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“Then why are you acting with such panic?” Eveline grinned.

“That is not—I am merely—nothing happened!” She looked to Aurelia for support. “Aurelia, tell them.”

“And you think Eveline will listen to me?” she snorted.

“Please,” she said desperately, looking between Eveline and Iris. “You cannot repeat what you heard. Not one word! You must promise me.”

To this, Eveline grinned with a sense of mischievousness, while Iris continued to look confused.

It was the worst possible outcome. Caroline’s secret was out, likely to spread like a fire through a stable because she knew Eveline’s mouth was one not to be kept shut. Oh, she would beg, and she was certain Eveline would make promises, but she could see the future as clear as if it was happening and this scandal, as it had now become, threatened to be her undoing.

Her only hope was to somehow navigate through this weekend without making things worse. Find the duke a bride. Focus attention on the soon-to-be-married couple. And pray that her sister did not spill this secret for no other reason than she was bored and liked the attention.

Why do I get the feeling that things are going to get worse before they get better? Why do I get the feeling that this is but the first step in what promises to be a road filled with misery and scandal? And why oh why is it happening to me?

A lifetime spent avoiding drama and mischief and this was Caroline’s reward. All she could wonder now was why she had bothered at all.

ChapterSix

“Isuppose you think I am a fool,” Roderick, the Duke of Aldworth sighed as he took a long sip of whiskey.

Anthony, the Duke of Eggelton scoffed. “I do. Although I doubt it is for whatever reason you are suggesting.”

His best friend rolled his eyes and then nodded across the room, indicating to the family of his soon-to-be wife. They stood by the fireplace, massed together in a huddle as they argued and bickered loudly in ways that would suggest they were not guests in the home of a duke.

At the center of it was Dowager Countess Grayhill, her attention focused mostly on her second-eldest daughter, Aurelia. The two went at it like bulls with locked horns, tempers slowly rising without care or concern for how inappropriate it was.

Roderick’s betrothed, Violet, looked to be trying to calm them down. Of all the children, she was undoubtedly the most proper and mature, her expression one of pained embarrassment because of the scene her family was making.

Another of the girls... Eveline, Anthony was certain to be her name, had a wild look in her eyes as she goaded mother and sister, while the only son, Daniel, stood back a small distance and eyed the scene with disdain.

And then there was Lady Caroline Hawkins, by the fire, watching her family bicker, but doing nothing to get involved.Surely, a rare instance, as she is one who I assume to be a constant cause of upheaval. At least as far as my own experiences are concerned.

“Have you ever seen anything like it?” Roderick groaned and took another sip of his whiskey. “If they had knives, I am sure that by now blood would have been spilt.”

“They are a rather cantankerous lot,” Anthony agreed.

“Ha!” Roderick snorted. “That is a nice way of putting it. I have seen tavern brawls contained of more order. I say it now, Anthony, but when you find me in a year’s time with a noose around my neck, you will know the cause.” His lip curled as he watched the family. “Tiresome people.”

It had been a long, tiresome evening, and Anthony was already looking forward to its end. Was it not expected of him to remain for a drink, he would have retired as soon as supper had been finished with, happy to lock himself away and put this day behind him. Alas, Anthony was nothing if not a slave to expectation, thus his being here right now.

Supper had been a rowdy affair, spent mostly by the dowager countess trying to keep her children in line. Aurelia was without a doubt the most troublesome, but that Eveline gave her a run for her money. Anthony had spent the long hours saying little, happy to be ignored because he did not wish to find himself in the middle of the chaos. Even if it was all but unavoidable.

Once supper ended, Roderick had declared that they should retire to the drawing room for a drink before bed. Tomorrow, the guests would begin to arrive for the duration of the weekend, so this was the last chance they would have to spend time together as one big happy family.

One big unhappy family, I think he meant to say. I cannot help but wonder if Lady Caroline Hawkins had been left behind by accident or if she had purposefully fled.

“I would say that I feel sorry for you,” Anthony chuckled dryly as he took a sip of his own glass of whiskey. “But you and I both know how little I care for your happiness.”

Roderick scoffed. “You think me a fool, but I am not as simple-minded as it might appear. Yes, I have agreed to marry into a circus hosted by hyenas, but I tell you now, once it is done with, I will see the back of that lot—” He flicked his head at the family. “—and then endeavor to never see them again. Which will still be too soon.”

“Oh? Moving overseas, are you? How lucky for all of us.”

“Not quite,” Roderick smirked. Then he checked that the family were not listening, dropping his voice slightly to ensure the fact. “You know I have no love for marriage, Anthony. The entire concept to me is as pointless as tits on a bull.”

“Yes, you have said so before.” Anthony could not help but smirk. “Yet here we are.”

“Blame my father,” Roderick said with distaste. “I did not care for the man, even if I find myself upset that he is no longer with us. Although not for reasons that might suggest I miss him.”