Page 39

“Very well, then,” he said, finally taking a step back, “She appears in good order. Though I will be discussing an increased dowry with her father, His Grace.”

Offence roiled through Seraphina, but she said nothing as Mary stammered, “Oh, well, I am sure you will be able to reach an understanding.”

“We shall see,” Martin declared. “I shall want to see her at a dance or two. Make sure she conducts herself well in public as I will be touting my wife about from time to time. But other than that, I believe you have secured a husband, Miss Seraphina.”

Disappointment so intense that it made her dizzy filled Seraphina as she curtseyed toward him, while behind her, her mother clapped with delight.

“A wonderful choice, My Lord!” Mary crowed, “I assure you, you will be happy. Our Seraphina, she will make a perfect wife. You will see!”

You are always so tense, Seraphina…You try to be perfect. You don’t have to be perfect with me.

Hugo’s words whispered through Seraphina’s mind, and in that moment she felt every ounce of tension she was holding within her body. Everything ached, she realized, and a pounding headache had formed like a tight band around her skull.

Suddenly she craved his kiss. His company. And…that other thing he did that made her body feel as if it were floating.

“We will see indeed,” Martin replied, nodding a head toward them both.

“Mama, please,” Seraphina said hastily as soon as Martin left, “Not him.”

Mary’s wide smile vanished in an instant.

“Do not be ungrateful, Seraphina,” she warned. “Your father went to great lengths to secure that man’s interests, and after everything you have done lately to lower your chances, you have finally received a proper proposal! He shall make a fine husband.”

“He makes me uncomfortable!” Seraphina protested.

Mary scoffed.

“It is a woman’s lot in life to be uncomfortable, Seraphina. You are not looking at the bigger picture. He is over thirty years older than you! He has one good seed left in him, two at most, and he will depart this world well before you reach forty if the rumors of his drink and cigar addiction are true. With him, you will only have twenty years of discomfort, unlike your friends who will most likely wed to someone their own age. Then you will be a widow. Arichwidow, and you will have your children, nearly grown by then. You will be free to live in comfort.”

Seraphina gaped.

“T-twenty years?”

“It is not so long, especially when you have children,” Mary sighed, eyeing her pointedly.

“Please,” Seraphina begged, “Let us consider someone else.”

“Who else, Seraphina?” Mary replied testily. “Everyone else is gone thanks to the Duke of Merrivale and his attention toward you.”

“Could we not reconsider him?” Seraphina asked, her heart skipping a beat at the idea. “He truly is kind to me, Mama. I know he is not as so with others, but with me he is-”

“No,”Mary said with emphasis, cutting her off.

“That man is dangerous, even when he pretends not to be.”

Seraphina shook her head. “I do not believe so, Mama. Or if he was at one time, he is not so anymore.”

“I am not willing to take that chance with you!” Mary shot back, going to Seraphina’s side.

She clutched her hands tightly and gave her an intimidating stare.

“You and your naive ways,” she chastised. “You may not want to accept the truth of him because he has shown you kindness, but I do. That man has been involved in many duels, even rumored to incite them. He likes to kill, and I will not allow you to be one of his victims!”

Seraphina did not think her body could grow more tense, but as she felt her mother’s nails dig into her hands, heard the utter disgust in her voice, she felt her body clench even tighter.

“I do not believe it because I am naive, Mama,” she answered. “I do not believe it because of what the Duke has shown me. He is a kind man at heart. A rich man who could take care of me, as you want for me. And already that talk of him is fading. Theo and I heard just the other day that he is making many men of thetonhere richer already. He could be a good husband!”

“It is a play, you dim girl,” Mary answered cruelly, “And if you do go against us and marry him you will end up on the streets,I guarantee it. And so help me, Seraphina, when you do, neither I nor your father will help you. We will leave you there. Am I understood?”