She wasn’t sure what it was, but she felt suddenly very uncomfortable, for she knew it wasn’t just mamas who came up with such schemes. Her father had tried it a time or two with her sisters. And he had insisted she find a husband tonight… And her father had noticed she’d been outside with the Duke…
“I must go. Now,” she muttered hastily and hurried to the door, aware that she had put herself in an impossible situation with this man not once, but twice.
As she did, the Duke swiftly grabbed her hand, pulling her to his side. “Lady Arabella, why do you insist on acting so strange? Are you truly scared of me? You need not be,” he reassured her.
Arabella looked into his piercing eyes, her heart racing. The unexpected gentleness in his voice and the warmth of his hand around hers momentarily disarmed her. “I… I’m fine,” she stammered, trying to pull her hand free, but he held on gently, his eyes searching hers for the truth.
“I do beg your pardon for alarming you, it was not my intention,” he offered.
“It is not you,” she said hastily. “But I must go. I fear we are…” She shook her head—there was no time to explain.
She yanked back her hand to free it from his grip. Alas, she’d used too much force. The second she’d freed her hand, she tumbled backward, letting out a screech.
“Lady Arabella,” he called, and to her shock, she felt his arms around her, catching her just before she fell to the ground.
She looked up at him, her anger melting into reluctant gratitude.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
For a moment, the library felt like the safest place in the world. Though Arabella knew she needed to leave, she found herself unable to look away from the Duke’s eyes. The intensity of hisgaze held her captive, and she felt an inexplicable connection growing between them.
“You need to explain what is going on,” he said gently.
She nodded, knowing he was right.
She was about to explain the situation when the door to the library swung open and Lady Lawrence, an old, rotund lady with a huge turban adorned with gems, entered. She was one of the most dreadful gossips of the ton and the worst possible person to witness this display. Lord Worcester followed close behind her.
Arabella’s stomach dropped. This was a trap. She’d been right.
“Goodness, you were quite right. They are in here all alone. Oh, and look what they’ve been doing! Lord Worcester, you must step in,” Lady Lawrence gasped as she spotted them.
Suddenly, Arabella was very aware of the fact that she was halfway to the ground with the Duke holding her as though they were lovers. Quickly, he rose, pulling her up with him. She didn’t dare look at him, instead facing her father, who smirked when their eyes met. However, his demeanor quickly changed, and he instead narrowed his eyes and put his hands on his hips.
“Your Grace, what is going on here?” he demanded, his voice loud and commanding. “I had a terrible feeling when I saw you heading here.”
“Nothing happened,” Arabella blurted out.
“Indeed, nothing at all. Your daughter fell, and I caught her,” the Duke said hastily.
“Ah, yes, that’s your excuse, isn’t it?” Lady Lawrence rolled her eyes while fanning herself. “I know your reputation, Your Grace, and this will not stand.”
“Indeed, it will not,” Lord Worcester asserted. “This is highly improper! You have shamed my daughter in front of company. Your Grace, I must insist you do the right thing and marry her!”
No! Please, no!
Her father wasn’t going to demand the impossible, was he? He could not. And yet, when her father opened his mouth again, the words she’d long dreaded came out.
“You must marry my daughter, there is no way around it. You’ve defiled her, and in front of myself and Lady Lawrence in so public a space. Who knows who else saw you!”
Arabella’s blood boiled. She knew her father had set this up. Undoubtedly, he’d brought the ton’s biggest gossip up here with him.
“I won’t marry the Duke,” she declared, her voice shaking with anger and defiance.
Her father’s eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “You will ruin our family’s reputation, Arabella. Your sisters will never marry if you don’t comply. Is that what you want?”
“Father, what are you doing? You cannot expect me to marry a man because I tripped and he helped me up. And how dare you assume His Grace would even do this?” she demanded, glancing at the man.
The Duke of Sheffield had been insufferable, so far. Certainly, he would not be willing to marry her.Marry her!What a ridiculous idea. She certainly would not wish to marry him. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire.
