Page 6 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #2)

Chapter Six

I t was the following day when a most unexpected visitor called on Aurelia. She was sitting at her writing table, staring blankly out the window, her thoughts drifting and then focusing on the one person she wished they would not do.

I cannot stop thinking about His Grace! I want to hate him. And I want to believe that all he has said and done was merely a means to upset me – as he so clearly likes to do. But there is more to it, I am sure. What I am not sure of it how it makes me feel.

“Aurelia!” she heard her mother call suddenly. “Aurelia!”

Aurelia’s eyes turned wide and she jumped from the seat just in time to see her mother burst through her bedroom door. She wore a smile on her face, one which reached her eyes, delighted beyond exception at whatever it was she had come here to tell her daughter.

“Mother!” Aurelia cried, looking about with bewilderment, panic taking her as if there was a chance her mother might be able to read her mind. “What are you --”

“Quickly, Aurelia. Quickly...” She rushed to Aurelia, taking her by the arm and lifting her to her feet. “You need to get dressed. Something appropriate – do you have another dress similar to that which you wore yesterday?” She swept to the wardrobe and threw it open. “Rosalind was so nice to lend it to you. If only you had asked for another!”

“Mother, what is going on?”

“He is here, is what,” her mother said with exasperation. “As I knew he would be.”

“Who?”

“Who do you think! After yesterday, I had no doubt he would come. Oh, this is good news, Aurelia. An unexpected visit like this one! It can only mean one thing!”

Despite herself, Aurelia’s mind went to the one place that she wished it wouldn’t. It was ludicrous, she knew. Totally unlikely and thus not worth fixating on. But her eyes drifted to her diary, her mind drifted back to her dance yesterday with the duke, and she could not help but wonder... no. There is no way. His Grace... he is here to see me?

Aurelia found her heart racing at the thought.

Not that this brought her happiness. Not that she wished for it to do so. She would have rather had snarled to hear his name, perhaps felt sick with grief at the prospect of having to see him. But dammit… the way her body flushed suggested a different desire.

“Is something the matter?” her mother said as she fussed through her wardrobe, noting the smile Aurelia wore. “You are not sick, are you?”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“Your cheeks and chest dear. They have turned bright red!”

“They have…” Aurelia felt her stomach drop and she turned away, trying to cover herself. Why is my body reacting like this! “I am fine,” she then added desperately.

“Good.” Her mother said as she turned back to the wardrobe. “It would not do to be taken ill. And after Lord Littlefield has come all this way.”

“Wh -- what!”

“Lord Littlefield,” her mother said as she yanked from the wardrobe a pale pink gown with a big bow-tie ribbon on the front which Aurelia hated . “He is here, and he wishes to see you. Now, put this on and meet us downstairs at once.”

Aurelia’s expression was horrorstruck, which her mother thankfully assumed was on account of the horrid dress.

“Oh, it is not that bad,” she sighed. “Believe me, Lord Littlefield will love it. Now, on it goes and quickly, Aurelia!” She swept across the room and toward the door. “This is your chance, dear. I spent all yesterday singing your praises to Lord Littlefield. All you need do is not embarrass me!”

Easier said than done.

Aurelia cursed herself for being so foolish. Of course His Grace had not come to see her. Why would he! And of course it was Lord Littlefield who had done. Which was a good thing, she then reminded herself. She did not wish to see His Grace – or be anywhere near him. Still, she detested the man, for he was arrogant and a liar and not at all what he pretended to be. The less she had to do with him, the better.

And that her heart continued to race as she pictured his eyes, his smile, the way he had grabbed her when she was wearing that dress and tearing it open… no, that is nothing to fret over. Perhaps I am getting sick after all?

It was thus that Aurelia put on the hideous pink dress and made her way downstairs and outside to the garden where her mother, Lord Littlefield, and Eveline were waiting. She wore a forced smile as she did, repeating in her head again and again and again to be on her best behavior. Do not think about the duke. Do not think about how he makes you feel. That is not important.

What was important was impressing Lord Littlefield, which Aurelia got about doing as soon as she appeared.

“There she is!” her mother said with over-the-top joy as Aurelia crossed the garden. She and her sister and Lord Littlefield were sitting by a small table underneath a large oak tree which grew across the garden’s back corner. The three of them rose to see her coming. “And doesn’t she look wonderful!”

“Lady Hawkins...” Lord Littlefield stepped around the table to greet her. “It is so nice to finally meet you. And I must say, that dress...” He took her by the hand and gave it a kiss. “Is stunning.”

Behind Lord Littlefield, Aurelia heard Eveline snort.

“As it is lovely to meet you, Lord Littlefield,” Aurelia agreed. “I am so pleased that you have decided to come visit.”

“How could I not,” he said. “After all the delightful things your mother was telling me of you yesterday, I simply had to see if she was prone to exaggeration or if her daughter was indeed the prize that she led me to believe.”

“Shall we guess what the answer is,” Eveline muttered just loud enough for her mother to hear. This saw her widen her eyes at Eveline in warning, which had Eveline grinning.

“Please, sit, Lord Littlefield...” Their mother swept in and quickly led Lord Littlefield back to his seat. “We have so much to talk about, and I know Aurelia will be thrilled to answer any questions you might have.”

“Tickled pink,” Eveline agreed.

This time, Aurelia was the one who looked at her in warning.

The four of them sat around the table, at which point a member of staff poured them each a cup of tea. There was a tray of sweet meats on the table to nibble upon as they drank, but as soon as Aurelia eyed them – she did love sweet meats so very much – she caught her mother glaring at her not to dare.

As noted yesterday, Lord Littlefield was not an unattractive man. Despite his short stature and balding head, he was physically fit and powerful of frame, had a strong chin and intelligent eyes, and even a kind smile. There was nothing objectionably wrong with the man, and Aurelia did her best to focus on that. And not compare him to the duke.

“I will cut straight to the point,” Lord Littlefield began once they were seated and comfortable. “For that is how I am. No sense dancing about the subject when it is there to be tackled.” He took a sip of his tea and smacked his lips. “Your mother tells me that you wish to marry – and quickly. Within the month, as she told it.”

“Oh...” Aurelia blinked in surprise, not expecting this level of forthrightness. To her right, she saw her mother nodding along, to her left she saw Eveline pulling faces. “Yes, I...” She swallowed nervously. “That is what I hoped – but I do not wish to rush you,” she then added, although she could not say why she did.

“And I do not consider myself rushed,” he said. “The truth is, I have been searching for a bride for some time now, a fickle business at the best of times, and to be perfectly honest, nothing but a headache.”

“I could not agree more,” Aurelia’s mother stepped in, while flashing Aurelia with another look of warning to not say the same thing. “Try having five daughters and then speak to me about headaches!”

“I cannot imagine,” Lord Littlefield laughed.

“You want a headache, trying staring at the dress,” Eveline muttered, pretending to block her eyes.

“Eveline!”

“I am only joking, mother,” Eveline said with a feigned smile and a battering of her eyelashes at Lord Littlefield. “The truth is, I think my sister looks lovely.”

“Ah... yes,” Lord Littlefield said, unsure how to react.

“Within the month sounds perfect,” Aurelia’s mother interjected, laughing awkwardly to try and dispel the tension created by Eveline. “That is not to say we are desperate – certainly not.” More awkward laughter. “Just that we have decided recently it is time Aurelia wed, and as they say, no time like the present.”

“Perfectly put,” Lord Littlefield agreed.

“Aurelia...” Her mother cleared her throat at Aurelia. “Tell him about yourself.” Her smile grew. “Go on then, dear.”

All eyes turned on Aurelia. Tell him about myself? I wouldn’t know where to begin! And that, I am realizing, is because I don’t know the man. Not even a little bit.

The idea of a quick marriage should have appealed to Aurelia. It was exactly what she needed, and Lord Littlefield’s eagerness was a boon any way that she looked at it. Regardless, there was something not quite right about this situation. His desperateness. The suddenness of it all. Not only was it surprising, having caught Aurelia utterly unprepared, but it felt... off.

Was she just having cold feet? After all, what did Aurelia care about how much she knew her husband when she wasn’t marrying for reasons beyond his fat purse. Or was there another reason, one which had only began to surface within the last few days...

“I am pleased to hear that you are so eager, Lord Littlefield,” Aurelia said, not at all sure what she should say. “As to telling me more about myself, I cannot help but feel that there will be plenty of time for that.”

“This is true,” he chuckled.

“And I promise I do not usually dress so garishly,” she then joked, which had her mother gasping.

“I quite like the dress.”

“You are a terrible liar,” she said without thinking, which had him frowning, which had Aurelia grimacing. “Unless you are not lying. In which case... thank you?”

“Perhaps a potato sack would have been a better option,” Eveline muttered.

“Shall we talk details!” their mother interjected, saving Aurelia from having to say anything else. “Dates? Expectations? Dowries....” She raised both eyebrows at Lord Littlefield.

“Oh, yes, I suppose we can do. I did make a point of speaking straight to the subject, didn’t I.” A nervous laugh, one which again had Aurelia’s suspicions growing.

Nonetheless, the next thirty minutes or so were spent speaking of the upcoming marriage. Both parties agreed that a few days would be needed before anything was finalized and put in writing, but as far as things looked, Aurelia and Lord Littlefield would soon be man and wife.

Aurelia said little during this conversation, choosing silence – rare for her – as she tried to come to terms with how she was feeling. Relieved, she told herself. Grateful. It was done, she had no regrets, and her sister Eveline could now be free to choose a man who suited her. She had a chance at happiness. And that wasn’t to mention Daniel, who might finally calm down now that the stress of debt was removed from his shoulders.

Yes, this is undoubtedly good. And I am happy. Or I think I am. I know I should feel that. I want to! And yet...

Aurelia could not get past the way her stomach twisted as if with regret. That sense that something wasn’t quite right. She could not say what it was, and she refused to try and find the cause. This had to happen, she had no choice in the matter, so best to simply accept it and make her peace.

On the plus side, at least I won’t have to deal with His Grace anymore. An added bonus, as it is.