Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
“Marina, you had best keep quiet today,” her mother said as their carriage approached Pemberton Manor. “You have no idea how lucky we are that His Grace decided to marry you. For once in your life, you are able to help this family instead of hurting it.”
“Yes, Mother,” Marina said, looking out the window. She had heard variations of this speech many times over the years, usually every time they were on the way to a ball. The speech had not changed much since Marina’s debut many years ago.
“Do not bring that bad attitude into Pemberton Manor, young lady. I might be willing to suffer through it, but that does not mean His Grace will. Isn’t that right, Charles?”
“Hmm?” her father said, not paying attention at all. At the sight of his wife’s glare, he went back to looking out the window. “Quite right you are, dear.”
The carriage pulled up in front of Pemberton Manor, and Lady Shirley let out a squeal of excitement.
“Oh, how grand! What a pity he does not host gatherings. This manor is practically idyllic.” Her grin grew wider with glee.
“Of course, that means we will be part of the privileged few who get to see inside the manor!”
The carriage pulled to a stop, and the driver hurried down to open the door for them.
As the trio approached the front doors of Pemberton Manor, they burst open.
Servants appeared in front of them, as if by magic.
“Lord and Lady Shirley, Miss Shirley, welcome,” one of them said.
“Let us escort you to the drawing room.”
“Give us a tour first,” Lady Shirley said. “I am sure His Grace will not mind. We are to be family, after all, and I have always been curious about this manor. Oh, look at that painting! Marvelous!”
When the manor doors shut again, no one seemed to realize that the future Duchess of Pemberton was still outside.
Marina considered meekly entering the manor and following behind her parents, but truthfully, the last thing she wanted was to be shown her entire future.
I will have plenty of time to explore the manor if it is to be my future home. I would rather take advantage of what little freedom I have left.
She walked around the side of the house, going down a walking path, and led her to the park behind the house.
She drank in the quiet as she looked around the peaceful landscaping.
She started to walk in the direction of the distant sound of rushing water.
That river is not too far from here. I can easily walk there.
She cringed as she remembered the way she foolishly jumped into the river to save a dog that did not need saving. She could not believe that such a foolish event would have such an impact on her life.
As she walked down a path that would take her to the river, a deep voice behind her made her jump out of her skin.
“Are you plotting to run away?”
Marina spun around to look at Evan, who was staring at her with a neutral expression, as if he did not care one way or the other.
The absurdity of his question sank into her, and she let out a disbelieving laugh. “Do you truly think I have such an option?”
“I do not think it,” he said. “I know you do.”
She shook her head. Unbelievable. “You truly think that, don’t you? You have no idea what choices women really have, especially when they are daughters from families without sons.”
Something flickered in his expression before his face was a mask of perfect neutrality once again. “Perhaps it would be best if you rejected my proposal after all,” he said, his tone cool. “I would rather not have a wife who fought with me all of the time.”
Irritation prickled under her skin. “I am not trying to fight with you, Your Grace. And unfortunately, I am not rejecting your marriage proposal.” She tried to match his cool tone and neutral expression, but she knew it must look like a paltry facade compared to his own.
He cast his eyes over her as if she were a puzzle he had yet to solve. “I never would have expected a ruined lady to oppose a marriage proposal.”
“That is because you are arrogant and cold. You clearly do not know the first thing about emotions.”
The corner of his mouth lifted up in almost a smile. “I have heard that before. All I am doing is stating facts.”
She scoffed. “Yes, I am sure you pride yourself on spouting as many rational facts as you can.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You act as if that is a bad thing.”
“It’s not.” She faltered, trying to get her mind in order. Evan seemed capable of effectively scattering her thoughts without even trying. “Human beings are not always rational,” she finally said. “Everyone has emotions, and ignoring them does no one any good.”
“I am always rational. I take great pride in it.” He stepped closer, his expression inquisitive. “What do you value most, if it’s not rationality?”
“I do value rationality, but I also value other things. Humans are complex creatures, after all.” She crossed her arms in front of her protectively, but managed to keep from turning away from his scrutinizing gaze altogether. Why does he pay me so much attention?
Evan kept speaking while changing the subject. “I assume you have agreed to go through with the wedding because you are at a dead end.”
She nodded. “Yes. It is either this or go to finishing school in America.”
“The thought did not sound so bad to you yesterday.”
She looked away, unable to maintain eye contact any longer.
“Yes, but I have had more time to think about it since then. I do not really want to go to America. I would rather stay in England, where I can be closer to my sisters. Besides, I get seasick. A voyage across the ocean does not sound pleasant.”
He nodded. “I am glad you were able to think more logically about your situation.”
Marina resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his words. They sounded like something her mother would say after Marina gave in to her ludicrous demands about one imaginary issue or another. But there was no malice or triumph in Evan’s tone. He sounded truly pleased about her decision.
Such a strange man. But not a bad one.
Evan paused speaking, but when it was clear she had nothing to say, he continued in an affable tone. “It will be best for us to leave the past behind us now. No more fighting. And you do not have to worry about me making advances on you. I want a stable environment for my daughter. Nothing else.”
Daughter.
Marina inhaled sharply at the word. She had no idea that he had a daughter.
She had never heard any mention of one before.
All she had heard about him was that he was heartless.
It is hard to picture him as a father. “Daught—” She stopped herself at the last moment.
Her cheeks heated up with embarrassment.
Perhaps I am asking too much. I should not press for details.
But Evan did not seem to mind. “Yes,” he said. “I have a daughter. Her name is Lilly. She is five years old.” He put his hands in his pockets. “My main reason for remarrying is to provide her with a stable environment.”
Marina nodded. “Naturally,” she said. Her mind was full of questions about his daughter and his previous marriage—he must have had one, unless this child was illegitimate.
Did the ton not know about her? Bethany found great fun in recounting all of the gossip that circulated around the ton, but she had never mentioned anything about the Heartless Duke having a daughter!
Luckily, she managed to repress these questions. The last thing she wanted was to anger him by asking impertinent questions about what had to be a sensitive subject.
Evan did not seem to notice her inner turmoil at all.
He continued speaking. “I need to make some things clear, Ms. Shirley. I am getting married for the sake of providing a stable environment for my daughter. To achieve that, I believe there should be nothing else between us. There will be no romance, no social duty to attend or host balls, and I will not be needing heirs any time soon. Our relationship will begin and end with sharing the responsibility in raising Lilly.”
His speech left a sour taste in her mouth, even as she could only stare at him with shock. No romance? I certainly did not want such a thing from him, of course. But…never?
She had never considered before that by marrying him, there would be no whispered flirtations, or stolen kisses, or even casual, affectionate touches like holding hands. All of the things that she and Amelia had giggled and blushed over when reading romance novels would be out of her grasp forever.
His brow furrowed. “Are you well? You look pale.”
“Quite well, Your Grace.” She managed to force out the clipped answer even though her mind swirled with thoughts. I never considered what I would be giving up by agreeing to this marriage.
“I wanted to make the conditions clear because I did not want any misunderstandings between us. I assumed this would be welcome news for you.” His voice was calm, but he could not quite hide the confusion on his face.
Marina cleared her throat. “Pardon?”
He took a step forward and spoke louder. “I wanted to make—”
“No, I heard you,” she said quickly before he repeated himself. She crossed her arms in front of her as she forced herself to focus on the present again.
“You said ‘pardon’.”
“I meant elaborate. Why did you assume a loveless, unsentimental marriage would be welcome news for me?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? I’m clearly not your first choice for a husband. Marrying me is only slightly more tolerable than exile in America. A partnership without romance surely is preferable to faking affection.” He said it matter-of-factly, as if such a future did not bother him in the slightest.
She turned away from him. “You are…right. I appreciate your candor. I suppose I am still adjusting to my new future as your duchess. This happened quickly.”
“You could always try your chances in America if it’s love you’re after.” From anyone else, his words would have been mocking. But he said it as if he was just trying to give a helpful suggestion.
She thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. “Thank you, but I prefer to only make a fool out of myself on one continent instead of two.”
Perhaps I wanted love in a marriage, but the chances of that were quickly eliminated when I was exposed to a whole party’s worth of people. There’s no point pining after the impossible.
A dog’s bark broke her out of her thoughts. She looked to see Prince William barrel down the path. He stopped and jumped on Evan’s leg for a moment before going to sniff at Marina’s skirt. She smiled softly at the little pup.
Evan looked up at the sky. “It is starting to get cloudy, and it will be cold soon. We should go inside, or you will get sick.”
Why should he care if I get sick? Marina wanted to respond, but it felt like the words were stuck in her throat, and her feet felt frozen to the path.
She was still thinking about what he said.
Despite being married, they would have nothing between them except co-parenting a young girl. Not even social appearances together.
It felt so cold and lonely. I have spent my life trying to be invisible and quiet to escape my mother’s wrath. Now it appears my husband will also want me to be invisible to him unless it has to do with his daughter.
To her surprise, tears burned her eyes for a moment. She blinked them away, hoping he did not see them.
Evan’s brow furrowed in concern. “I do not want you to get sick,” he said. He unbuttoned his jacket and slid it off his shoulders. He held it out to her, but Marina did not move, so he put it around her shoulders.
Evan watched her for another moment before turning to go back to the manor.
Marina hugged the jacket around herself.
She felt cold, but it had nothing to do with the weather.
She caught a whiff of Evan’s clean scent, which still clung to the jacket.
It was strangely comforting, but that only confused her more, because she doubted she would ever get this much care or affection from him again.
He probably just didn’t want his daughter’s future mother to begin her duties bedridden.
She groaned as she started to walk to the manor. Finishing school would have been less complicated than whatever she was feeling now.
As she approached the manor, she thought she saw movement from one of the third-floor windows. She glanced up just in time to see a small face disappearing behind a curtain. Lilly.