Chapter 32
CAROLINE
Convincing Auntie to stay home that evening was surprisingly easy.
I told her I had a headache, and while I don’t think she believed me, she’d heard about my early outing—that I’d gone to see Henry, who’d been out all night.
Her relief had been evident when I’d finally returned home in the Morelands’s carriage.
Thankfully, Baron Moreland had already returned the carriage, saving us from having to concoct another excuse. He wasn’t home when Kendrick dropped me off, which had been a relief. I wasn’t sure I could have faced him after leaving the dueling field with Kendrick.
Victoria had waited until Kendrick left before prying from me all the details about what had happened.
I’d been reluctant at first, so she’d shared about her courtship with Moreland, that he’d been asked to act as her protector.
The details were shocking, but the knowledge that she knew what it was like to care for a man yet have no expectation of marriage made me comfortable sharing what had happened with Kendrick.
“He won’t marry you,” she said when I reached the end of my story.
I sighed and looked away. “I know, but I wasn’t looking for a husband, and he’s already given me so much more than I ever expected I could have with a man. It will have to be enough.”
Victoria had hugged me then sent me off in the carriage. Auntie had also hugged me when I’d arrived home.
After she’d ensured I was safe, she asked about Henry. “Please tell me that your brother is well. I’ve been so concerned about the two of you.”
I nodded. “He was out all night with Lord Penham.” That much, at least, was true. “I think they decided to return to Penham’s townhouse.”
Auntie frowned. “Where did you meet them?” She must have sensed my reluctance to reply, because she sighed and shook her head. “Never mind. It is enough that the two of you are safe.”
She left me to my own devices after that, so I had the rest of the day to daydream about what had happened between Kendrick and me. Victoria’s warning kept ringing in my head, as did my assertion that I knew nothing would come of our liaison.
But the truth was that I wanted more. Our brief time together had shown me that being married to him would be no hardship. I now knew I would enjoy the marriage bed as long as I was sharing it with him.
I shivered as I replayed the experience in my mind. I only hoped we’d be able to find a way to be alone together again before the season ended. That he wouldn’t grow tired of me too soon and move on to another woman.
I stayed in my happy little bubble for the rest of the day. I’d already turned in for the night when Henry returned, and I was in no mood to speak to him quite yet.
Quite frankly, I didn’t care what had happened after I left with Kendrick. I was furious that the two of them had insisted on continuing their foolish scheme just so my brother could gain some of my dowry. I could think of no other reason Henry would insist I marry his friend.
Money was the one thing Henry needed most of all in this world.
But he could sell off some of his holdings if he was in such tight constraints.
As I lay in bed thinking over the matter, I wondered whether his two estates were entailed.
I didn’t want to ask him, and I wouldn’t bring it up with Auntie.
Henry and I were already causing her enough stress. I wouldn’t add to it.
Perhaps now Henry would learn to be frugal. Or maybe he would go in search of an heiress to marry. My brother wasn’t a cruel man, so I’m sure he would make someone a good enough husband. But I wasn’t sure he’d ever care for someone else as much as he cared for himself.
Needling thoughts rose from a small corner of my mind. What about Kendrick? He’s a Legend. They’re notorious for their affairs. And there was that gossip-column article about Kendrick and his last mistress…
I pushed those thoughts aside. Kendrick had been nothing but honest with me. Whoever my brother chose to court when he became desperate enough for money would probably believe he cared for her.
I rolled over and snuggled under the blankets. I was glad to be going to bed early given how little I’d slept last night.
The next morning, when I made my way downstairs for breakfast, my brother was already up. I moved past him to the sideboard. “I’m surprised you’re up so early.”
He was leaning back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest. “We need to talk about what happened yesterday.”
I shook my head, refusing to turn around. “No, we don’t. It never should have come to that. What were you thinking, encouraging Penham to fight a duel over me?”
There was a gasp in the entryway, and I turned to see Aunt Augusta standing there, her hand over her mouth. The color had drained from her face.
“Penham fought a duel over you? Was that why you ran out of here so quickly yesterday morning?” She closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. “Please tell me he didn’t challenge Lord Kendrick.”
I put down my plate. “I won’t lie to you, Auntie.”
Henry was glaring at me as though all of this was my fault. “Are you happy now? If you had just accepted the fact that Penham wanted to marry you—”
“Enough,” Aunt Augusta said. “This must stop now before your sister is ruined. If anyone finds out about the duel…”
I looked at Henry then back at her.
She turned to the footman in the hallway. “Can you please send someone to fetch a copy of The Mayfair Chronicle?”
Now I closed my eyes. The gossip column that reported on the Legends—if word had spread about the duel, it would be reported there.
Henry rose from the table and glared at me. “You’ve always been difficult, acting like the perfect princess who is so above everyone. You’ve never had to worry about anything in your life.”
“Enough, Henry,” Aunt Augusta said again.
I stared at my brother, speechless. Was this how he actually saw me?
I went out of my way not to be a nuisance.
It wasn’t my fault that I didn’t care for all the attention bestowed on me because of my appearance.
He’d had everything handed to him when Father died.
I wasn’t to blame for him gambling away all his money.
I said nothing and just watched him leave the room. Aunt Augusta dropped into the chair he’d vacated. I abandoned the sideboard and sat next to her.
“If it’s reported that Kendrick and Lord Penham fought a duel over you, then you’ll be ruined,” she said, turning to look at me. She cupped my cheek. “You look so much like your mother, and I hate the fact that I’ve failed her.”
I reached up to grasp her hand and pulled it down, squeezing it between both of mine. “It will be fine. I know you only wanted what was best for me, but I never wanted to marry. I’ll be able to live on the money I receive from my unused dowry.”
Her face was soft as she looked at me. “Of all the men you could have developed feelings for, it had to be a Legend.”
I looked away since I couldn’t deny it.
She leaned back in her chair. “What are we going to do now?”
I had no idea.