Page 16 of The Dark Duke’s Cinderella (The Untamed Ladies #1)

CHAPTER 16

P hilip returned the next morning at dawn and intercepted Anna’s father in front of their house. After a sleepless night, she watched from the drawing room window as he stood her father down from across the road. He shouted something over at him, her father responded, and eventually the two men returned inside together.

The rest of their conversation took place behind the closed door of the earl’s study. By the time they emerged, her mother had risen, and breakfast had been served and cleared. Anna leaped from the sofa where she had been pretending to read a Latin manual, spying on them from the crack in the door.

She jumped when a knock sounded at the other side. Philip pushed the door open, uninjured and blissfully apathetic. He held a sealed note in his hand and extended it toward her.

“The deal is done,” he declared. “There will be no dueling today, nor for the foreseeable future. Our marriage contract. You could read it if you like. It does not require your signature, but you may want to review the details of the engagement.”

Anna gulped, staring down at the document. He held her future in his hands. She hesitated, reaching for the writ before deciding against it.

“I don’t want to see it,” she said. “It’s enough to know that you are both safe. How did you manage to convince him to forgo the duel?”

“By telling him the truth. The duel could result in victory for one of us and a loss for the other, whereas our reputations would be just as easily preserved by a marriage. I did not diminish myself by apologizing to him—I thought you deserved that, at least. It worked in my favor. He was not seeking an apology but a deal from which he could profit. He is a man of business at heart. Acquiring a duke for a son-in-law was an opportunity he would not refuse.”

“I will not applaud his business acumen,” Anna scoffed. “His greed is what got us here in the first place.”

“Greed had nothing to do with the events of last night.” Philip stared off into space, thinking, then returned his attention to her. “But now that we are betrothed, there will be ways to spin the scandal into something that benefits us. I could not bear to see you marry another man… My impropriety was necessary to ensure that you became mine… The ton will fill in the gaps.”

It was a decent story—one Anna wished was real.

“And Ashwicken?”

“The viscount will hear of our arrangement and understand that he has lost. Perhaps he will exile himself abroad once more. I do not know. I do not care.”

Philip put the contract in his vest pocket. “We will make arrangements to procure a special license,” he continued. “Given the circumstances of the match, it seems judicious to marry quickly. There will be time for you to organize yourself. It could take a week, perhaps longer, for the archbishop to respond to our appeal. I will return tomorrow to discuss the matter with your family. The location of the wedding ceremony, your new living arrangements, and the rest.”

There was a sharp edge to his voice. He was speaking like a peer with his hands tied in a deal, not like someone who genuinely wanted to marry her. Anna gripped the book she had been holding tighter.

“Is there anything you need from me?”

“No, no,” Anna replied, clearing her throat. “You should rest. It has been an eventful night. I wish to say… thank you. I couldn’t say it yesterday. Everything was still undecided. Now that this is real… I am thankful that it’s you and not Lord Ashwicken. No matter what happens next. I mean it.”

“Yes, well…” Philip mustered a half smile that didn’t fool her. “I shall count my blessings, seeing as you are counting yours. On that note”—he turned for the door—“I should return home. Elinor is waiting to tear my head off, no doubt.”

Anna opened her mouth to say something that would keep him there a while longer, but she was too slow. Moments later, she heard the door of his carriage close in the distance. Her eyes stung with tears in the ensuing silence.

The man she had met that morning was nothing like the duke she had come to know. He was establishing new boundaries between them. No more playful romance. No more coming to her rescue. His total disinterest in her was the price of her freedom.

The next day, Anna sat in that same drawing room, surrounded by her friends. Sophia and Margaret lounged on the floor, examining the latest broadsheets. Lucy perused the Walford book collection by the fire, while Helena chattered beside Anna about her latest writing project.

Anna sipped her tea, putting on a brave face. She hadn’t seen Philip or her father since the day prior.

The countess had checked on her from time to time with an air of smug satisfaction. Her daughter would be a duchess. More than they could have dreamed. Higher in rank than even Rebecca.

It didn’t matter what it cost to get there. Anna had never seen her mother so happy.

“There’s nothing about them in this one,” Sophia said, casting aside the latest edition of The Morning Herald. “It’s like they hate money. That’s what my father said. The whole ton will be waiting to see the story in print. Any paper that doesn’t feature it will be missing out on a mountain of cash.”

Margaret elbowed Sophia and shot Anna a cautious look. “We’re not doing this for our entertainment,” she said. “We need to see what they are saying about Anna and the duke so she can prepare herself to navigate society again once she is ready.”

“She will be a duchess by that time,” Sophia argued, reaching for The Morning Post . “Anna will never have to worry about what people think of her again. She will be able to pursue her music in peace, will have to answer to no one.”

“If that were true, then the Duke of Wells, due to his rank, would be above reproach too. And we all know that’s not true,” Lucy said from behind them. She returned to the sofa with an armful of books and began sifting through them. “People will talk behind anyone’s back so long as there is fun in it. No one is safe.”

“… and that’s when the heroine leaps from the balcony, and…” Helena poked Anna’s arm to get her attention. “You’re not listening at all.”

“I am,” Anna lied, her eyes lingering on the open broadsheets covering her mother’s carpet. “I was only…” She set down her tea, her heart racing. “Could we put those away? I don’t want to know what they’re writing about us. It won’t help. Looking at them is making me feel sick.”

“Sorry.” Sophia grimaced and began tidying her mess. “I still can’t believe we’re going to be friends with a duchess. Have you seen Charleton Manor? It’s one of the biggest houses in London. You’ll have a room for reading, a room for all your clothes, a room for your shoes… and as many lady’s maids as you’d like.” She smirked, flipping a blonde ringlet from her face. “Maybe Helena could come and be your paid companion. Then, she would be released from the marriage mart for good.”

Helena’s eyes lit up in delight, and Anna quickly scooted away from her.

“That’s, erm…” Anna stammered, searching for an excuse. “That’s certainly…”

The butler appeared at the door, saving her from Helena’s pleading eyes. Anna hopped to her feet and asked who had come.

“Your cousin, my lady. Miss Alicia Walford.”

The drawing room fell silent. Sophia’s mouth hung open as she turned to Margaret. “Do you suppose she heard about the engagement?” she whispered.

Anna ignored her friends. She and Alicia hadn’t parted on the best of terms. Had Alicia come to make amends, now that Anna was engaged to be married?

“I’ll see her in the Garden Room. Stay here,” she told her friends. She followed the butler out, but not before stopping to add, “And don’t eavesdrop. I’ll know if you do.”

She closed the door for good measure before leaving.

Alicia stood in the entrance hall. Her coat was a size too big, pooling around her waist in an unflattering way. Her hair had been neatly coiffed, but her face was pale and thin, as if she hadn’t slept for days.

It couldn’t have been easy, leaving her career behind. Anna had heard whispers that George was now Alicia’s benefactor. Judging from her outdated attire, he was holding the purse strings tightly.

When Anna greeted Alicia with a hug, her cousin was cold and limp in her arms. The Garden Room was on the other side of the house. It cast over the grounds, emitting a gray light through the windows. Anna called for tea, sending the butler away, suddenly anxious at being left alone with her cousin.

“Your butler said that your father is out,” Alicia said, removing her gloves but keeping her coat on. “I would never have come inside otherwise. How long do you expect him to be gone?”

“I’m not sure.” Anna sat in one of the armchairs by the hearth and motioned for Alicia to sit opposite her. Her cousin remained on her feet. “I haven’t seen him for a day and some.” She couldn’t bring herself to say what had happened, not until she gauged how much Alicia knew. “He’s cross with me.”

“That doesn’t surprise me if what I’ve heard is true.” Alicia turned around with a hand on her hip. “And it is true, isn’t it? You’re actually marrying the Duke of Wells.”

Anna pressed her lips together. “I am.”

“Of course, I also heard how it happened. You and him, and that affair at the Ratley ball. If it had been anyone else, I would have laughed. But you? Why would you put yourself in this situation? Do you love him?”

There was no question about whether he loved her . Everything had to be Anna’s fault, in Alicia’s eyes. Her cousin had courted Philip once. She must have known what he was and wasn’t capable of, how much he hated marriage. But her tone wasn’t protective. It was condemning, as though Anna had done something unforgivable.

“I understand why you’re upset,” Anna said, rising to her feet. “You are trying to make your way back into society, and now your family has been thrown into a scandal. I would be upset, too, if I were in your shoes. But I promise, I never?—”

“You evidently don’t know the first thing about me, so don’t pretend that you know how I’m feeling. We’ve been apart for so long. A few letters here and there don’t really constitute a relationship, do they? I’ve changed. You’ve changed. More than I ever thought.” Alicia guffawed, marching past Anna and slumping into the chair beside her. “I am so far removed from this family that the only thing connecting us is our name. What you do with your life won’t reflect on me regardless of how ill-advised it is.”

“Then tell me what you are feeling, if you’re so sure I’m wrong.”

“Angry with you, primarily, and worried second to that. Of all the men in London, you had to play this trick with him? Had I not made it clear that I was hoping to reconnect with Philip myself? Surely George mentioned my interest in him.” Alicia threw her hands up in the air. “But you must have chosen not to listen.

“You’re too naive, Anna. I suppose that’s why Philip asked for your hand. You made him feel like he had to because you’re defenseless. And I’m sorry if that sounds harsh. It’s not like anyone can blame you for that. Look at your father and what he has done to you. I’m saying it for your own good. The Duke of Wells is going to walk all over you.”

Anna’s lips parted in shock. Her cousin had never spoken to her like this before. In their childhood, Alicia had been a warm, inspiring figure in Anna’s life. Anna had only ever wanted to please her. It hurt that Alicia could think for a second that Anna had done something to spite her on purpose and that she couldn’t take care of herself.

“I’m sorry. It was my belief that he was but one of many gentlemen you were considering,” Anna said, raging inwardly. “You hadn’t come to any sort of agreement with him. And Philip…” She winced at the use of his name. “His Grace said nothing about wanting to resume a courtship with you.”

“He needed time to see that I was the appropriate choice. But you stole that from me by forcing his hand. Did all of this start the night of my soirée? George said you had met the duke before, but he said nothing about the two of you being close. In fact, he assured me that Philip would see the light and start courting me soon. You weren’t even an obstacle worth considering. But… things happen.”

Anna looked out the window at the spot where Philip had called her down from her bedroom two nights ago. He had told her again and again that Alicia didn’t interest him. She held onto that, refusing to take the blame for Alicia’s failure to seduce him.

“The duke had every right not to pursue you if that’s what he wanted. The circumstances of our betrothal are hardly ideal, but we will make it work.”

“And you’re going to build a marriage on that, are you? Out of necessity, and hope that he can change?” Alicia leaned forward, her nails digging into the patterned upholstery of the armchair. “Don’t be foolish, Anna. He will never change. He isn’t like you. He’s like me—ambitious and selfish. And that’s precisely why you should do the right thing and step aside for all our sakes.”

Anna frowned. “I can’t believe what you’re suggesting. You would have me doom myself all over again just so you can marry Philip instead? He would never agree to that anyway.”

“Why, because he cares for you?” Alicia rolled her eyes. “You were at the wrong place at the wrong time. A mistake he is trying to correct. He may not be honorable, but he’s clever. You are the lesser of evils, and he knows it—and you both deserve better than that.”

Biting back the urge to cry, Anna turned her back to her cousin. Philip had called her that once—the least offensive of the Walford cousins. There was a grain of truth in everything Alicia had said, and she wielded it like a weapon. But was it really to save Anna from making a mistake?

“I would never say these things to you. I would support you in anything,” Anna murmured, rubbing her eyes to stop the tears from falling. “But I can’t do what you’re suggesting. I won’t abandon Philip to you. You shouldn’t even be asking this of me.”

Alicia rose slowly from her chair, huffing like a disappointed mentor. She affixed her gloves, signaling her desire to leave.

“I was only trying to help, but I see that he has his claws in too deep for you to give up now. You’re allowing yourself to be used. I hoped you would think more highly of yourself than that.” She paused for a moment, pinching the end of a finger before resuming her task. “But if you’re left with anything from my visit, let it be that I am only trying to protect you. You don’t know everything, but I do. Philip and I have… history more than you know. And it will come back to bite you. It would be easier to step away now.”

“What do you mean?” Anna spun around, studying Alicia for signs that she was lying. “Your courtship happened years ago, and you haven’t reconnected properly since.”

Giving a one-shouldered shrug, Alicia stepped toward the door. “That is the story you have been told. I will not be the one to disgrace myself by telling you the truth. You will just have to ask your future husband.”

Anna watched Alicia leave, then stared down at the floor for answers.

Alicia was clever with the men in her life. She prided herself on her skills of seduction and manipulation, had written to Anna countless times about her romantic endeavors abroad. But she had never lied barefaced to Anna. It had to mean she was telling the truth.

But what was the truth? What had Philip done?

A moment later, the rattle of a tea trolley came down the corridor. She sniffed back her tears, refusing to let her doubts get the better of her. There was the shuffling of feet, and when Anna turned expecting to see the butler, she found Philip standing there instead.

* * *

Philip paused in the doorway, the tea trolley blocking the way. He pushed it aside gingerly and entered the room, surprised to find Anna crying. With everything that had happened between them, it hurt to see her in distress. He schooled his emotions, knowing that it would only do her more harm if he involved himself too deeply in her life.

That was the way things had to be if this insane arrangement would stand the test of time. He had spent the last two days mulling over things, reassuring himself that this was the right decision for them both—even if Anna despised him for being distant and cruel.

She would be his wife, and he could live with that. He would even take pride in marrying her. But it would never become a real marriage. He couldn’t risk disappointing her more than he already had.

Kissing her in front of her father had been a lapse in judgment. Too close to something his father might have done. He couldn’t trust himself not to walk the same path. Which meant he had to protect Anna by any means possible.

But seeing her so distraught tugged at him in a way he couldn’t ignore. He had crossed Alicia in the entrance hall. She hadn’t stopped to greet him. It seemed obvious she had said something to Anna. Something to upset her.

“I came for that discussion with your father,” Philip explained, crossing the room. “And I saw your cousin departing. The butler directed me here, and I told the tea maid to take her leave. What did Alicia say to you?”

Anna had taken a step back to compose herself, scrubbing her face to hide the evidence of her sadness.

“Nothing important,” she replied. “I’m just being silly.”

“It doesn’t look that way to me.” Philip drew in a steadying breath. “Anna, if we are to survive this arrangement, then we must be honest with one another. Tell me what she said before I become cross with you.”

He stopped a few feet from her, suppressing the urge to tuck an errant ringlet behind her ear. A strand was caught in her mouth, distracting him. He remembered how it felt to kiss her, and its power scared him half to death. If Anna launched herself into his arms for comfort, her warm body slotting against his, he wasn’t sure he could reject her.

But she seemed to understand what was expected of her, maintaining a safe distance between them.

“Is this what I have to look forward to once we’re married? Being ordered around by you? That’s rather contradictory, given all the freedom you’ve promised me.” She forced a smile, incensing him, then brushed back her hair herself. “Alicia came to extend her sincerest congratulations to us.”

“Now you’re being dishonest and facetious. And I’m going to keep asking you for a story I can believe,” he huffed. “Has she said something to turn you against me? You were not behaving this way yesterday. You had come to peace with our betrothal.”

“Why does everyone assume that I do not know my own mind? I have a spine, and it’s in perfect working order. So, Your Grace, you will not order me to do anything again, or you and I will have a serious problem.” Anna scowled, turning away from him and looking out the window. “If you must know, Alicia came to warn me against marrying you. Does that surprise you?”

Philip bristled at her tone, but a part of him liked that she was standing up for herself. “No. She is a jealous creature, and misery loves company. It only surprises me that you keep her in such high esteem as to let her position influence yours.”

“She made some convincing arguments.” Anna’s shoulders shook a little, and it took him too long to realize she was laughing rather than crying. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. This whole situation is like a nightmare that won’t end.”

“It will end. Once the wedding has passed, you will learn to feel secure in our marriage. I have spent some time thinking about the two of us, and I am confident that we have made the right decision.” Philip closed the distance between them, moving near enough that he could hear her labored breathing. “Do not allow anyone to come between you and your future. Leave no room for doubt.”

“That sounds like an order,” she remarked, her voice lilting slightly in humor. “Did you mean what you said? About being honest with one another?”

“Sincerely,” he replied, his eyes fixed on the back of her neck, a tendril of chestnut-brown hair curling against the sliver of pale skin there.

“You promise never to lie to me?” she asked. “No matter what I ask? Even if I thought less of you for your answer?”

Philip hesitated. He had no real secrets to keep from her. She had seen the worst of him already.

“Yes. And I expect the same of you,” he said. He thought back to the night of the opera. “If there is anything you must confess before we marry, I would hear it. We must enter this marriage unburdened by the past.”

She turned slowly, looking up at him, her eyes roving over his face. He felt scrutinized, like she was searching for something. He swallowed as she bit her lower lip in thought, heat rising within him.

“I have no secrets to tell,” she mumbled.

“Everyone has secrets.”

“Not me. None that matter. But you almost look like you wish I did.”

Philip furrowed his brow, wondering what game she was playing. He started saying something else, but he was cut off by the sound of the front door closing at the other end of the house. That would be the earl, returning from wherever he had gone so that they could discuss the details of the wedding.

“You have an appointment to keep,” Anna reminded him, tilting her head to the side in challenge. “And I have friends to dismiss. I’ll keep in mind what you said. There may be things I have to ask yet if I can ever find the courage.”