Page 12 of A Duchess in Ten Days (Icy Dukes #2)

CHAPTER SEVEN

L avinia woke to the soft light streaming through the curtains.

For the past couple of days, she woke up to a lightness in her heart, a feeling that was foreign but welcome.

The tension from the past few weeks had lifted, and her thoughts weren't clouded with doubts or fears.

She stretched lazily, relishing the warmth of the bed before sitting up and brushing her hair out of her face with her fingers.

Lavinia glanced out the window, half expecting to see Robert's carriage pulling up at any moment.

Part of her hoped he would, that he would ask her to spend the day with him, to show her a glimpse of the future she thought she was ready to accept.

But there was another part of her, a part that was quieter and more cautious, that wondered if she was rushing into something too quickly.

She had been swept up in the idea of a proposal, of a life that seemed so perfectly tailored to her desires.

But was it really what she wanted? Was there sense to Andrew's worries?

She pushed those thoughts aside as she finished dressing, smoothing the folds of her gown and fastening the delicate necklace her mother had given her.

If Robert didn't come today, she would find something to do on her own, something that allowed her to think, to process the whirlwind of emotions that had overtaken her.

"Miss Lavinia, your father requests your presence in his study," Her maid, Lilian's voice came, breaking the stillness of the room. "I believe your brother is there as well."

Lavinia's eyebrows furrowed. "Do you know why?"

Lilian shook her head.

A sigh slipped from Lavinia's lips as she rose to her feet to follow Lilian. She wondered what it was this time. Her father had not complained about anything for days now.

As she descended the stairs, the faint sound of David's voice reached her ears, but the words were indistinguishable. She quickened her pace, feeling the familiar flutter of concern settle in her chest.

When she reached her father's study, Lavinia gave a soft knock before pushing the door open. Inside, her father was seated at his desk. When he saw her come in, he rose to his feet with a smile on his face.

"Good news, dear!" he beamed. "The duke has asked for your hand in marriage."

Lavinia's heart skipped, and she instinctively began to open her mouth in surprise, her eyes widening at the mention of a duke. But then, her mind caught up with her.

The d uke?

She quickly paused, brows furrowing. "Did you mean viscount, Papa?"

David shook his head. "Andrew asked for your hand in marriage. Father accepted."

"He what?" she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

"The wedding is in two weeks," her father said, still beaming. "I knew you could make me proud."

"But Papa, the viscount already said?—"

"Who is the viscount next to a duke?" her father interrupted, his tone firm and dismissive. "The duke is a man of far more consequence, Lavinia. A marriage to him will elevate our family. You should feel fortunate. I have made the decision because I know what is best for you, Lavinia."

Lavinia's heart sank as she tried to process the sudden shift. She had been certain of her path with Robert, but now she couldn't understand a thing. Andrew proposed?

Was Andrew doing this to spite her?