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Arabella spun to face him, “My daughter’s reputation hangs by a thread, and you think this is the time for jokes ?” she snapped.

“Mother is right,” Jasper nodded. “This is a serious matter.”

All the while, Violet felt as though she wanted to climb inside the wood of the flooring.

Leopold shrugged, undeterred. “Will it really help berating the poor girl like this? I am sure that she knows better than anyone how serious a smear this could be on her reputation. I propose that we approach the situation strategically.”

“Strategically?” Jasper narrowed his eyes at his brother.

“Yes. The scandal sheets haven’t published anything yet, so perhaps we can ensure they don’t.”

“Impossible,” Jasper retorted immediately with his lips pressed together. “They will not miss a chance to write about a duke.”

“Then perhaps we can send Violet away for a bit,” Leopold suggested. “Mother, would Aunt Margeret be willing to take her in? A year at most. Just until everyone forgets about the scandal.”

“I fear that sending her away for a year will still not be enough. After all, what decent man will be willing to marry her now?” Arabella shook her head, and Violet felt her heart sink even more. “Maybe one of you can speak to the Duke—he might be willing to correct his wrongs.”

Leopold scoffed, and Jasper did not look too convinced either.

“He has a reputation of being a notorious rake, Mother. Expecting a proposal from him would be foolish,” Leopold said.

“Leopold is right. The Duke must be used to ruining innocent ladies,” Jasper frowned, glancing at his sister’s direction.

Violet felt as though she was suffocating.

When did this become her reality? She had never expected herself to be the diamond of the season, but deep down, she had always known that she would find a decent match for herself.

Now, her only two choices were an unlikely marriage with a rake or a lifetime of spinsterhood.

Arabella looked as though she would faint at any moment. She looked away from her daughter, her expression pinched. “What will become of my daughter now? I have seen this play out dozens of times before. Even if we act most prudently, the whispers will persist. We cannot simply wish this away.”

Jasper slammed his fist against the side table, the sound reverberating through the room. Seeing their mother like this was his final straw. “If the Duke does not come here to take responsibility, I’ll challenge him to a duel. A man like him must be taught a lesson, and I’ll gladly deliver it.”

“Jasper!” Arabella’s voice wavered with alarm. “You must not think emotionally. There is a lot at stake.”

“And what of it? I can best him in a duel, Mother. You must not think any less of me because he is higher than me in rank,” Jasper sneered.

Violet clutched the fabric of her dress tighter. Her nervousness had reached its peak, and her pale green eyes shimmered with embarrassment at having landed in a situation like this to begin with.

“This isn’t necessary,” she said softly though her voice was barely audible. A part of her had already resolved herself to her fate. “The Duke will not come.”

Men like him rarely bothered themselves with the consequences of their actions.

Leopold shook his head. “Violet, I understand that you feel disheartened, but we will find a way to get out of this mess. He might?—”

A sharp knock at the door interrupted the conversation, and everyone froze. Who could that be? They had not been expecting any visitors, especially not after what had happened. Everyone in the room appeared to be thinking the same thing as Violet.

But their curiosity would be resolved as only a moment later, the butler appeared at the threshold.

“The Duke of Bernight has arrived,” he announced.

“The Duke is here?” Arabella nearly jumped up, looking towards her children with nervousness. Violet’s own heart twisted with disbelief. This was the last thing she had expected him to do.

“Show him in,” Jasper commanded, balling his fists.

“Jasper, do not fight him,” Violet pleaded with her oldest brother. She knew that he could have a temper on occasion, but she did not want the situation to worsen any further.

“I will handle him,” he assured her as calmly as he was able to with his anger still simmering below the surface.

The butler disappeared, and moments later, Nicholas Havenford, Duke of Bernight, stepped into the room. His piercing blue eyes swept across the room, landing briefly on Violet before shifting to Jasper.

Nicholas inclined his head in greeting.

“Your Grace,” Jasper said tersely, “I believe there is a great deal for us to discuss.”

The Duke stepped further into the room. Despite the air of hostility, he managed to maintain a sense of authority. He must be used to getting into trouble like this, Violet thought to herself.

“I am aware of the circumstances.” His tone was perfectly even as he responded. “And I have come to resolve the matter.”

Jasper crossed his arms over his chest. “And how, precisely, do you intend to do that? You have tarnished my sister’s reputation.”

“I have not.” The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he maintained his composure. “I have never, and will never, ruin a lady’s reputation. What happened was an unfortunate accident, but I take full responsibility. I am here to propose a solution.”

Violet’s breath hitched, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her skirt. She didn’t dare look at him.

Arabella stepped forward, her voice trembling. “Your Grace, with all due respect, my daughter’s future hangs in the balance. We cannot afford half-measures.”

“I understand that, and I assure you that I am not going to take the matter lightly. That is why….” He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over hers. It made her cheeks heat up. “… I intend to marry Lady Violet.”

Violet’s head snapped up, her wide eyes meeting his for the first time. “M-marry me?” she blurted out. Her reaction was extreme but far from the worst one.

Like a cascading cacophony, the room soon erupted into voices. Jasper was the loudest.

“Your Grace, while your intention to marry my sister is noble, you must not blame me for being suspicious,” Jasper said. “What assurances do we have that you will treat Violet with the respect she deserves?”

The Duke pressed his lips together in a thin line. “You have my word.”

Leopold crossed his arms and fixed the duke with a hard stare. “My brother’s right, Your Grace. Forgive me for being…crass, but you’re a rake of the first order. How can we trust you to take care of her?”

“I have never once soiled a lady’s reputation,” the Duke repeated with gritted teeth. It was clear that his patience was wearing thin from the ceaseless questioning. “However, at this moment, there is nothing I can substantiate my claim with. All you have is my word.”

“We are only worried, of course,” Arabella jumped in. “We hope that you are the morally upright gentleman that you are claiming to be, but we live in this society, and it is only natural for my sons to have their doubts.”

Moral uprightness. Honor. Reputation. It occurred to Violet at the moment that no one had bothered to ask her what she thought about the matter.

“I have made my intentions clear.” The Duke cleared his throat. “Besides, you know better than anyone else how this is not a request. It is more of a necessity.”

His voice held so much authority that it overshadowed everyone else in the room. Even Jasper—who was never one to get intimidated—stood back.

“A special license will be obtained, and the marriage will be arranged promptly. I will ensure that the rumors are managed, and Lady Violet’s reputation is preserved,” the Duke continued. “Now, if you will allow me, I wish to the speak to the lady alone for a moment.”

“You will do no such thing.” Jasper stepped forward. “It is enough that our sister has been embroiled in such a scandal. It would be unwise for you to speak to her alone again.”

“Yes, whatever you wish to say, you may say here with all of us present,” Leopold agreed.

Nicholas’ eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, everything else fell away.

It would be better if we could speak in private, Violet found herself thinking against her own better judgment.

The Duke opened his mouth to speak—to defend himself, perhaps—and her brothers shifted uncomfortably beside her, but Arabella took a stand. “We should let them speak.”

“Mother—” the two brothers protested.

“It is for the best,” she concluded, her voice ringing with an air of authority.

“Thank you,” the Duke nodded.

Slowly, her mother and her two brothers slinked out of the room. Violet felt her heart start to beat faster now that they were alone, but she did not want him to see that he was having any sort of impact on her.

“Lady Violet?—”

“Your Grace?—”

They broke the silence at the same time.

Blushing, Violet pulled herself back, but he only seemed to strengthen in his resolve, taking a step towards her.

“Please, say what you need to. Our communication must be clear at this point and moving forward.”

Violet tried hard to keep her voice from wavering. “Your Grace, this is moving entirely too fast. I only met you for the first time the other day, and now you are here asking for?—”

“Lady Violet,” he cut her off, firmly, “let me make one thing clear here which it should already be to you. There is only one sane choice here. Marry me and secure your family’s honor, or refuse and face complete ruin. I will not force you, but you must understand the consequences.”

He was looking at her with an intensity that made her insides turn.

“I…”

Her lips parted, but no words came. She felt the weight of his gaze. For a moment, the room seemed to tilt.

Never had she imagined that she would be proposed to in this manner. Far from romantic, it felt like a negotiation. Not even that. It was a command. It was not like she could turn down a Duke’s proposal. It would not only just destroy her but cast a questioning shadow over her entire family.

Nicholas held her gaze, his expression inscrutable. And then, for reasons she couldn’t fathom, she found herself unable to look away. Could I see myself spending my entire life together with this man?

Did she have a choice?

“I would advise you to be swift in your decision,” he prompted softly. “I imagine your brothers already do not think too well of me, and they might break down the door if I was to keep you in here a second longer.”

He took another step closer to her. It made her heart jump again.

“I….” Her voice trembled. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. “I… I accept.”

A faint flicker of relief passed over his features, so brief she almost doubted she’d seen it. He inclined his head. “Wise choice. The arrangements will be made immediately.”

Violet felt a strange sense of emptiness at his response. There was no triumph, nor was there any excitement. From either of them. Surely, this was not how things were meant to work.

He turned to leave, but before he reached the door, he paused and glanced back at her. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was tinged with something that almost sounded like regret.

“And one last thing,” he said. Violet’s ears perked up immediately. “This will be a marriage of convenience, Lady Violet. Nothing more.”

“Yes, of course. What else could it be?” she replied hurriedly. But inside, there was a pang in her chest. His words rang with an air of finality. Like he wanted to make it absolutely clear that he lacked all interest in her.

It stung much more than she would have liked to admit out loud.

And as he disappeared toward the doorway—where she heard her brothers crowd him, likely to discuss the details of their wedding—she knew that her life had forever changed.

She was to no longer be Violet Kingsman, maiden, free-spirited. She was to become the new Duchess of Bernight.