Page 21 of Married to the Cruel Duke (Dukes of Power #1)

CHAPTER 21

R ebecca clenched her hands into fists.

Her sister’s words still rang out in the air.

She could hardly believe Dorothy was saying such things! How could she just act like this where everyone could see her? Rebecca had been being as tolerant as she could, had worked so hard, but it still wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.

Well, the first part of that wasn’t quite true.

She wasn’t all that surprised that Dorothy was saying all that. It was nothing she hadn’t said a million times before. The only difference was now she had a audience.

Rebecca’s eyes darted to William. His face had hardened into a mask of stone, rage building behind his eyes.

Rebecca grit her teeth. She couldn’t let this stand. It had been one thing to listen to them insult her, but now Dorothy wanted to involve William, she couldn’t just let that go.

Dorothy opened her mouth to speak again, but Rebecca snapped before a single word could pass her lips.

“I think it’s high time you and father leave,” she said in a deadly even voice.

“Excuse me!”

“After what you said about me and my husband I don’t know what you were expecting to hear. Now leave.”

“I will do no such thing!” she snapped. “You can’t speak to me like this. Father, tell her she can’t say things like this to me!”

And of course he was quick to jump to his favorite daughter’s defense. “Rebecca,” Solomon cut in, voice dripping with disappointment. “How can you say such a thing? You were the one to invite us in the first place and dinner has only just begun.”

She snapped her gaze to him. “I know, but it was a mistake inviting you in the first place. In fact, when you leave, I expect you to stay gone.”

“Careful, Rebecca,” his voice darkened. “Think about the implications of what you’re saying.”

“Believe me, I have. That’s why I’m saying it. I never want to see either of you again.”

“Rebecca-”

‘No,” she cut him off. “I refuse to simply sit here and listen to you disrespect me and my husband! I am a Duchess now. I expect you to treat me with the respect that warrants.”

Solomon got to his feet.

He moved to take a step towards rebecca.

Before he can get any closer, William was on his feet, putting himself between them.

“Did you not hear my esteemed wife?” he growled. “She asked you to leave.”

“Rebecca, are you just going to let to him speak to your father like this?”

When she didn’t say anything, he continued.

“What about your sister? Have you no heart?”

That was enough to snap her into speaking once more. “Have I no heart? What about the pair of you? Did you think if you were just cruel enough I would stay loyal to you? I have found someone who treats me kindly, who treats me how you should have been treating me all along. I don’t want to see you again. Get out.”

Solomon gave her one last sharp glare. It was enough to make Rebecca’s clenched fists shake. “Make no mistake, you will regret this.”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

“You heard her,” William snapped. “Now get out of here before I make you.”

For a moment, he was too stunned to speak. Solomon stood there, mouth open, eyes flipping between them. Then his gaze drifted to the others in the room.

Penelope was grinning like she had just gotten the best news in the word. Her mother was eating her meal as though nothing had happened, doing her best to have a normal conversation with Patrick’s wife.

She was doing her best to engage with Lady Sutton, but her eyes kept flicking to her husband. Patrick on the other hand had his eyes locked on the situation at hand, ready to come forward and back William up at a moment’s notice.

“I can’t believe I raised such an ungrateful daughter,” he shook his head.

None of them said a word.

After a moment, he spun on his heals. “Come, Dorothy. I think we’re done here.”

“But father! Are you just going to let her get away with speaking to me like that?” Dorothy whined.

“I said let’s go!” he snapped.

“But-”

“Now! We can talk in the carriage.” He stomped off without another word, leaving her to chase after him.

Rebecca’s sister shot her one last glare before following him from the room.

Rebecca let out a shaky breath before falling into her seat. It was strange. She didn’t even remember standing up. She must have done it some time during the confrontation but couldn’t place when.

Her eyes darted to the other guests, checking to see how they had reacted to the confrontation. To her relief, they were all eating and talking as if nothing had ever happened. Most likely by design, none of them were even looking at her or William, focused wholly on the meal and each other’s company.

“Are you all right?” William asked, flying to her side.

“I’m fine. I just- I just need a moment.”

“I want you to know I am so proud of you for standing up for yourself like that, but I’m sure that was a lot.” He leaned in close. “Do you want me to send everyone home?”

She shook her head. “But could you take them through to the sitting room. I need a moment.”

“Of course, but are you sure you don’t want me to sit with you?”

“I should be all right. I just want a moment to take in everything that happened.”

He hesitated. “Very well, if you’re sure,but please remember that if you say the word then I will do whatever I can to help.”

“As long as you know that. We’ll be in the parlor when you’re ready.”

“Thank you,” she said just because he stood.

“All right everyone,” William said, turning to their dinner guests. “That concludes the meal. If you would all follow me through to the parlor.”

As they moved to go, Penelope and Lady Sutton hesitated be her for a moment before slipping from the room.

Alone for a moment, she took a shaky breath. She could hardly believe she had said any of that.

She was almost dizzy with the excitement of it all. A laugh bubbled in her chest.

She was never going to see them again.

It had finally happened.

She was truly free.

A short time later, Rebecca enters the sitting room. The second she stepped through the doors, all eyes turn to her.

For a moment, she thought it was going to be a topic of conversation, but she should have known Penelpoe would never let something like that happen.

Her friend immediately approached her with a bright smile on her face. “I just wanted to make sure my mother and I told you just how good dinner was.”

Rebecca returned the smile. “That’s kind of you to say, thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“It was splendid. I can’t wait until your next one.”

Once the tension was broken, the rest of the evening could not have been more pleasant.

Everyone had a good time talking, playing games and getting to know one another.

It turned out Patrick’s wife was a wonderful and witty woman when she wasn’t worried about adding fule to the fire like she was at the dinner table.

They stayed up well into the night, talking, playing games and having an all around wonderful time.

Eventually thought, everyone had to go home for the night and William and Rebecca were left alone once more.

He moved to sit beside her, a tender smile on his face. “That went well. How are you feeling?”

She nodded. “Free.”

“Good, you deserve to be free. You did a great job with everything this evening, the dinner, how you handled them. You should be proud.”

“I am, but it meanes even more to hear you say that. I was so worried about doing right by the Danton name.”

“I think you did amazing by it.”

She didn’t give herself a moment to think. Rebecca had been bold that night, there was no reason not to keep it up.

She leaned forward, pressing her lips to William’s in a short tender kiss.

When she pulled away, she smiled. “I had a great time to night.”

“So did I.”

She got to her geet. “Good night, William I hope you sleep well.”

“You too, Rebecca. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Then she got to her feet and made her way back to her room. Mary was there waiting in side.

“Welcome back, your grace. Did you have a pleasant evening?” she asked as she got to work, helping her change for bed.

“Yes, I think I did.”

“Good, I’m so glad. Do you want me to let you sleep in in the morning since you were up so late tonight?”

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Are you sure? I doubt anyone would mind if you wanted a little extra rest. Everyone knows how much work you put into tonight.”

“You know what, why not? I think I I will sleep in for an extra hour.”

“Then I will see you in the morning.”