Page 2 of The Beast’s Duchess (Duchesses of Inconvenience #1)

Chapter One

T hree years later

“I can’t believe the Archbishop is going to officiate your wedding!” Rose gushed, but it was easy to hear the strain in her voice.

“He is,” Veronica agreed, still sitting on her bed in their shared bedroom. Four beds lined the wall, though only three of them were used now. Amelia’s bed sat empty since she had passed away two summers ago.

Veronica wondered what her younger sister would have thought about today. About who she was marrying...

Stop! This is not the time to think about her. Nor should I complain about my life. Not when Amelia will never get to live hers.

Pale morning sunlight pushed its way through the white curtains fluttering over the window.

“It’s such an honor! The Archbishop only does a few weddings a year, you know,” Rose said.

“I know. Father is rather excited about it.”

“You should be too.”

“I am,” she forced herself to say. “Of course I am. How could I not be honored or excited? It’s my wedding day after all.”

Rose gave an equally tense smile.

“If you are excited, then you should start getting dressed,” Milly, her youngest sister, said from where she sat playing with the hairpins on the vanity.

She was still so young, only ten, and unaware of just what was going on with this union.

“We need to leave for the church in less than an hour, but if you are ready sooner then maybe we can go earlier. I bet Lord Gallmore would like that.”

The mention of his name made the air in the room go still.

Rose stepped in, defusing the situation. “Even if mother and father say we can go over early, we shouldn’t.”

“But why not?”

“We have guests coming to the wedding, they wouldn’t know about the schedule change so they would end up missing the wedding. It would be rude to them.”

She pouted, “But everyone is so excited.”

“They are, and that’s why we need to make sure everyone can see it.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“Just try and be patient.”

Milly turned back to Veronica, “but we can still start helping you get dressed, right?”

“Well...” she trailed off.

“It’s close enough to when we need to leave, isn’t it? Plus, aren’t you excited to wear your gown? It’s truly exquisite. You are going to be the most beautiful bride.”

“I’m glad you think so,” she said, but still didn’t move.

“And Lord Gallmore will think so too I’m sure,” Milly nodded.

Veronica froze at the second mention of her husband-to-be in less than five minutes. She had been dreading their wedding day since her parents announced that she was going to marry him.

Him and not Christopher. She couldn’t help but shut her eyes tight. Forcing down thoughts of him and the emotions his memory led to.

She couldn’t help and think about everything that led her to this moment. She wanted nothing more than to find a way to go back in time and find a way to change something, anything that would keep her from ending up here.

“Milly,” Rose said, her voice interrupting Veronica’s spiral. “Can you give the two of us a minute?”

“But why?” she whined.

“Because I need to talk to her about boring things for young ladies.”

“I’m almost grown! I can listen!”

“Milly, please.”

“Fine,” she pouted, getting to her feet. “But make sure you call me and let me back in before you put her dress on, all right?”

“Don’t worry, we will.”

Milly nodded then slipped from the room, but not before shooting them a last look just to make sure they knew she wasn’t happy.

Rose waited until the door was shut before she turned to Veronica. “Do you want to tell me what’s on your mind or do you just need a minute to get your thoughts under control before we continue?”

“Who said something was on my mind?”

Rose shot her a look. “You know you can’t lie about this with me. I’m your sister. We have been together every day of our lives.”

“Well, not my life.”

Rose rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. We shared a room from the time I was out of the nursery until…” she trailed off for a moment. “Until today.”

Veronica averted her eyes taking a deep breath, “I think you already know.”

“This isn’t just about what happens next, is it?” Rose’s sharp eyes scanned her face.

“No? Then tell me what this is about?” Veronica was aiming to sound aggressive, to shut her sister down and end this conversation, but it just came out sad.

“You’re still thinking about him , aren’t you?”

“Who?” she feigned ignorance.

Rose sighed. “You know who I’m talking about. Are you still thinking about the Duke?”

“Of course I am. Especially today, how could I not? I wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for him,” Veronica crossed her arms.

Rose took a deep breath, coming to sit beside her. “I know. None of this is fair to you. I don’t understand why father couldn’t find another way.”

She sighed. “We need the money. Say what you want about Lord Gallmore, but he is well off.”

“I supposed.”

“It wasn’t like I was flush with suitors.

After Duke Ashton abandoned me, no one was willing to court me, and I wasn’t the only one hurt by that.

” Veronica met her sister’s eyes. “I know you’ve had a hard time getting names on your dance card.

Once I’m married off, you won’t need to worry about that. ”

“I have never worried about that or blamed you for even a second.”

“I know you haven’t, but that doesn’t make the situation fair to you.”

“It has been more fair to me than it has been to you.”

For a moment, neither of them said a word, taking a moment to wallow in the futility of their situation. Then Rose forced a smile and broke the silence.

“It could be worse. At least he’s only a year or two older than you. We’ve both heard horror stories of the kind of men other women we know have ended up with.”

Veronica closed her eyes and nodded. “I know, but it isn’t fair. I can’t help but feel this is all Ashton’s fault.”

“Did you ever try reaching out to him?”

“A few times,” her hands moved to trace over the scar on her collarbone.

“But I never heard anything back. I did, however, hear father when he told mother that he thinks His Grace hates me after what happened. I was responsible for that fire and if he married me, the ton would hate him just as much as they do me. But if this is his means of revenge, it’s just too much. ”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re doing this for our sake, but please stop blaming yourself for that fire. It was an accident, and everyone with any sense knows that. We even paid for the family to rebuild the damaged rooms.”

There it was. She had tried so hard not to think about it, about how she was the reason her family lost their fortune. How she drove away the best match she could have hoped for.

How he hated her, and blamed her for everything.

Veronica shook her head. “None of this new arrangement was up to you. You don’t need to concern yourself.”

“How can I not? You’re my sister and I want you to be happy.”

“Whatever happens, I’ll find my own happiness.”

“Veronica,” she trailed off.

“It’s alright,” she plastered on a smile. “Lord Gallmore is fairly well off, so I’ll be able to live comfortably. His work keeps him busy so we won’t have to spend too much time together. Most of all, I’ll finally have a home of my own. Won’t that be something?”

“It will be lovely. I’ll come visit you as often as I can.”

“And I’ll do the same.”

The pair shared a hug then Veronica sat back with a sigh.

“Alright, let Milly know she can come back in.”

“Are you sure you don’t need another minute?”

Veronica shook her head. “It doesn’t make it any easier to keep putting it off.”

“No, I suppose it wouldn’t,” she sighed. “Very well, I’ll go get her.”

“I’m sure she didn’t go far.”

Sure enough, their youngest sister was sitting just outside the door, eagerly running back inside the second the door was open.

The trio got to work getting Veronica ready for her big day. The whole time, she did her best not to think about what came next.

The carriage ride to the church filled her with dread.

Still, it was hard to suppress the panic feeling her, especially when all too soon she found herself at the church.

I don’t want this.

As Veronica stood just outside the door, her heart felt like lead, every beat filled with nothing but dread.

I don’t want to do this.

Her feet felt frozen to the ground, but she had no choice but to force herself to walk down the aisle.

Each step took her closer to her husband to be.

Veronica couldn’t bring herself to look at Lord Gallmore. If she did, she knew what she would see: ashort, portly man whose red hair seemed to be constantly in need of washing.

Veronica would have preferred a feeble old man. Not this one, whose leer grew stronger the closer she got.

She dug her nails into her palm before taking that final step to stand before the altar, and was immediately assaulted by the scent of liquor.

Lord Gallmore held his hands out expectantly and waited.

Veronica took a deep breath, then put her hands in his.

“You look ravishing, my darling,” he whispered with a grin, leaning in so no one else could hear him.

She bit her tongue to keep silent.

The Archbishop began to speak, his words little more than a dull thud of dread in her ears. It was too late. There was no way out.

Her only solace was that at least her family would be taken care of.

“W e are gathered here today to_”

Suddenly the door to the church burst open. The sound rang out like a pistol shot.

Veronica turned to see an all too familiar figure walking towards her with a calm and collected energy.

“Get your hands off of my betrothed,” Duke Ashton said, an edge of steel in his voice underlining his words.

And even though he abandoned her. Even though she had not seen him since that night. Her heart raced wildly in her chest as the tall, stormy looking man made his way calmly toward her. Even with the scar on his face, he was still the most handsome man she had ever met.