Page 9 of Unraveled by the Duke (Scandalous Duchesses #1)

Lord and Lady Scovell looked at him and Celia with hard eyes. Cornelius’s lip even curled into the beginnings of a snarl before his wife patted his hand.

“Lord and Lady Scovell. Good morning to you. May we join you?” Alexander asked.

Cornelius glanced at Lavinia. “We have an unexpected guest, but she is welcome, as far as I am concerned. She may not welcome you, though, Your Grace. She may decide.”

Lavinia put her teacup down on the table and took a deep breath as though steeling herself for a trial of endurance. “Yes, My Lord. I think I am strong enough. It has been just a scant few days, but?—”

“But then we were only engaged for a scant few weeks, were we not?” Alexander cut in, pulling out a chair for Celia and then seating himself next to her. He crossed his legs, folding his hands over them.

Cornelius visibly paled with anger at the insolent tone. Again, his wife calmed him with a squeeze of her hand. The other young woman patted Lavinia’s hand and received a grateful smile.

Alexander could sense Celia tensing beside him.

They are either completely taken by Lavinia or they are in league with her, which explains their allegiance to her. Which is it?

“I wish to discuss a delicate matter. This is not the ideal setting,” he announced.

“Nevertheless, it is where I have chosen. I think from now on, your nefarious business should be viewed in the cold light of day, not hidden away,” Cornelius said.

Alexander shifted in his seat, nodding slowly.

“Very well. I have proposed in writing that I marry your daughter. I’m sure you are well aware of the rumors that our unfortunate circumstances have triggered.

This seems the best way to neutralize them and spare the reputations of both our families. What do you say?”

“Celia is willing?” Edna asked.

“I am, Mama. I think it is the only way,” Celia replied.

“She is over the age of twenty-one. You do not need my permission,” Cornelius pointed out.

“But I want this marriage to be above board. There can be no whispers of elopement, or else it will defeat the object of the exercise. I would like to have your blessing,” Alexander insisted.

“And her dowry,” Cornelius said flatly. “I am aware of your circumstances, Your Grace. The debts. I doubt Celia’s dowry will cover them.”

“Have a care, Lord Scovell,” Alexander shot back, emphasizing the title to remind all present of their glaring difference in rank. “I will make allowances for your anger and grief, but only so much.”

“May I just say that my dowry would have cleared all your debts. And I would have gladly given you every penny,” Lavinia murmured.

“Thank you for reminding me of the reason I wanted to marry you in the first place, Miss Dunnings. I had quite forgotten,” Alexander said icily.

“Now, Scovell,” he continued, directing his attention back to Cornelius. “I will not deny that the dowry would be useful, but my main goal is to protect my name and yours. Do you have another solution?”

There was a moment of silence, during which Alexander was aware of all the people passing by and sitting around them. How much was being overheard, and how much would appear in the gossip columns. He gripped the arms of his chair, trying to keep his temper and the situation under control.

“Sadly, I do not,” Cornelius relented.

Alexander felt a momentary relief, but it was short-lived.

“However, I have conditions.”

“Name them,” Alexander bit out.

“I will agree to the marriage and provide the dowry, but I will retain control of the funds. I will speak directly to your solicitor to get a list of your creditors and disburse the funds to them directly.”

Alexander’s eyes bulged, and he shot to his feet. “What are you saying?” he gritted out.

Cornelius got up as well.

Celia tugged at Alexander’s sleeve, and he was suddenly aware of many eyes and ears. He braced his hands on the tabletop, taking a deep breath.

“Why do you wish to do something so unconventional, not to mention insulting?” Alexander added in a calmer voice.

He sat down, but Cornelius remained on his feet.

“You are a known wastrel and gambler. I will not see my daughter’s dowry wasted. I am aware of your debts—they are significant. The only way I will know that Celia’s dowry is being well spent is to oversee the spending.”

And in so doing, you will discover that no debt exists in my name but in my father’s. I cannot allow it!

“No, that would be paternalistic and insulting,” Alexander said coldly.

“Then there will be no wedding,” Cornelius declared. “Come along, Edna, Aurelia. Let us take our leave.”

“Wait, Papa!” Celia cried, standing up and putting out a hand. She turned to Alexander. “What if I were in charge of the funds? Then my father would know they had been well spent, and so would you.”

Alexander looked at Lavinia and caught the scowl she shot her just before her face was wiped clean of it.

So, Lavinia dislikes the notion, doesn’t she? That alone should commend it to me.

“Very well. That is acceptable to me,” Alexander agreed.

It still meant that his father’s secret would be discovered, but for some reason, he found the idea of Celia knowing less objectionable.

“And to me,” Cornelius muttered grudgingly.

Lavinia buried her face in her hands and began to weep, before bolting up and running away from the table. The other Frid girl went after her.

“Aurelia!” Celia reached a hand out to her sister.

“No, Celia. The two of you have done enough,” Aurelia hissed.

Celia looked heartbroken, and Alexander found himself feeling sympathy for her.

How would it be if Hyacinth and Violet turned against me? I would be bereft.

As Celia sat down, Alexander reached out to take her hand in both of his. She looked at him in utter surprise, a feeling he shared. He could not deny that it felt good to comfort her.

“The wedding can be arranged as soon as I have obtained a special license. My solicitor will do that and has the clout to expedite it with the powers that be,” Alexander said.

“It will be as pleasant as we can make it. I would not rush you down the aisle and through the ceremony with no thought. In my family’s chapel, at Cheverton. ”

Celia nodded. “I am sure the ceremony will be lovely and the chapel eminently suitable. I just wish that this was happening with my mother and father joyous at the prospect. However, we must take life as we find it, mustn’t we?”