"I've never done anything like that," Andrew said, his eyes narrowing. "And I never will."
Robert raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered. "Of course you haven't," he replied, chuckling lightly. "I'm sure you have your own way of securing the affections of women, Your Grace. But we both know that in this world, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get what you want. You of all people must understand this."
"You seem to mistake me to be like you," Andrew said, his voice cold and unwavering. "I will never stoop as low as to deceive a woman. I've never done that, and I never will. What do you take me for? And who do you think you are?"
Robert's demeanor shifted instantly, his confident posture faltering as the weight of Andrew's words hit him. The easy smirk he had been wearing vanished, replaced by an almost imperceptible stiffening of his shoulders. He quickly regained his composure, but the wariness in his eyes was undeniable.
"Of course, Your Grace," Robert replied, his tone now careful, lacking the earlier arrogance. "I didn't mean any offense."
Andrew's gaze remained sharp, never leaving Robert's face. "It's not about offense, Robert. It's about respect. And you've shown none. If you think you can toy with women's lives for sport, then you have no idea what is coming to you."
Robert swallowed, the bravado draining from him as he realized the seriousness in Andrew's words. "Your Grace, you misunderstand me, I merely?—"
"You think you can toy with Lady Lavinia?" Andrew interrupted. "You think you can use her for your games and walk away unscathed? You will stay away from her. If you so much as look in her direction with any of your ridiculous schemes, I will come for you. Do you understand me?"
"Understood, Your Grace," he said plainly.
Andrew held his gaze a moment longer, ensuring that Robert had grasped the severity of his threat, before turning his horse sharply, abandoning the hunt. His instincts hadn't failed him. He had sensed Robert's intentions from the start, and now thatthe man had been put in his place, Andrew knew he needed to act fast.
With Robert out of the picture, the next obstacle was the gossip that would surely follow. Lavinia had been going around, telling everyone about the proposal, no doubt. People would talk, and the rumors would spread like wildfire. The last thing she needed was to be seen as desperate or already claimed by someone who might not have her best interests at heart.
There was only one way out of this that he could think of, and it was an option that was risky and would change everything.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lavinia woke to the soft light streaming through the curtains. For the past couple of days, she woke up to a lightness in her heart, a feeling that was foreign but welcome. The tension from the past few weeks had lifted, and her thoughts weren't clouded with doubts or fears. She stretched lazily, relishing the warmth of the bed before sitting up and brushing her hair out of her face with her fingers.
Lavinia glanced out the window, half expecting to see Robert's carriage pulling up at any moment. Part of her hoped he would, that he would ask her to spend the day with him, to show her a glimpse of the future she thought she was ready to accept. But there was another part of her, a part that was quieter and more cautious, that wondered if she was rushing into something too quickly. She had been swept up in the idea of a proposal, of a life that seemed so perfectly tailored to her desires. But was it really what she wanted? Was there sense to Andrew's worries?
She pushed those thoughts aside as she finished dressing, smoothing the folds of her gown and fastening the delicatenecklace her mother had given her. If Robert didn't come today, she would find something to do on her own, something that allowed her to think, to process the whirlwind of emotions that had overtaken her.
"Miss Lavinia, your father requests your presence in his study," Her maid, Lilian's voice came, breaking the stillness of the room. "I believe your brother is there as well."
Lavinia's eyebrows furrowed. "Do you know why?"
Lilian shook her head.
A sigh slipped from Lavinia's lips as she rose to her feet to follow Lilian. She wondered what it was this time. Her father had not complained about anything for days now.
As she descended the stairs, the faint sound of David's voice reached her ears, but the words were indistinguishable. She quickened her pace, feeling the familiar flutter of concern settle in her chest.
When she reached her father's study, Lavinia gave a soft knock before pushing the door open. Inside, her father was seated at his desk. When he saw her come in, he rose to his feet with a smile on his face.
"Good news, dear!" he beamed. "The duke has asked for your hand in marriage."
Lavinia's heart skipped, and she instinctively began to open her mouth in surprise, her eyes widening at the mention of a duke. But then, her mind caught up with her.
Theduke?
She quickly paused, brows furrowing. "Did you mean viscount, Papa?"
David shook his head. "Andrew asked for your hand in marriage. Father accepted."
"He what?" she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.
"The wedding is in two weeks," her father said, still beaming. "I knew you could make me proud."
"But Papa, the viscount already said?—"
