Page 23 of Courting the Duke (Reimagined Regency #2)

Hoxton paced the drawing room, more nervous than he should be. After coming home to inquire about Lady Roxanne, her mother informed him that she was much improved. The countess had insisted that he have the audience to get the marriage business out of the way.

Throughout his toilet, all he could think about was Serena and the kiss they shared. He tried to scrub it from his mind, but it wasn’t possible. He liked her well enough, but he couldn’t say he was in love with her. Nor could he say with any certainty that she had any feelings for him.

A soft knock sounded on the door, and he looked up to see the servant announcing Lady Roxanne.

She entered wearing a lovely white dress, her hair framing her face.

Her cheeks were rosy, but there was definite puffiness around her eyes.

Either she had been crying, or was still sick, and her mother had pushed her into this.

Once he proposed to Roxanne and she became his wife, the countess would have to be put in her place.

He wouldn’t have his new wife upset over her caustic ways.

“Lady Roxanne, I am sorry to find out that you were ill.” Hoxton walked up to her and took her hand, squeezing the gloved fingers. She offered a wavering smile and looked over her shoulder before meeting his gaze once more.

The countess told him that he could have a few private minutes with Lady Roxanne to make the proposal, and with a nod at the servant, he allowed the man to close the door just enough to leave an acceptable crack.

It was silly, especially since he was going to marry her, to think that he might compromise her in a few minutes, but that’s what was deemed appropriate, and he must follow the rules.

“I had a touch of a headache and felt a bit faint from the exertion. But I assure you, I am fine now. I have a very robust constitution despite what others might think,” she said with a tight smile.

“You still look a bit under the weather.” He realized too late that he should never have said anything.

“Do I look unsightly?” she asked.

“You look beautiful as always. I was simply worried about your health.” Hoxton motioned for her to sit in one of the Queen Anne chairs near the fireplace.

She shook her head and began to pace while worrying the end of her glove.

“Is something amiss?” Throughout their courtship, he had received mixed messages from her. He didn’t want to force her into something she didn’t want to do, nor was he keen on making an unhappy match.

“Yes, I am afraid… I am…” she paused, her hand shooting to her mouth, tears brightening her eyes.

With a shaky breath, she twisted to look behind her once more.

Despite being overwrought, she remained in control.

When he had first met her, he thought that was all there was to her, but he’d come to see a bit more, and liked what he had found.

“We are alone. You can speak freely to me.” He handed her his handkerchief from his inside pocket, alarmed to see her so upset.

“I am worried about Serena. After what happened today, I fear for her future and for her reputation.” Lady Roxanne continued her pacing, tears streaming down her face.

“What happened to Se…um, Miss Deburgiak?” His heart pounded even harder.

Lady Roxanne dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief, her lower lip quivering. In a mere whisper, she said, “You know what happened.”

He frowned, shaking his head. “I am afraid you have to be more specific.”

“The gossips say that she has been compromised by being locked in the cellar with you.” Lady Roxanne colored, her cheeks flushed.

“What gossips? That happened two hours ago, and we were trapped for less than half an hour. How did this rumor start to circulate so quickly? There are only a few people left in the house party unless…” His mind instantly went to Blackstone.

The baron was the last person he saw go through the door before it shut, locking them in.

“I don’t know how the rumors started, however, Mama knows about it. She has sent Serena to her room for the rest of the stay, and when we return home, Serena will need to pack her bags and leave the property. Mama’s very upset over this, and thinks that Serena was compromised.”

His pulse throbbing, he rubbed at his temple, willing a headache away.

“Nothing untoward happened.” Not entirely true, but he wouldn’t tell her that.

He and Serena had decided not to tell anyone about the kiss, and she even insisted that it hadn’t happened, despite both of them knowing that it had.

“I assure you, I did not compromise your cousin. On the contrary, I hold her in the highest regard.”

“You and I are in complete agreement on that. I love Serena and I don’t want anything to happen to her.

I can’t help but feel this is entirely my fault.

” Lady Roxanne stopped pacing and turned, entreating eyes on him.

The liquid sheen in her gaze reminded him of a doe, innocent and in need of protection.

“I will simply inform your mother that nothing happened and that I did nothing to compromise Miss Deburgiak. Nor did she behave in any manner that was not expected of her.” The lies fell easily from his lips.

He wished he didn’t have to tell such untruths.

But he’d also promised Serena that he would keep it between them, and he couldn’t disgrace her by admitting anything, even to her cousin.

“Mama will not easily be put off. She thinks Serena betrayed her family, and in her mind, that will never change.” Lady Roxanne continued to speak in a whisper, fear evident in the tension of her jaw.

“I don’t know why, but Serena rubs her the wrong way, and I think she’s just been looking for an excuse to dismiss her. ”

Hoxton wouldn’t put it past the countess, she was a petty woman. “Then I will speak to your father on her behalf.” Perhaps the viscount could do something to halt his wife’s actions.

“There is something you can do. You can ask Serena for her hand.” Lady Roxanne said the words so low that he strained to hear her.

Although he had toyed with the idea in passing, he’d decided that marrying Lady Roxanne would be the most logical choice.

His own desires warred with his obligation to his fellow soldiers who’d fallen in battle beside him.

If it wasn’t for their bravery, he would have died where he lay.

“I have already asked your father for an audience so that I could ask for your hand. I planned on proposing earlier today, but things took a turn for the worse.” An understatement if ever there was one.

“I understand, but given the circumstances, I cannot accept any offer of marriage from you.” Lady Roxanne lifted her chin, purpose reflected in her gaze. Where before she seemed too young and na?ve, a determined woman stood before him.

“Your mother will not be happy, nor will my grandmother, or the queen, for that matter.” Hoxton started to pace himself, unable to stand still.

He had it in his head to propose to Lady Roxanne, and now that she had turned him down, he needed to reevaluate his course of action.

If he had indeed compromised Serena, he must do right by her.

He was not opposed to making a match with her.

She was very articulate, and he enjoyed her company.

A marriage of convenience was one thing, a marriage wrought with scandal quite another.

“No, none will be happy, but I am not speaking about them. Would you truly be happy married to me?”

The question caught him off guard, and he shook his head. “I suppose I could ask the same thing of you.”

Would she admit to her feelings for Stiller?

She averted her gaze and bit her bottom lip before seeming to catch herself.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable marrying a man who refuses to step up to the mark and save a woman’s reputation.

I know that everyone thinks I am na?ve and unassuming, but Serena means the world to me, and I would gladly sacrifice my place for her own. ”

Lady Roxanne hadn’t exactly answered his question. He hadn’t expected a declaration of undying love from her, and would be insulted by her indifference if he’d truly been in love with her.

“While I appreciate your fortitude, this is simply a misunderstanding. Miss Deburgiak and I were trapped for less than half an hour in the cellar, hardly the ideal place for a clandestine rendezvous.” Hoxton might have been out of his mind for a few minutes, but he wouldn’t disrespect Serena by seducing her in a dank cellar.

If they married, he could think of much better places to seduce his new wife.

The thought brought him up short and he shook off the growing excitement at the prospect.

He needed to think with his head, not other parts of his body.

“Much is riding on our marriage that has nothing to do with your eye. The queen will not be happy were I to marry someone else, and I have a project in mind that I can’t sacrifice.”

With a nod, she swallowed visibly. “I understand that, but I will not marry you.”

Hoxton stopped his pacing and stood before her, taking her hands in his.

“I appreciate your honesty, and although I am disappointed, I understand your reasoning. I can’t help but ask, what about the circumstances you will find yourself in once your mother learns that you’ve turned me down?

I’ve noticed that she’s very overbearing, and although it’s none of my affair, I hate to see anyone being bullied, especially somebody as goodhearted as you. ”

“Thank you, your grace, that is exactly what Serena says to me all the time.” With a mischievous tilt to her lips, she inhaled a fortifying breath.

“That is the reason that I am standing up for my cousin. You and she seem to get along well, and she likes birds. Although I will admit that Rapscallion is very entertaining, I am not sure I could ever be fond of birds.”

They stared at each other for a long moment before he nodded.

Lady Roxanne had given him much to think about.

“For the time being, I don’t think you should tell your mother you refused my offer.

I think it might be best if you simply tell her that I informed you of my intention to speak to your father.

I need time to consider everything you said. ”

“I am not worried about myself, but I will do as you ask because I am a coward at heart.” She fisted his handkerchief and released a shaky breath. “I had best get back to Serena. As you can guess, she is distraught.”

“Please assure her that I will try to do what I can to save her position.” If he could convince the viscount of the innocent nature of the incident, perhaps he could salvage things on Serena’s behalf.

“Thank you.” Lady Roxanne left the room with a soft rustle of skirts.

Hoxton stood staring at the empty hearth.

She had given him much to think about, but the first thing he needed to do was to protect Lady Roxanne and Serena.

The countess might be a formidable foe, but he was not without influence.

Either by hook or by crook, he wouldn’t let Serena suffer because of him.