Bound to a Ruthless Duke (Dukes of Inconvenience #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

“Is something the matter, Lord Breccan?” Miss Florentina Parsons asked. “You have been rather silent all evening.”

“I...” Lord Breccan hesitated. “I have not meant to be.”

“It is quite alright,” she hurried to assure him, not wishing to come across as troublesome or overly asserting, as she could often be. “I just hope that there is nothing wrong, is all. I would hate for that to be the case, if so.”

“No, no...” Lord Breccan looked past her, his mind clearly elsewhere. “Nothing at all.”

“Good,” she said with a relieved smile. Sensing the moment, she then reached out and rested a hand on his arm, offering a gentle squeeze to show that she was there for him. “You know that you can tell me if there is. There should not be secrets between us, and perhaps I can help.”

Lord Breccan eyed her hand, frowning to himself as if he didn’t understand why she was being so kind or so forward.

“But there is nothing troubling you,” she then hurried, snatching her hand back and cursing at herself for pushing the matter.

“So let us not waste any more time on it.” She smiled and fluttered her eyelashes, praying that the simple gesture might lure Lord Breccan out of his funk.

“It is quite the evening, is it not?” she then attempted. “I am having a lovely time.”

“Yes...” Again, he looked past her, his mind taken by thoughts she could only guess at. “Quite the evening.”

Florentia tried her best not to look worried.

She could tell that something was on Lord Breccan’s mind, as it had been all evening.

And while she wished to help, she was also careful not to annoy him.

These last few weeks, Florentina had sensed the earl pulling away from her, a worry that her mother assured her was all in her imagination, as the two had been courting for three months now and any day she fully expected him to ask her to be his wife.

And surely, he would not have asked her to join him at the Goldsmith ball this evening if he was not committed?

Indeed, from the moment that she had arrived, the two had been inseparable.

Most of the ton was aware of their courtship by this point, and he had seemed more than happy to show her off as they swept the ballroom floor, arms linked, moving as one and engaging with friends.

I am certain it is all in my head. Perhaps I am the one getting cold feet? No, that is not it...

Deciding that she was being silly, Florentia straightened up and smiled; she had always had a pretty smile, she was told, so best to use it to good effect.

Around them, the ballroom was busy as other members of the ton wandered to and fro, engaged in light palaver, and dancing to the orchestral music which had a wonderful melody.

Seeing the couples dance together, how much fun they were having, Florentia had an idea.

“Say...” Again, Florentia rested a hand on Lord Breccan’s arm. “What say that we move to the dance floor? I do so love dancing, and if memory serves, you are not so shabby yourself.”

Lord Breccan pulled his gaze back to her. He looked down at her hand. He looked past her to the dance floor. His brow tightened and she saw a shadow pass behind his eyes; the disturbance he had been reckoning with all evening, finally making itself known.

“Miss. Parsons, there is something which we need to discuss.”

“Discuss?”

He sighed and slowly he pulled his arm from her grip. “These last few months have been wonderful, and for that I thank you.”

“Oh no...”

“But you were right to ask if something was the matter, for the truth of it is that there is something which we need to discuss.”

“D—discuss? Discuss what?”

“Before we do, you must know, this has nothing to do with you. Far from it. I am the one at fault here, and if you wish to hate me for it, I welcome that hate for I deserve nothing less.”

“Please, no...”

“It saddens me to say that our courtship has reached its natural conclusion. I have enjoyed our time together, that you must know. But it would be unfair of me to continue in this pursuit, for I respect you too much to do such a thing to you. Truly, I am so sorry…”

Lord Breccan continued for some time after that.

Explaining how his heart belonged to another, how he had not meant for it to happen, and how it would be wrong of him to lead Florentia on when he knew in his soul that his love belonged to another.

And, as for Florentia? She barely heard a word of it.

The world turned around Florentia. Her entire universe, shattering and crashing down upon her like a wave knocking down a castle made of sand.

Blood rushed to her head. Her vision blurred.

Her hearing became dulled. It was as if she was no longer in the room, but watching from afar, unable to do much of anything but stare stupidly at Lord Breccan as he cast her aside.

Not that there was anything she might have done. Dammit, she had done everything right! From day one, she had been the picture of perfection, presenting herself and acting as she must to ensnare the heart of Lord Breccan so that he would not do exactly as he was doing right now.

Still, it was not enough, and all Florentia was able to do as her world was torn to shreds was smile and nod and pretend that she did not feel the urge to scream.

Perhaps she should have done just that? At this point, it wasn’t as if things could get any worse.

“Florentia!” Florentia heard the voice calling her, but she did not give any sign that she had. “Florentia! What are you doing!”

She was standing in the corner of the ballroom—hidden, she had thought, out of sight and out of mind—a perfect place to vanish for the evening as she came to terms with what felt to her like the end of the world.

The end of my world, at the very least.

“Florentia!” A hand took her by the arm and gave her a shake. “Is something the matter? What on earth has gotten into you?”

It was her mother, Viscountess Betsey of Gillingham, who had come calling. She stood before Florentia, a look of utmost worry on her painted face, no doubt beginning to wonder if her daughter was suffering from a stroke.

“Oh...” Florentia sighed and pulled herself back into the room. “Hello, mother. I did not see you there.”

“What happened?” her mother asked her. “And where is Lord Breccan?”

“Lord Breccan?” Just hearing the name had Florentia’s stomach churning. “I suspect he has left.”

“What?” she squawked. “What do you mean he has left? Left for where?”

“To be with Miss Goulding, if I was to warrant a guess, although I did not think to ask.”

“Miss Goulding...” Her mother blinked as she searched to remember who this was.

“The baron’s daughter? Why on earth is he.

..” Slowly, it dawned on her. Her face paled.

Her mouth dropped open. She stumbled back and touched her chest as if someone had stabbed her.

“No. Florentia, tell me that is not... you jest!”

She sighed and shook her head. “I am afraid that in this I am being most serious, Mother. He told me just now, rather kindly, to be fair, that his heart belongs to Miss Goulding, like...” Her lip curled as she remembered the wording exact. “Like the sun belongs to the sky.”

Who was Miss Goulding exactly? Nobody of consequence. Just one of the dozens of eligible young ladies in the ton who were in search of a husband. Florentia knew her a little and was aware that she and Lord Breccan were close. Obviously, she had not been aware of just how close they were.

“That...that is...that pig!” her mother snarled. “How dare he!” She then looked about as if hoping to see him. “I do not believe it. I refuse—perhaps you misheard?”

“I assure you, I did not.”

Her mother looked to be taking the news about as well as Florentia expected her to.

Although it was Florentia’s life which had been dashed like an egg against a brick wall, her mother had been just as invested.

After all, she was the one who had sought the initial pairing, and she was the one who had pulled the strings behind the scenes to see it flourish.

No doubt she was even more insulted than Florentia.

“My poor girl...” Her mother wrapped her arms around her suddenly and pulled her into a hug. “I am so sorry. I cannot believe it! Truly...” She held her tight, stroking her back lovingly. “I do not know what to say.”

“It is fine, Mother.”

“It most certainly is not!”

“He did not love me,” she continued, saying the words because they felt like the right ones. “Best that I learn it now rather than after we wed.”

“Love?” her mother pulled back, lip curling. “Love has nothing to do with it! He made a promise, Florentia! And now...” She was shaking suddenly from anger. “And now he has not just wasted your time and mine, but he has made us both look like fools!”

It was not surprising that her mother cared more about the damage this would do to her reputation than her own daughter’s feelings. Truth be told, Florentia’s feelings were secondary. And, as for notions of love and heartbreak? Likely, her mother had not given them a second thought.

Was it so strange that Florentia was much the same? Now that she had time to think about it, to really consider how she felt, she had to admit that it was not heartache that besieged her, nor sadness at love lost as might be the case. Rather, it was frustration.

Florentia had not loved Lord Breccan. Oh, she had wanted to.

She had tried. And she had led herself to believe that, given time, love would bloom between them.

But, in her world, when it came to marriage, love was not the goal, and nor did she expect it to be.

What Florentia wished for more than anything, the reason she’d had her heart set on marriage with Lord Breccan, was because she desired a family.