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The maid went to close the door after her, and the last thing Anna heard was the Duke’s voice.

“Now, Kitty, why don’t you take out the chessboard and we’ll start right away? I have a new opening gambit to show you.”

Anna took a moment to compose herself, breathing deeply in the cool darkness of the hallway.

What have I done? What have I agreed to? What have I done?

The answer came right away.

Just like Mama, I did what I had to do.

Squaring her shoulders, she set off down the hallway.

I hope I can find my way back to the front door.

The first living soul Anna saw in the Duke of Langdon’s sprawling house was none other than the Duke Blackheart himself.

The Duke of Blackwood, she reminded herself.No use offending any more powerful men.

He was sitting on a hard-backed chair in the foyer, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, reading a book. He glanced up as she approached.

“Miss Belmont. I assume you did not find your runaway groom?”

She bristled at his familiar tone. “No, Your Grace, I did not.”

“Pity. I am sorry about it, you know. You’ve been unfortunate. Heaven only knows what you and your family will do now.”

With an elaborate sigh, he returned his gaze to his book, showing every sign of continuing to ignore her.

It was too much. Anna stopped in front of him, placed her hands on her hips, and glared until he glanced up at her again.

“I’m marrying the other one instead,” she said sharply, jerking her head upwards.

Perhaps it was a mistake to say it so soon. Anna was more than half convinced that the Duke of Langdon—who was obviously deranged—would change his mind, or perhaps had been playing a cruel joke on her.

Let’s see him back out of a betrothal when the whole of London knows we’re betrothed, then.

The Duke of Blackwood stared at her for a long moment, his eyes widening. “You… Do you really mean it? You’re marrying Theo?”

“Well, he asked me to marry him, so I assume… What are you doing?”

The man had thrown his book carelessly aside, leaped to his feet, and seized her by the shoulders. For one awful moment, she thought he was going to hug her.

“Miss Belmont, this is excellent news! Poor Kitty needs a mother… Have you met her?”

“I… yes, yes, I have.”

“Well, it’s exactly what Theo needs.Youare exactly what he needs. Well, perhaps not you specifically, but a wife in general, and I’m sure you’ll do as well as the next woman.”

That felt more like an insult than a compliment, but Anna had no time to say anything more, as the man looped her arm through his and began walking her to the door.

As promised, a carriage was waiting.

“Theo never says anything he doesn’t mean,” the Duke said confidentially. “Publicly or privately. He’s a man of his word. There are plenty of horrid and entirely true insults attached to his character, but aliaris not one of them. He would never have offered if he didn’t think you’d fit the bill. That’s worked out nicely, then, hasn’t it? Congratulations.”

“I’m not sure congratulations are in order, Your Grace,” she responded acidly.

The Duke glanced down at her, his gray eyes narrowed. “Perhaps not yet,” he said after a pause. It was a cryptic comment, and he offered no clarity. “And you might as well call me Stephen. All thisYour Gracebusiness gets irritating very quickly. You’ll be my dearest friend’s wife, and no doubt a thousand times better than your predecessor.”