Page 6 of Bound By the Duke

“You’re getting married,” Lord Scovell released in a single breath.

The silence that followed was deafening. Aurelia blinked, at a loss for words. Once. Twice. She looked at her mother, then back at her father.

“I—I beg your pardon?” she stuttered, unable to comprehend.

“You’re engaged,” her mother said, her smile turning into a grin. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

“No,” Aurelia uttered abruptly, rising from her seat. “It’s not.” She shook her head.

“His solicitor contacted us directly,” her mother added cheerfully, trying to convince her. “A formal proposal. All very respectable. He’s titled, wealthy, and clearly intelligent. He pickedyouout of all the eligible ladies, my dear.”

“I don’t care about that,” Aurelia said immediately, still shaking her head at the shocking news. She could feel her heart thumping hard against her ribs. “It doesn’t change the fact that he is a stranger?—”

“Youwillmeet him soon,” Lord Scovell declared, his tone suggesting that the matter was not open for discussion. No room for debate.

Aurelia’s heart thudded in her ears, feeling like it could burst open any moment now.

She had always known this day would come, that the season wouldn’t go on forever. That eventually, her parents would run out of patience. But at the very least, she had hoped she would meet the man before her life was handed away like a wrapped parcel.

She took a deep breath, deciding to be receptive. “Who is he?”

Her parents looked at each other, and that made her narrow her eyes.

“Why the hesitation? Is he seventy-five? Is he collecting wives like porcelain figurines?”

Her father sighed. “The Duke of Whitmore.”

Aurelia froze.

That name.

It hit her like cold water down the back of her neck. That name that stirred so many rumors.

“Whitmore?” she echoed, her voice thin. “As in, the reclusive duke? The one who hasn’t attended a single gathering in years?”

“The very one,” Lady Scovell confirmed, practically glowing. “Isn’t it splendid?”

“Indeed.” Aurelia laughed, but there was no mirth in it. “You are marrying me off to a ghost?”

Lord Scovell’s jaw clenched. “This is your third Season, Aurelia.”

The harshness of her father’s words hit her like a slap, and the sting reminded her of the brutal truth—that every passing Season without a proposal was a reminder that she was running out of time, and the delay would soon bring shame to their esteemed family name.

“We’ve given you time. Freedom. But now?—”

“Now I’m just a burden,” she muttered before she could stop herself. Her voice was a whisper, yet it was sharper than she meant it to be.

Her mother gasped. “What do you mean by that? Don’t you think you sound ungrateful?”

“I’m not,” Aurelia replied, pulling her hands free. “I’m not ungrateful. I just… I didn’t think it would happen like this…”

She sat back down, feeling like her knees would give out. At that moment, Sir Whiskerton sauntered into the room and jumped onto her lap, completely unaware of the panic building in her chest. Or perhaps he was aware and was trying to comfort her in his own way.

Completely unaware of how her thoughts spun fast. Too fast.

She always knew her parents would reach their limit. That one day, they would stop waiting for her to find a match. But deep down, she had always hoped that she would get to choose. That she would at least meet the man before they told all of London that she was taken.

Her mother sighed, breaking the silence. “Sweetheart, your younger sister is about to debut. We can’t have you still unmarried. People are starting to talk.”