Page 14 of A Duchess to Unravel (The Devil’s Masquerade #3)

CHAPTER SEVEN

“ A listair. We do not have a meeting scheduled today.”

Her ear pressed tightly to the door of her brother’s study, Theo heard the bitterness in her brother’s voice.

She had not slept a single moment the night before, her mind and body whirling from her visit to Alistair.

They’d kissed one another with such passion that it made her body surge with joy-- and yet she despised his arrogant nature.

She was unsure if the bitter words of farewell they’d exchanged last night would change Alistair’s mind about the offer, but now here he was, arriving the moment calling hour began to speak to Tristan.

She’d watched like a little spy, hiding behind corners and columns as Mr. Harold led him to Tristan’s office.

Wanting to be sure she was not caught, she went through the library and to the closet the two rooms shared where, only a few days ago, she and her friends had played their trick.

Fondness filled her as she recalled how much they’d laughed, how they’d teased one another. It was the first day in a long time she had felt somewhat herself again.

“No, we do not,” she heard Alistair reply. “but there is a matter we must discuss.”

The deep timber of Alistair’s voice sent a shiver of desire down Theo’s spine and she immediately cursed herself for it. She might find him greatly annoying, but it was certainly true that everything about his physical and audial attributes also made her body spark with life.

“If this is about our conversation yesterday, I suppose I do owe you an apology. But you must understand. Despite our recent business deal you are still a stranger, and I cannot marry my sister to someone she barely knows.” She heard Tristan say.

Alarm shot through Theo. They’d had a conversation about her yesterday? About marriage? And Tristan had said no? It seemed strange, seeing as his desire to get her betrothed to someone had been increasing with each day.

“None of the gentlemen here know her either,” Alistair remarked calmly.

“They know of her,” Tristan replied quickly. “Have been to the same parties, run in the same circles. You have only just arrived, so I still argue that you are more a stranger than they.”

The dislike in Tristan’s voice was unmistakable, and Theo marveled at how well her brother had been able to keep his true feelings about Alistair from her. It made her ponder on Alistair’s words the night before-- did she really know her brother? Or did he too wear a mask all his own?

“Maybe so,” she heard Alistair acquiesce, “However I have come with some news. I have spoken with Theo on this matter of marriage and she expressed her approval.”

Theo heard the scrape of chair legs and a slam of some sort as Tristan hissed out, “What? When? You dared seek an audience with my sister without my permission?”

Worry shot through Theo at the sound of her brother’s anger and alarm. Was Alistair going to tell him the truth? Was he going to hold it over Tristan’s head as a taunt?

She gripped the knob of the door, ready to go in and interfere, but what she heard Alistair say next made her freeze with shock.

“I was fascinated by your sister the moment I saw her at your dinner party. When I spoke with her later that evening I offered my proposal. She is intelligent, strong, and we share similar views on marriage. She sent word last night that she accepted my proposal,” Alistair told him.

“We are still strangers, yes, but we will remedy that after we are wed,” he went on, “Much like most couples of noble birth are forced to do.”

“I told you no yesterday,” Tristan retorted.

“You also said you would give your sister a choice,” Alistair countered quickly. “And she has chosen me. Are you truly going to take that from her?”

Tense silence filled the air next, stretching a quiet so loud and thick that Theo was starting to worry the beating of her heart could be heard from the closet she was hiding in.

Then, in a volume she’d never heard from her brother before, her name was roared.

He’d never done such an ungentlemanly thing!

Theo jumped, covering her mouth to stop the yelp she’d almost screamed, and hurriedly left the closet to make her way to the main door of her brother’s office.

Once in front of it, she smoothed her hands down her face, hair, then her dress, urging herself to be calm.

Tristan bellowed her name again just as she opened the door with purpose and stared at him coldly.

“What are you doing shouting so loudly?” She demanded. “Could you not send a servant for me as a polite person would do?”

For a moment Tristan seemed taken aback by her scolding, and she took the brief opportunity to flick her eyes toward Alistair.

He had risen from his chair as she’d entered.

He was wearing a most annoying smirk on his annoyingly handsome face.

She narrowed her eyes at him, a silent warning to not get so cocky.

“The Duke of Caldermere has informed me that you have accepted his proposal of marriage,” Tristan stated. He was calmer now, but his voice still held a grit of displeasure to it.

“I was under the impression that you did not hold him in such a regard.”

Theo relaxed her face, a flurry of thoughts moving through her mind.

She could not tell him the truth; that she had got a threatening letter.

The worry would drive him mad, and from the looks of him presently, he was already close.

Nor could she lie and say that it was any romantic notion that caused her to accept the proposal.

“I did not at first,” she admitted, clasping her hands in front of her, “However, His Grace has offered a practical solution to both of our problems. After much consideration I chose to accept his offer.”

Tristan studied her intently, as if searching for any form of reticence or doubt.

When he finished, he turned to Alistair and did the same.

Alistair only stared silently back, appearing calm and laid back at Tristan’s display of disrespect.

For a moment Theo was silent as well, but as her brother’s staring intensified, she began to grow uneasy.

Alistair was a duke after all, a newly minted one, yes, but still, much higher in rank than Tristan himself.

The show of open displeasure provided plenty of means for Alistair to put him in his place.

She had to admit, silently of course, that she felt an ounce of respect for Alistair for not seeming offended.

“Brother,” she said, calling his attention back to her. “What is the issue? You wanted me to marry. I accepted a proposal. From an English noble of high rank, I might add.”

Tristan turned his gaze back to her, and guilt flooded her as she saw not anger, but disappointment.

“You should have consulted me,” he stated. “You should have at least told me that you had received a proposal and were considering it.”

When Theo spoke, her tone was soft. They would surely argue again, but for now, she just wanted to put him at ease.

“I did not want to speak to you on the matter until I was sure. Though, I see now that I should have made the time to tell you before His Grace arrived. I apologize for mishandling the news of this, brother.”

Tristan shook his head, but Theo continued.

“You must see the convenience in all of this. You no longer have to waste your time trying to find suitors for me. I no longer have to sit through hours of boring conversation with gentlemen I know are barely able to entertain the idea of marrying me. And a marriage of this esteem will cause any rumors of me to end. This is what is best, my brother,” she implored.

“I know what is being said about me,” Alistair said, surprising Tristan and Theo by speaking up.

“I know that I am stranger from a wild land. That tales of men that come from Scotland are brutish and cruel. But I will take care of your sister, Lord Briarwood. She will be under my protection from the time we are married to the time we are separated by death. She will want for nothing.”

“Except love. You cannot love her.”

Tristan’s words were flat. There was no question. It was a statement. She glanced to Alistair and for the briefest of moments she could have sworn she saw a flicker of regret. He could not deny his brother’s words.

Theo only shrugged her shoulders.

“I would not gain love in any marriage,” she replied simply, “I am not even sure I am capable of such an emotion myself. At least in a marriage to the Duke of Caldermere, I will be able to find enjoyment from the arguments we will no doubt constantly have.”

As if he could not help it, a chortle escaped Alistair’s lips, which he quickly covered with the clearing of his throat.

Tristan, though, clearly did not find her words amusing.

“I wanted more for you than this,” he said.

Listening to the defeated tone in Tristan’s voice was agonizing, and Theo quickly shook her head.

“It is the best circumstance I could ask for, brother,” she replied gently. “After all the trouble and rumors I have caused, I am lucky that I even get this.”

Tristan shook his head, his mouth set in a grim line. It was as if he knew she was telling the truth but did not want to admit it. Finally, though, he sighed, and sat back down in his chair.

“Very well,” he muttered.

Alistair clapped his hands together loudly, startling both Theo and Tristan.

“Excellent!” He boasted. “Now that that is out of the way, let us move on to the wedding. I think five days should be enough to plan.”

Theo’s head swiveled toward Alistair as Tristan’s bowed head shot back up.

“Five days?” They questioned in unison.

“I cannot plan a wedding in five days!” Theo exclaimed.

“You cannot be wed in five days,” Tristan added, “People will talk! You need to have an engagement! You need to seek approval from the His Majesty and Her Majesty! From the Church!”

“I will take care of all of it, there is nothing either of you will have to do,” Alistair said as he straightened his jacket.

Almost as an afterthought he added, “Except for relax, perhaps. The two of you look like you are about to have a stroke.”

“Your Grace,” Theo bit out, her temper flaring through her shock, “Surely you can give me a little more time.”

“It is not needed,” Alistair replied, his tone matter-of-fact. He gave her a level look, making it clear he would not be moved on this and reached for her hand.

She wanted to draw it back and slap him across the face, but instead she stilled herself and allowed him to kiss the back of her hand.

She pulled it away the moment his mouth left her skin, chiding herself for the pleasure she felt in even that brief feel of his lips.

He then walked to Tristan and offered his hand.

Tristan’s jaw clenched tightly. He stiffly drew up his hand and accepted Alistair’s handshake.

“We should discuss her dowry, at the very least,” he grit out.

To Theo’s surprise, Alistair only chortled.

“Not necessary,” he replied, then walked to the office door. “I will send details of the arrangements I have secured within the next day. Miss Theo, you may pick your own dress if you wish. If not, just have your maid send me your measurements.”

“I can choose my own dress,” she bit out, her anger with him renewed.

“A lovely green, perhaps,” he mused, winking at her. “It is what you wear best.”

Theo’s jaw dropped, shock eating through her anger that he had noticed that green was her favorite and most often worn color.

“Theo,” Tristan stated the second after Alistair took his leave.

She felt her brother grip her shoulders and turn her toward him, the look on his face almost desperate.

“Why are you doing this?” He implored. “Has he threatened you?”

Theo jerked out of his grasp, his question a little too close to the truth.

“He has not,” she answered truthfully. “And I do not understand why you are so bothered by this. You have been insisting I get married for well over a year, even before Mama passed!”

Tristan studied her, his expression so doubtful and intense that she had to look away.

“Tell me now. Are you in trouble, Theo? Has something happened that I need to know about? You can tell me. I can help you,” he insisted.

Theo sighed and gently pried his hands off her shoulders.

“You have helped me enough, brother,” she replied. “It is time I take care of myself.”