Page 4 of Duke of Emeralds (Dukes of Decadence #2)

T he following morning, Hester found herself still in a state of shock.

She couldn’t fathom the Duke’s reason for making such an offer to a complete stranger.

Could she ever accept? she wondered, recalling how he had called her a lovely lady.

She had never been described as anything close to lovely by a gentleman before.

It was mere flattery. He would say anything to get what he wanted from me. But despite her thoughts, she felt her cheeks warm up nonetheless. I refuse to be the foolish, naive girl any longer. I will not accept his offer.

“Isn’t that right, Hester?” Her friend’s voice filtered into her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

“What?” Hester blinked, her eyes focusing on the sight before her. Anna Caldwell, the Duchess of Copperton, and Fiona Glacion, the Duchess of Craton, were staring at her with identical expressions of curiosity and concern.

“Woolgathering, are we now, Hester?” Nancy nudged her playfully, a teasing smile on her lips.

Hester was having tea with her friends at Fiona’s house. Fiona had married the Duke of Craton last season, and her home was always a welcoming place for their little gatherings. They were meeting this morning to discuss events for the charity they had founded together.

“That’s odd. You’ve never been much of a dreamer, Hester,” Fiona said, her brow furrowing slightly as she studied her friend.

Hester felt a pang of guilt for being so distracted. She knew her friends were concerned about her, and she didn’t want to worry them. She took a deep breath, willing herself to push thoughts of the Duke from her mind and focus on the present moment.

“That is because I am too busy trying to understand reality itself before I venture elsewhere,” Hester sighed in frustration, her fingers tightening around her teacup.

Anna, ever the direct one, leaned forward, her gaze as scrutinizing as ever. “What happened, Hester? You seem troubled.”

Hester felt her cheeks warm under Anna’s intense scrutiny. She wasn’t ready to share the details of her encounter with the Duke, but she also didn’t want to lie to her friends.

Before Hester could gather her thoughts to respond, Nancy spoke up. “She finally summoned the courage to speak to the Marquess of Townstead.”

Neither Anna nor Fiona had been at the ball last night, but they had always known about Hester’s interest in the Marquess. Hester, however, had yet to share the outcome of last night’s events with her friends.

I suppose it is as good a place to start as any.

“You did?” Fiona’s eyes grew wide with palpable curiosity, and she leaned forward, eager for more details.

Nancy carried on, replying in Hester’s stead. “And now that I think about it, you disappeared right after, Hester. Things with Townstead must have taken a most pleasant turn.”

Nancy’s words were accompanied by a teasing smile, and both Anna and Fiona laughed, their eyes twinkling with mirth.

“Did you perhaps slip away from the ball with the Marquess?” Fiona added with a wink in Anna and Nancy’s direction.

More laughter echoed in the drawing room, and Hester felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She couldn’t let her friends believe such a thing, even if it was in jest.

I must set the record straight. I will not have them believe I would do such a thing.

“On the contrary,” Hester began, her voice steady and sure, “the Marquess was such an unpleasant person, I wouldn’t want any more of his company if he was the last gentleman left standing.”

Her friends’ laughter died down, and they looked at her with expressions of surprise and concern.

They must understand. I will not be made a fool of again.

Hester went on to share how rude the Marquess had been. She could feel her friends’ sympathy and support, and it gave her the strength to continue.

“Oh, you poor darling,” Anna said, her eyes soft with understanding. She reached out and gave Hester’s hand a gentle squeeze. “We are here for you, Hester. You know that, don’t you?”

Hester nodded, her throat tight with emotion. She did know that. She had her friends, and they would support her no matter what.

“You look like there’s more though,” Anna added, her gaze searching Hester’s face.

Eventually, Hester found the words spilling from her lips, the story of the previous night’s events tumbling out in a rush.

She told her friends about the aftermath of Townstead’s rejection, the way his cruel words had cut her to the quick, and how she had fled to the gardens to escape the prying eyes of the ton .

She spoke of the Duke of Lushton and how he had found her there, in tears, and the offer he had made her.

A shocked silence descended upon the room when she finished. Nancy was the first to find her voice, her brow furrowed. “Why do you think he proposed, Hester? Do you think it’s pity?”

Hester’s spine stiffened at the thought, her chin lifting in defiance. “I don’t want his pity,” she said, her voice steady and sure. Or anyone else’s, she added to herself, her hands clenching in her lap.

Fiona leaned forward. “Did you accept? Are you going to?”

Anna, ever the voice of reason, placed a gentle hand on Fiona’s arm. “Oh, don’t be ridiculous, Fiona. How could she have accepted right away? The offer was shocking enough already.”

Hester shook her head, her fingers fidgeting with the muslin of her day frock. “I am not accepting,” she said. She watched as her friends exchanged glances, their surprise and speculation evident.

Why did he make such an offer? To a stranger, no less?

Nancy’s eyes widened suddenly, a mischievous glint in her gaze. “I hear he turns into a werewolf at night. And that he’s especially dangerous on the full moon.”

Anna rolled her eyes, a small smile playing at her lips. “Surely you don’t believe that, Nancy.”

Nancy shrugged, a grin spreading across her face. “I don’t. But it’s a rather exciting thought, isn’t it?”

Hester felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought, and she held her breath. Little was known about the new Scottish Duke after all. But werewolves were not real, she reminded herself, pushing the foolish notion aside.

“Well, enough about wolves and dukes now,” Hester said, her voice bright and cheerful. She turned to Fiona, a smile on her lips. “Did you say you had something to tell us, Fiona?”

Fiona’s cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I did,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I am with child.”

A chorus of felicitations filled the room, their voices overlapping in their excitement. Hester felt a genuine smile spread across her face, her heart swelling with happiness for her friend.

I am so happy for her. For them both.

But as she watched Fiona and Anna, their faces alight with joy, she felt something within her sink, a strange and inexplicable pang in her chest. A part of her wished for something similar to what they both had: a blissful marriage, children.

But the sensible part of her, the part that had seen the consequences of love, turned down the notion just as quickly as it had surfaced.

I do not want love. Ever, she told herself once again, her fingers now tightening around her teacup.

Later, when Hester returned home, she was surprised to find her mother, Patience, the Countess of Hightower, waiting for her in her chambers.

“I’ve been waiting all afternoon for you,” Patience said as she sat on Hester’s bed, her hands folded in her lap.

“Is everything well, Mama? Are you all right?” Hester asked, that familiar worry and dread enveloping her as she rushed to her mother’s side. Her mother was frail and often in confinement.

Please, let her be well. I cannot bear to see her suffer any more.

“Oh, I’m perfectly fine, dear,” her mother chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and Hester felt the tension in her shoulders easing.

“I only wanted to know how your season is going, dear,” her mother replied, her gaze searching Hester’s face.

Hester paused before answering, her thoughts racing.

She couldn’t bring herself to share the truth with her mother, not when she had been so worried about her health.

She forced a smile, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her dress.

“Everything is great and going well, Mama,” she lied, her heart aching with the deception.

Forgive me, Mama. I cannot bear to worry you.

“Oh, that is good news, child,” Patience said, her eyes shining with obvious relief and excitement. “For I cannot rest until you’ve found your happiness, too.”

Hester felt a pang of guilt at her mother’s words, her smile faltering for a moment before she schooled her features once more.

“You see, he brought me more flowers this morning too. Peonies that have left my chambers smelling like a garden,” her mother added dreamily, her gaze distant as if lost in a memory.

Oh, Mama.

Hester’s heart twisted painfully in her chest. “Such a thoughtful man,” Patience sighed. “When he returns, we’ll walk the rose garden. He always cuts the thorns for me first—remember?”

Hester sucked in her lips to keep herself from talking. Don’t say it. Don’t remind her that Papa is dead.

“Did you hear what he said during breakfast this morning? That we shall have a grand ball to celebrate your engagement once you find the right gentleman.” Patience’s eyes glittered from the dream.

Hester took her mother’s fluttering hand. The skin felt paper-thin and cold. “Mama?—”

Patience startled, blinking as if surfacing from deep water. For a heartbeat, clarity sharpened her gaze. “Hester? Are you unwell, darling? You’ve gone pale.”

“I’m here,” Hester choked out, squeezing the fragile fingers. “Always.”

But then the moment shattered again, and Patience’s eyes glazed over, drifting back to the window. “Your father says the blue salon needs new drapes…”

Acid rose in Hester’s throat. This was love’s brutal arithmetic: a vibrant woman reduced to whispers for a ghost.

“My dear Hester, I do hope you are enjoying the season. I heard you are admired at every ball.”

“Indeed, I am.” Hester nodded. Guilt weighed heavy on Hester for lying to the woman who only wished her well.

Her season was going horribly, but she could never bring herself to share this with her mother.

She couldn’t bear to see the worry and disappointment in her eyes, not when she had already suffered so much.

I will find a way to make things right. I promise.

Hester recalled the Duke’s offer just then, and for a very brief moment, her mind dreamed of what it would mean to accept. No longer would she be mired by spinsterhood, and her mother’s dream of seeing her married would be fulfilled. Her future would be secured…

She shook her head. No, she could not permit herself those foolish musings.

There was no way she was going to settle for a marriage of convenience, even though she did not want love. Still, her prospects weren’t getting any better, and she was not getting any younger even though her mother was still dreaming of the best for her.

I will find my own path, Mama. I will find happiness in my way.