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She was just staking all her hope on the flashes of honor she saw in his dark eyes whenever they met. She hoped his honor triumphs over his anger and resentment towards her

Because if it does not, her entire family was doomed.

Just when she felt Charity's sobs starting to die down, the door opened to admit Diana who skipped in excitedly.

"I just heard the juiciest story from Ben-" she stopped when she saw the tear stained face of Charity and her small face scrunched in concern

"What is this? A cry fest. Why are you crying?" she asked coming to sit beside them at the foot of the queen sized bed.

"Diana, there is nothing wrong. I just got something in my eye," Charity said wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

In response, Diana shot her a look. "Do try to remember that you are not speaking to a child and whether you believe it or not, I can tell when someone has an eye irritated by some errant insect and when they have been weeping,"

"I am sorry, Dian,a" Charity apologized. Seeing that Diana was not buying her lie, she decided to change the subject. "What juicy morsel of gossip did Ben share with you that have you this giddy with excitement?"

"Apparently the story has to do with you too. Seems that Victoria was caught kissing the Duke," Diana said shooting a sly look in Victoria's direction.

Victoria could feel herself reddening and she silently cursed Ben for her propensity for gossip.

Benedicta, Diana's Sassy maid took the definition of an accomplished gossip to a whole new dimension. It shouldn't have surprised her that in a few hours, the girl had managed to get news of the latest scandal that occurred in a ball she did not attend. If this was not the confirmation that news of the scandal had spread, she didn't think anything was.

"Diana, I would not think that this is an appropriate topic to discuss this night," she said.

"Well it is, if Charity is crying because of it. Tell me," she said, leaning closer to Victoria, "how did it feel to kiss the big bad duke?" she asked with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Diana!" Victoria groaned in exasperation. It seemed Benedicta's sassy behavior was rubbing off on Diana. At this rate she would be an absolute hellion by the time she debuted.

She made a mental note to perhaps change Diana's maid to at least separate her from the girl

"Diana, shouldn't you be more concerned about the impact of this on Charity than how the scandal happened?" she scolded.

"I was just curious," she grumbled under her breath. "Besides, I see no reason for her to be distraught about this. Now she can marry the Baron as she desires" she said

"I didn't want that at the expense of ruining Victoria and our family!" Charity blurted out in defense.

Diana paused to understand the statement then her forehead furrowed with curiosity. "What does it mean to be ruined? I never could understand why people are said to be ruined when they are caught alone with a gentleman, they dance with gentlemen all the time. Why are they ruined simply because they were seen together and why does everyone dread ruination so much?"

"My dearest Diana," Victoria explained quietly, "that is because, if the gentleman in question refuses to marry the lady, the family will be shunned from society, no invitations to balls, no money to visit the modiste as we will be cut from profitable businesses and most importantly there will be no season for the young ladies of that household. Even if they do debut, they will have very small pool of suitors or no suitors at all."

At this explanation, Diana gasped in dismay, "I hope the Duke is honorable. I hope he marries you."

Victoria smiled to herself, of course Diana would take this more seriously now that her fashion fascination was under threat.

Her sister's love for new gowns, bonnets, jewelries and balls were second to none and she hoped for her sake that her family did not get ruined and rob the sweet girl a chance for a beautiful shiny debut.

She really hoped that her hope in the Duke's honor was not misplaced.

ChapterEight

"You do not have to marry her."

Anthony looked up to see that his mother was standing in the doorway of the study, a mutinous look on her face.

"I don't have to marry who, Mother?" He asked on a sigh, sitting up from his lying position on the settee in his study.

Walking in, his mother took a seat on the opposite settee.

"You do not have to marry the Hobbs girl, Anthony," she repeated.