Page 2 of The Beast’s Unwanted Duchess (Icy Dukes #1)

"Papa, there are still ways we can salvage this," Catherine said, breaking the silence. "Edward might have been a good match that slipped through our fingers, but I am certain there are other gentlemen we can find."

"Not titled ones," Timothy said. "I’m afraid we are down to our last resort. There is still a gentleman left who is suitable. He wouldn’t mind taking Alice as his bride."

Alice felt a chill at her father’s words as her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach. She had thought that the Earl was last on her father’s list of possible suitors. "Who is he?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The Duke of Ravenmoor," he announced. "If we intend to make a match this season, then he is out last option."

"The Duke of Ravenmoor?" Patience asked.

"The Duke of Ravenmoor?" Alice asked even louder, springing to her feet. "Papa, you cannot be serious right now. Are you serious? No...You are not. You’re not, right?"

"He is a man of considerable wealth and influence, Alice. He is a Duke," Timothy said. "Your future will be secure and well taken care of."

"That’s not the issue," Alice said, placing both hands on her hips. She turned to Patience with pleading eyes. Mama, are you listening to this?"

Patience let out a soft sigh. "Alice, he is a Duke. A match with him will secure not only your future but also elevate our family’s status. This is a rare opportunity, one that doesn’t come around often. You must at least consider it."

"Consider it?" Alice asked, her voice rising in disbelief. "Papa, I have taken all that you have thrown at me. I have done what you asked, smiled and entertained the gentlemen you deemed suitable. But this is a new level entirely. You know the rumors that circulate about this man."

"You have rumors of your own too, Alice so you have no grounds to be judgmental," Timothy said.

"The worst the ton can call me is arrogant and a wallflower," she said. "But the Duke of Ravenmoor has rumors for days! He has no friends, he rarely attends social gatherings-"

"Enough," Timothy said. "Rumors are just that. Rumors. People love to talk, especially about those with power. You cannot let idle gossip dictate your future. I know a way to secure this match, so I will do it."

"He was your last resort for a reason, Papa," Alice continued to argue. "Do you know how beastly someone has to be, to be rejected by even the desperate Mamas of the ton ?"

"I said enough," Timothy reiterated. "I am exhausted, Alice. You will not question my judgment on this matter. If the Duke will have you, then you will marry him. End of discussion."

With that, Timothy walked out of the drawing-room, leaving Alice standing in the middle of the room with confusion etched all over her face.

Of all the people Timothy could have possibly chosen, the Duke of Ravenmoor was the last man she would have imagined.

She could see her dreams of a love match, of marrying someone who truly knew her, crumbling like delicate glass.

"The Duke of Ravenmoor? You jest?" Emma questioned.

"I wish," Alice said.

Alice threw a stone into the pond, watching the water ripple and shimmer in the sunlight.

She had left home that morning to promenade around the park with Lavinia and Emma, hoping the fresh air would ease her troubled thoughts.

Yet, despite how much she loved the park or fancied a nice stroll, she couldn’t assuage her troubled heart.

Alice had barely slept a wink the night before.

She had never been so troubled by her father’s antics. This was different.

"I fear my papa is moving too fast. I would much rather hug the wall for the rest of the season than marry the duke," Alice said.

Although Alice hated the stigma that came with being called a wallflower, she could admit to herself that it did grant her a certain amount of solace.

It wasn’t just an attempt to avoid interacting with the gentlemen of the ton; Alice truly loved the time spent with her only friends, Lavinia and Emma.

Lavinia was shy and introverted, often overshadowed by society’s standards of beauty.

With her curvy figure, she didn’t fit the mold of the most fashionable young lady, and as such, she preferred the company of her beloved books to the noisy gatherings of the season, even though she was dragged to every single one by her mama.

Emma, on the other hand, was all about responsibility.

Being the eldest daughter meant she felt it was her duty to look after her two younger sisters, Cecilia and Dorothy, as well as her ten-year-old brother.

Though she often appeared serious, Emma had a sharp sense of humor that always lifted Alice’s mood.

On most days, spending time with them distracted Alice from the fact that she was still unmarried. Being a wallflower had its advantages. It offered a sanctuary from the looming shadow of her father's expectations.

"Who even is the Duke of Ravenmoor?" Lavinia asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. The three of them were squatted by the pond’s edge, watching the water.

"The Duke of Ravenmoor," Emma answered. "He’s quite a known figure in society, but his reputation precedes him, I’m afraid."

"What reputation?" Lavinia asked again.

"You see, if you didn’t have your head buried in books all day, you would know," Emma said.

"The Duke is more beast than man, according to the rumors. No one dares speak well of him. They say he is not just rude but brutal, with a temper that borders on madness. He avoids society not out of preference, but because people fear him. His tongue is as sharp as a blade, cutting down anyone who dares cross him, and there are whispers… whispers that he’s even taken a life in a fit of rage. "

Lavinia shuddered. "Surely, that can’t be true."

"I wouldn’t be so sure," Emma replied grimly. "These rumors cannot emerge from thin air."

Lavinia shivered slightly at Emma’s words. "I cannot imagine being married to someone like that. It sounds utterly dreadful."

Alice gave Lavinia a quizzical look. "You do realize that I might end up marrying someone exactly like that, and it’s for this reason, I am currently losing my grip on my mind?"

Lavinia stifled a laugh. "Sorry," she whispered. "But look on the bright side. He is a duke. He has the title and the wealth. Your papa always compares you to Catherine, and she is married to an Earl. If you marry the Duke, you’ll finally silence him once and for all."

"That’s not exactly the kind of motivation I need, Lavinia," Alice said.

"Titles and wealth do not guarantee a happy life," Emma explained. "You deserve someone who treats you with kindness and respect, not someone who will make you feel small."

"I don’t know why this feels so different," Alice said lowly.

"In a way, it scares me. For instance, the other suitors Papa had presented to me were respectable gentlemen.

People knew them, they were part of society, well-connected and reliable.

But the Duke seems… like a dark alley. He has no relatives here in London, no one can vouch for his character, and the rumors that swirl around him have never been debunked.

If I end up marrying him, I would be stepping into the unknown.

I am beyond terrified. What if he attempts to kill me in a fit of rage? "

Emma patted Alice on the back. "I understand your frustration, my friend," she said. "I would be worried too if I were in your shoes."

"I don’t think she should be worried," Lavinia said.

"Why not?" Emma and Alice chorused.

"Because she is not marrying the Duke," Lavinia said. "Your papa is bluffing."

Alice scoffed. "My papa is not one to bluff. He is a strict man who cares more about climbing the social ladder than about the happiness of his daughters. His ambition blinds him to what truly matters, and I fear I am simply a pawn in his quest for status."

"Hear me out," Lavinia asked. "What does your papa care about the most?"

Alice arched her eyebrows. "Status?"

"What else?"

Alice shrugged her shoulders. "Our family’s reputation?"

"Exactly!" Lavinia said with widened eyes. "He cares deeply about your family’s reputation. He won’t do anything to tarnish it. This rush to marry you off stems from the Earl’s actions.

He’s trying to repair the damage his elopement caused, and he believes pairing you quickly will cause the backlash to die down. "

Alice slowly shook her head. "I don’t think I understand?—"

"Marrying the Duke will tarnish your family’s reputation," Lavinia said. "Especially if the rumors about him are true."

Emma gasped. "Lavinia makes a valid point. Alice, you must convince your papa that a match with the Duke could be disastrous. If you get him to see things from that perspective, he will rethink his decision and arrange for other engagements."

Alice nodded slowly, feeling a flicker of hope ease her worry. "You are right. I could do that."

"Can your mama help?" Emma asked.

Alice dropped her shoulders before shaking her head.

"My mama is only concerned about the Duke’s status.

She will only choose to see the good that comes with marrying a man of such rank.

In her eyes, it’s all about securing our place in society, not the potential disaster that might come with marrying a man surrounded by such rumors. "

"What about your sister?" Lavinia asked. "You can always get her to take your side. She might be the pedestal your father places you against, but she is still your sister. If she sees how serious this situation is, she might be able to convince him to reconsider."

"Catherine leaves tomorrow," Alice said. "The Earl misses her already."

"So, it’s up to you," Lavinia replied. "But you have to be clever about it. Don’t let him know what you’re trying to achieve. You need to drop subtle hints, guide him to see the flaws in this match without outrightly defying him."

"I know just how to do it," Alice said with a smile.

A plan was already coming together in her head, and she was starting to feel her confidence build back up. This was her opportunity to regain control over her future and steer her father’s decisions in her favor.

Alice hurried home from the park, eager to set her plan in motion. It was simple. She wasn’t going to argue. All she had to do was drop hints and she knew just how to do it.

Upon arriving at her family’s modest estate, she made her way straight for Timothy’s study, where she knew he would be reviewing the estate's finances and correspondence.

"Papa, you will not believe that I heard today," she said and slumped on the chair in front of him. "It is just preposterous."

Timothy only spared her a glance. "What did you hear today, Alice?"

Alice leaned in. "Apparently, there are rumors that the Duke of Ravenmoor killed someone. It is what everyone is talking about. My goodness. I feel so bad for him. All these rumors about him are so damaging. I mean, no wonder he has no friends!"

Timothy closed the ledger in front of him. "It doesn’t matter if he has friends or not. A wife is a far more valuable companion, wouldn’t you agree? Since you’re so concerned for him, it’s perfect! You marry the Duke by the end of the week, Alice. Begin preparations."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving Alice in stunned silence. She stared at the door, puzzled.

"Surely he’s bluffing ," she thought to herself and sat back, trying to come up with a refined plan.