Page 19 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #2)

Chapter Nineteen

T he day was cloudy. Rain threatened to break through the bleak grey that sat heavy in the sky. In the distance, there was a low rumbling of thunder which Aurelia could sense to be creeping closer and closer by the minute. Soon it would be upon them, and she could not help but think of how prophetic it all felt.

Nonetheless, when Lord Mildenhall arrived as he had promised that he would, Aurelia’s mother had insisted that they adjourn to the back garden. It was far too windy for such a thing, and Aurelia felt herself shivering from the stiff breeze which attacked them incessantly. But she did not complain or see any reason to. By this point, it felt too late.

“My mother cannot wait to meet you,” Lord Mildenhall said. “She has spoken of nothing else.”

“As we cannot wait to meet her,” Aurelia’s mother spoke quickly, not giving Aurelia a chance to speak. She seemed to have noticed earlier that Aurelia’s mind was elsewhere, and was determined to keep her daughter from saying anything that might undo what they both sensed was coming. “We will have to host the two of you for supper.”

“She would love that.” Lord Mildenhall looked to Aurelia and smiled. “As would I, for that matter.”

Aurelia forced a friendly smile but could not find the enthusiasm to speak. A part of her hoped that in doing so, Lord Mildenhall might change his mind, assuming her lame or disinterested. She also knew this to be folly, for he was as eager as ever, likely to take her silence as a sign of how smitten she was.

It was just the three of them today. Daniel had been away for a few days, out of town on business, meaning he was not privy to Lord Mildenhall’s visit, or his likely intentions. Iris was reading in the library, as their mother had instructed her to do until she was called for later. And Eveline was… well, Aurelia wasn’t sure. All she knew was that their mother had instructed her to not make her presence known, aware of the trouble that Eveline was known to bring to any occasion and not wishing to take the risk.

They sat under the same oak tree where Lord Littlefield had proposed two weeks earlier. Tea was served, but no sweets or snacks. Again, Aurelia’s mother did not wish to tempt fate. She and her mother both knew what was in store, how important it was that everything today go as well as could be. No risk was worth taking.

“The truth is, she was rather upset that I came here on my own,” Lord Mildenhall confessed with a grimace. “She asked to join me. Rather, insisted,” he chuckled.

“Oh?” Aurelia’s mother said.

“Ordinarily, I would not deny her such a thing.” He appeared regretful, the prospect of angering his mother one he did not take lightly. “But as I told her, there are some things that must be done on one’s own. She will understand.”

“I am sure that she will,” her mother said.

“As to why I am here…” He sipped at his tea. “This is lovely tea, by the way,” he pivoted. “Might I ask where it was procured?”

“I shall happily have as much sent to your home as you wish for,” Aurelia’s mother answer. “Now, you were saying about why you were here…” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yes, well…” He cleared his throat and put the saucer of tea down on the table. “This is not a decision I have come to lightly, that is the first thing I wish to say. In fact, I have spoken with my mother of nothing else these past few days, just to ensure that such an act is not considered hasty or in bad taste. But she agrees that I am of the right mind, and that the time is now. Such things should not be waited on, for who knows what tomorrow will bring.”

In the distance, Aurelia heard the rumble of thunder. She braced herself, because she knew what was coming.

Sadness enveloped her, as it had been doing since yesterday. She knew what the viscount was going to ask. Just as she knew she had no choice but to say yes. And yet there was a small part of her that wondered if she should do. If perhaps she might wait, or rather, if she might speak to the one person whose opinion mattered the most.

Am I being foolish? Am I being hopeful? Am I being idealistic, because deep down I know there is no real chance that the duke feels even remotely for me what I now know I feel for him. There is just no way…

“With that in mind…” He cleared his throat again. “It should come as no surprise that I am keenly aware of your family’s financial circumstances...” He sighed and shook his head. “A damn shame, truth be told, that such hard times have fallen on you. Alas, that is the way things are, and where one might dwell, it is important to loom ahead. Don’t you agree?”

Her mother’s mouth twitched with vexation. “And why is it that you have brought up such a thing?”

“Yes.” He cleared his throat for a third time and turned to face Aurelia. “I have come here because… well, as I just said, I know of the hard times that have befallen you, and with that in mind, I believe that I am he who might be able to rescue you from such destitution. If you will allow it.”

Aurelia forced a smile and as she saw her mother glaring, she made herself speak. “You may have to speak more clearly, Lord Mildenhall.”

He chuckled. “I was aiming for subtlety, but perhaps such times call for straight forwardness. “As you may know of me, I have never married. The reason for such things…” He shrugged. “A plethora of reasons, truth be told. But perhaps I was just waiting for the right woman to come along. I am not as young as I once was, I require an heir as much as anything else, and I have been seeking the perfect lady to provide one for me.”

He looked at her as if for an answer, even if he had not asked a question.

“Still…” she laughed nervously. “You speak around the point.”

“I will speak right to it,” he said with a wary smile. “I wish to marry you. In so doing, I will happily save your family from their financial troubles – I am sure a dowry agreement can be reached that you will find most accommodating. And in return, I would like you to provide for me a child. An heir, as it is. Both myself and my mother agree that now is the time, for to wait is to risk the possibility that I might never have one.”

It was all Aurelia could do not to show how sickened the idea made her.

She smiled for the viscount, even doing what she could to look surprised. To her right, she caught her mother watching her in warning, no doubt able to see the hesitation on her daughter’s face.

The only answer I can give is yes. This is exactly what I want, isn’t it? A quick marriage. A chance to clear my family’s debts. No romance to speak of. A most perfect arrangement.

Aurelia had never wanted to marry before. She had no fancies where love and romance were concerned. Growing up, she had always assumed she would never marry, a spinster as they called it, happy to be single, no sense being tied down by a man who she hated or did not care for. She did not hate Lord Mildenhall, nor did she care for him. And if she was to say yes, she could see her future as clear as if it were an open book.

It would be a simple marriage. It would also be a boring one. This was for her sister, she reminded herself, so she might have a chance at happiness. That in itself was reason to say yes. And yet…

Her mind flashed to the duke. If not his spanking of her, if not how he had kissed her, how he made her feel. That was what she focused on the most. Past the lust and to the romance, the way her heart swelled at the mention of his name, the way her entire body tingled when she pictured him. She had never wanted to fall for him but now that she had, and now that she was finally admitting it, she did not think she could simply give it up.

At the very least, she could not give it up without knowing for sure how he felt. And so it was that Aurelia found herself speaking, again without considering the consequences, as was always her way.

“That is a most kind offer,” she said carefully. “And I am most honored that you would consider me.”

“Of course.” He took her hand with both of his. “How could I not.”

“Only…” She smiled as the viscount’s face dropped. “My brother is not here. And as I am sure you know, it would not be right of me to accept such a request without first seeking his approval.”

“That is not necessary,” her mother spoke quickly. “Aurelia…” An awkward laugh. “I am sure that Daniel –”

“Would wish to speak with Lord Mildenhall himself,” she spoke over her mother, raising an eyebrow at her. “You know as well as I do that Daniel demands he be kept across such things as this. If we ignore him or say yes without his approval, he will be well within his rights to cancel the marriage altogether.”

It was only half true. Indeed, Daniel was the patriarch of the family, and he was very insistent that he be treated as such. However, their mother still held a firm enough control of her daughter’s interests that she could have insisted nonetheless that this marriage go ahead, and Daniel likely would have agreed. If for no other reason than he needed this marriage as much as anyone else. More so, in fact.

But Aurelia held her mother’s eyes, her eyebrow still raised, making it clear that she would not be budged on this. Daniel needed to be consulted. Or rather, that is the line for now.

“She speaks the truth,” her mother conceded. “We should seek my son’s approval before we agree – which we will do,” she made sure to add, widening her eyes at Aurelia. “Be sure of that, Lord Mildenhall. This is not a rejection, merely a delay. A short one at that.”

Lord Mildenhall looked caught between frustration and confusion. His brow was furrowed while his expression was taught. But he was a man of the ton and the logic was sound enough that he was able to raise his chin high and accept the terms without his pride being too heavily wounded.

“Yes, of course – that makes perfect sense.” He grimaced. “Perhaps I should apologize for being so hasty.”

“Not at all,” her mother said.

“I was,” Lord Mildenhall said with much forced calmness. “So focused on my own needs I do not stop to consider the bigger picture…” He laughed awkwardly. “Please, speak with you brother and once you do, send me word of your final answer. I am certain that nothing will change in my mind.”

“It will be done,” Aurelia’s mother assured him. “And as I said, the answer is sure to be yes. But formalities…” She clicked her tongue.

“Thank you for understanding,” Aurelia said with a soft smile. “You have been most kind.”

For a man who had just been rejected, Lord Mildenhall managed to appear content with how this little meeting had gone. Likely, he did not see a reason to worry, certain that his offer to cover their debts would be more than enough to convince Daniel that he was a man worth giving his sister to.

It was a relief in some ways, that Lord Mildenhall clearly felt nothing for Aurelia outside of her ability to provide for him an heir. Yet it also proved to her how little she wanted this marriage to happen. She had felt passion now. She had felt fire and want and desire beyond reason. She knew what it was to become fixated on another, just as she knew that anything less than that simply would not suffice.

“We will send word as soon as we can,” her mother assured Lord Mildenhall some time later as they waved their goodbyes from the foyer. It was pouring rain outside, they stood in the doorway, and Lord Mildenhall continued to look upon her as if the deal was done and there was no need to worry. “You have our promise.”

“I look forward to it. Just as I do out future together” He gave Aurelia’s hand a kiss, thanked Aurelia’s mother again, and then walked into the rain, heading for his carriage.

Aurelia’s mother waved as she stood in the doorway, ensuring he reached his carriage before closing the door on the storm. That was when she turned on Aurelia.

“Have you lost your mind!”

“I do not know what you mean,” Aurelia said simply, turning to leave.

“Do not walk away from me!” Her mother swept past her, cutting off her exit. “What do you think you are doing! No, I misspoke! Clearly, you were not thinking! If you had, you would not –”

“I was doing as I should,” Aurelia spoke over her, trying her best to appear in the right, even if she knew she was so very much in the wrong. “Daniel will wish to have the final say. You know he will.”

“Daniel!” she cried. “That is your excuse!”

“It is not an excuse, mother. It is simply the way things are. You know it to be true.”

“I know that Daniel wants this marriage even more than I do! I know he would do anything to see it happen – do you really think he would say no! Or that he would care if we accepted without his consent!”

“Maybe.”

Her mother wrung her hands in the air. “I do not know what you are playing at Aurelia but hear me now. When Daniel returns and agrees to the viscount’s proposal – as he will!” She widened her eyes with fury at Aurelia. “You will say yes. You will walk down the aisle. And you will marry him! Is that understood!”

“Of course it is,” Aurelia said calmly. “You forget, Mother, I am the one who wanted this marriage in the first place. Why would I suddenly say no?”

“I wish I knew,” she seethed angrily. “I wish I…” She took a deep breath and calmed herself. “You will see me to an early grave. That is what this is.” A shake of the head and she stormed past Aurelia, mumbling to herself as she went. “All I have ever done is for you girls, and this is my thanks…”

Aurelia watched her go, the guilt cascading on her.

She was in the wrong, she knew it to be true. Just as she knew that she had done what she needed to buy herself a brief window. It was a flight of fancy, she knew. Likely to destroy and break her into so many pieces she would never recover. A broken heart was what she had in store... but at least then, she would know.

Deep down, Aurelia knew that the duke cared for her. She knew he loved her as she loved him. And she knew that they were meant to be together. Now, before she said yes or no to Lord Mildenhall, she had find out once and for all if what she knew was a shared truth, or little more than a dream.

Tonight, I will go to him and find out once and for all. And after that… nothing will be the same again, for better or for worse.

* * *

It was done.

Gerald took a moment to himself, forcing a deep breath which he hoped would bring him some sense of relief. His heart was pounding. His stomach was twisted into knots. He felt sick but refused to accept the reason. The news he had just learned was to be celebrated, and where it might take him some time to accept this as such, he knew that one day he would.

I did it. It’s over. Come tomorrow morning, with the rising sun, I will finally be free to move on and concentrate on what matters.

He was in his drawing room on the bottom level of his manor, pouring himself a drink of whiskey because he needed it more than anything. One was all he would allow himself, for to indulge tonight might see his mind go places he could not allow.

The drink was, in fact, a celebration. Having just spoken with his sister, and having learned the good news, there was every reason to feel relief. Sure, he might not have felt it yet. But as he assured himself as he took a sip of the tart liquor, that feeling would hit him soon enough.

As to what was the good news that his sister had just brought him? Lady Hawkins was to be wed. Or at least she believes that is the case.

As she told it, Lord Mildenhall was set to propose to Lady Hawkins today – hours ago, by now. They had run into him yesterday whilst shopping and he had requested that he pay her a visit today. He had been nervous, Rosalind had told him. Damn petrified to ask for even a chance to pay Lady Hawkins a visit. The reason was thus obvious, as would be Lady Hawkins’ answer.

It was exactly what Gerald had needed to hear. For too long he had allowed Lady Hawkins to pray on his thoughts. For too long he had even wondered if maybe there was a good reason that she did – a reason which needed to be explored. No, my feelings for her are purely physical. That is the only reason I cannot scrub her from my mind.

The physical attraction he felt for her was simply not enough. Beyond that, there was no true future there. Not for someone of Gerald’s standing, who he was seen as by his contemporaries, and what they expected of him in return.

For a while there, Gerald had cursed what he was and the perception he’d fostered of himself among his contemporaries. How he was seen in the eyes of the ton. What they believed of him. He had convinced himself too that he liked this view they held, because that was what it meant to be a gentleman of the peerage. A shame it is all a lie.

Perhaps one day he would admit it. But that day would remain until well after his own sister found herself a husband. Yes… Gerland forced a smile and nodded his head in ascent. That was what mattered. That was why he did this. Not for himself. Not for others. But for Rosalind, she who would find happiness where he likely never would.

With that in mind, Gerald forced Lady Hawkins from his thoughts – he would never think of her again. To do so only brought confusion and excitement both; a type of hunger which could never be fully satisfied. That did him no good. Rather, he took another sip of his whiskey and set his mind to his sister.

I must find her a husband, and soon. What is more, I must convince her that I am doing so for her best interests. Which I am! Everything I do is for her, I just wished she would see it.

And then, once that unenviable task was completed, Gerald would set his sights on his own future bride. The thought of such a thing made him feel even more at pain than he already did, as he had no desire to consider such a thing. For he knew that the bride he would marry had to be one that was expected of him, a proper lady, a lady of august respect and pedigree. A bore, is what that means.

Food for thought. Worries for the future. Right now, the best thing to do was be glad that he managed to avoid any future mishaps with Lady Hawkins… or rather, that those he and her had already gotten themselves into had gone undiscovered.

The sound of a creaking floorboard coming from outside broke through Gerald’s distraction.

It was late in the evening. He was alone in his drawing room. Most of the staff should have been in bed. And the only thing he could hear was the crackling of the fire and the rustling of the trees outside from the late night wind. He frowned as he listened, wondering if he had imagined –

There it was again! Another loud creak.

“Rosalind…”

He sighed as he crossed the room, certain he would find his sister sneaking through the house. Why she was awake, he could not guess, and he just prayed she wasn’t up to no good. The way she had been acting of late, I would not be surprised.

Opening the door carefully, he was quiet as he snuck from the room and down the hall, in the direction of the foyer where he had heard the noise coming from. And as he moved, he heard more creaks, the sound of someone slowly ascending the staircase.

Into the foyer he ducked, his eyes adjusting to the dark, spying immediately the back of she who was not-so-sneakily creeping through his home. When he saw her, even in the dark, Gerald knew who it was. The shape of her body. The smell of her. The way his stomach twisted and his heart beat and the walls seemed to move around him.

He was certain he was seeing things. Only, there was no way.

“Lady Hawkins?” he gasped. She froze, one foot in the air. “What on earth are you doing?”

Slowly, she turned about, grimacing to see him standing at the base of the steps watching her. “Good evening,” she said with an awkward smile. “Fancy seeing you here.”