, trembling, she rose to her feet, her eyes fixed on the duke, searching for any hint that this was some cruel jest. But his expression remained steady, resolute. Unchanging.
Marianne’s eyes narrowed, and her voice came sharp with disbelief. “Outrageous! You cannot decide such a matter so frivolously. This is scandalous talk; it is completely unacceptable! What would happen to Lucy?”
Howard stepped forward, his brows furrowed. “Your Grace, are you truly serious about this declaration?”
The duke met Howard’s gaze without wavering.
“Entirely. Do you accept this, Lord Lockhart?”
Howard hesitated for only a moment before nodding firmly.
“I do. For Cecilia’s honor and our family’s sake, I accept.”
“Then it is settled,” the duke said quietly, his eyes flicking briefly to Cecilia before turning on his heel and striding from the room.
Before Cecilia could find her voice to protest, the door closed behind him. Cecilia stood rooted to the spot, her mind struggling to catch up with the gravity of what had just happened. She blinked slowly, as if awakening from a daze.
“What on God’s green earth is happening?” she breathed, searching the faces in the room.
CHAPTER THREE
“How could you, Howard!” Marianne’s voice cracked with fury as she confronted him, eyes blazing. “Using your daughters like pieces on a chessboard! I must say, this was very well played.”
“There was nothing at play here, Marianne. This was necessary,” he retorted.
“Necessary?” she questioned. “What was going to happen? No one knew! It could have been swept under the rug.”
“Then why were you throwing a tantrum?” he asked. “We only got here because you got so upset, you were throwing accusations all over the place. I didn’t orchestrate anything, but I would do anything to make sure my daughter does not see ruin.”
“Oh, please!” she snapped at him. “Did you think we didn’t hear the whispers? You let Emma marry that duke just to save yourown skin, and now you expect Cecilia to do the same? When would you stop letting your daughters save you?”
Howard’s jaw tightened, and he scoffed. “Oh, so you heard? Thank goodness. I was beginning to think you’d gone deaf, seeing as we did not hear a word of support or presence from you when we needed it most.”
“You must be so desperate to keep up appearances.” Marianne took a step closer, voice trembling with anger. “Is that why you came? To carry out this plan of yours?”
“The only reason we are here is because unlike you, your daughter is a very kind girl.”
“Oh, come on. You have gotten what you wanted, so you might as well come clean,” she pushed. “You heard that my daughter was betrothed to the Duke of Ashbourne, the wealthy Valentine Price, and you devised this plan with your daughter?”
“I have told you not to speak ill of my children.”
“Enough of this arguing,” Cecilia said firmly, stepping forward. “Why, Papa? Why did you agree to this? It feels excessive. There was no need for such a drastic measure.” She glanced toward Aunt Marianne, whose glare only sharpened, and then to Lucy, who was quietly wiping away tears in the corner. “What about Lucy? Her wedding is tomorrow. Doesn’t that matter at all?”
Howard’s jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Cecilia, it’s not about punishing you or Lucy. This situation compromises you both, but in different ways. I agreed because I believe it’s the only way to protect you. What if word of this just happened to come out? What if one of the guests downstairs got a whiff of what transpired? Rumors will spread.”
“It didn’t have to escalate to this,” Cecilia argued. “I do not want to marry the duke. I barely know the man.”
Marianne scoffed loudly, stepping closer. “I won’t stand by and watch this happen, Howard.”
