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“Brother, please?—”

“Arabella Burk, I have already told you to please be quiet. Unfortunately, this is a matter between men,” Lord Thorne interjected, causing his sister to tense up.

Her fists clenched into a ball.

“Oh, yes, because I am too stupid to understand what has happened. Brother, please continue so I can learn the secret intelligence only men possess.”

Both Edward and Lord Thorne were taken aback by her brash words. She only looked back at her brother with a cocked eyebrow and a scowl on her face.

Lord Thorne just sighed and hung his head. “Since you have already determined what I was going to say, I supposed these rumors may be true. A housemaid walked in on you two in a less-than-flattering position.”

Neither Edward nor Arabella said anything. Edward’s palms were clammy, and he flexed his fingers—a nervous habit of his. He looked between the Earl and his sister.

“Would either one of you care to explain why?” Lord Thorne asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

In a sheer attempt to save face and alleviate some of the burden from Arabella, Edward made a very quick, not well-thought-out decision.

“Lord Thorne, we were caught in that position because, quite frankly, it is very hard for both of us to keep our hands off each other.”

Arabella looked at him with confusion. “Your Grace?”

“When Lady Arabella and I met last night, I knew it was love at first sight. No matter how cliché that may sound… it is the truth.”

Arabella looked at him with wide eyes, stunned into silence. Even Edward was surprised he actually went ahead and said that.

“That is why I have decided that I want to marry her.”

ChapterFive

Arabella was distraught.

She had not expected to be forced into marriage today. The Duke had never agreed to their plan, so she had thought he would not go along with it. He seemed like the type of man who did not enjoy being told what to do, and Arabella could relate, though he was more welcome to not listen.

“You want to marry me?” she asked, trying to sound not so shocked at the idea.

She looked back over at him, but he was glaring at her brother.

She took a deep breath.

“Ara, do you love the Duke of Soulden?” Leonardo asked, his expression hesitant.

“I…” She paused, desperate for more time to think. She had none. “I do.”

Leo walked back around his desk and sat down in the tall chair their father used to fall asleep in after working long into the night. How she wished she could talk to him about this.

Leo cleared his throat and said with hesitation, “Then you two have my blessing.”

Arabella felt a weird sense of relief as well as unnerving nausea. She was thankful that Edward went along with it for the sake of it, but she knew that he did not wish to marry, much like her. She glanced over at him and attempted to give him an appreciative smile, but he did not look at her. He was staring right at Leo.

“I am grateful for your blessing,” he said in a gruff voice.

Something about the way he said it made her insides twist with unease. There was no way he would have agreed to the marriage under normal circumstances. Neither would she, and she felt sick to her stomach.

“If you two will excuse me, I need to make preparations,” Edward added, standing up. “I would like the wedding to take place as soon as possible, so I can return to my estate.”

“O-of course,” Leonard agreed. “I will inform the family of the good news as soon as possible. But I need to speak with my sister if you please.”

Edward nodded, leaving the siblings alone in the study without so much as a glance at Arabella. She felt a mix of confusion and guilt. Why had he not even looked at her? Was he that mad at her or the situation?