Chapter 2 #3
A flicker of something—amusement or respect?—crossed Simon’s face. “A bold move on your daughter’s part,” he said, almost to himself. “Certainly, one that demands a reaction. I am here to see it through.”
Rachel gulped. How was it that this was the most intimidating thing he had said so far?
“Your Grace,” Christopher interrupted, his tone pleading, “surely, you cannot take her seriously. Whatever she’s done, she meant no harm. There is no need to grace her misgivings with a reaction.”
“I am aware,” Simon replied, his gaze never leaving Rachel. “But harm or not, the rumors are out there. My name is attached to hers, whether by her design or not. It would be prudent to proceed.”
Rachel’s eyes widened. Was he being serious? His gaze seemed to pin her in place.
Could he pin her into place? The wayward thought arrived without warning—the image as clear as day. She cleared her throat abruptly.
Meanwhile, his eyes continued to search hers. It felt like she could not look away even if she wanted to.
“This was your doing,” Simon addressed only Rachel now, his voice low and steady. “You spread the rumors. You tied my name to yours.”
Rachel struggled for a response. What could she possibly say? That she hadn’t expected him to show up, to make himself real when he had been little more than a convenient story? That she had underestimated the force of his presence, even when standing perfectly still?
So instead, she said nothing at all.
He grew more irritated at her silence. “You should have thought twice before lying.”
“I should have,” she nodded, biting on her lip, “but I was doing this to protect my sister.”
Simon pressed his lips together, and Rachel could not make out whether he took that as a reasonable explanation.
“And what of you, Viscount? Were you aware of this scheme?”
“Of course not, Your Grace,” Christopher responded immediately, “Rachel has always been… impulsive. A silly girl. I would give it no more thought. In comparison, my daughter, Letitia, is composed and mature. She is the daughter you ought to be considering.”
At the mention of Letitia, Simon’s expression shifted. He rolled his eyes. “I have no interest in considering anyone else lest they be connected to my name as well, nor do I wish to hear your suggestions on the matter. I have only come here to see Miss Rachel.”
There was no more arguing with him. Even Christopher seemed to be deliberating about what to say next.
“You cannot mean that,” Christopher spluttered at last. “Letitia is the more appropriate choice. Rachel… she is—”
“Enough,” Simon interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. “I will not involve myself with more women. The choice is made.”
“This is entirely too absurd,” Christopher turned his anger to Rachel again. “You need to amend this situation.”
Rachel looked to the floor again. Could he not see that he was the reason that she had been forced to take such desperate measures?
“Viscount, I told you not to speak to her in this manner,” Simon interrupted him, “but you seem incapable of following instruction, so I suggest that you leave the room instead.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Do I need to repeat myself?” Simon warned. “I would like to speak to the lady in private.”
“But—”
“Now, please.” Simon left no room for argument. It was an odd sight, watching her father get ordered around.
Christopher exhaled sharply. He knew better than to argue with a duke. Grumbling under his breath, he finally left the room. Letitia followed after him.
And then Rachel was alone with the duke for the first time.
“So, you are Rachel Montrose,” he said. “Finally, I am getting the chance to meet you in person. Though that has not stopped you from going around speaking about me.”
“Your Grace— you must… I…” Rachel’s cheeks flushed.
How could I even begin to explain myself?
“It is quite strange, though. For someone who has been bragging about our engagement to the ton, you do not seem to want to actually marry me.” His words were sharp, and never once did he take his eyes off her.
She said nothing.
“Answer me,” he said to her, more forcefully this time.
“No,” Rachel admitted. “I did not think that it would come to this.”
Simon stepped closer.
“Then perhaps you should have thought twice before going about and saying this to everyone,” he warned. “The rumors will not vanish because you wish them to.”
“I…” she stuttered. “Truthfully, I did not think that the news would ever reach you. If I had known, then I would have thought twice before spreading rumors.”
“No, you wouldn’t have,” he corrected.
Rachel considered it. Perhaps he was right. She was desperate to get her sister married off after all.
“Then you should know that I did this only for my sister to give her a better future,” she replied.
“And there are no other options for her to have a better future?”
Rachel let out a defeated sigh. “Not in this house.”
Simon stepped even closer, and Rachel worriedly glanced at the door. If anyone were to walk in now, then Rachel would find herself in even more trouble.
“Too bad that you are going to have to face the consequences of your actions now,” Simon whispered.
Rachel felt a shiver run down her spine. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. It was sudden, but she could not tear her gaze from him.
“C—consequences?”
“Yes, my dear.” The words took her off guard. “You are about to learn what they are.”
Rachel tried to move her head, but he held her face firmly in place.
“Don’t you look away from me,” he warned. “Not until you give me answers.”
Rachel could barely hear him now. Her pulse was crashing loudly in her ears.
When he was that close to her, it was impossible to come up with an answer.
“What was your reasoning?” This time, he was asking nicely. She felt her stomach knot up. “I’m offering you an opportunity to clarify yourself—maybe the final one. This is our first encounter; we are completely unfamiliar with one another. Tell me.”
Rachel gulped, her hands shaking with fear. She struggled to keep her gaze fixed on him, but his intense stare caused her breath to catch.
It is best if I just come clean now. Tell him the truth. It’s not as though things could get any worse than they already are.
“I—I was trying to help my sister,” she admitted, her voice trembling now—despite her best efforts to steady it. “I thought if people believed I was engaged to you, it would improve her chances of finding a husband.”
“A noble motive, perhaps. I would almost respect it if it wasn’t also a foolish one.”
She hated how he emphasized that word. It made her feel silly.
“How was I supposed to know that it was going to reach you?” she tried to argue.
“Why would it not?”
“Because…” Rachel bit down on her lip. “You know what your reputation is like. No one has seen you in months, nor do you ever concern yourself with society’s gossip. That is the reputation you have.”
“That does not give you license to tell people that you and I are engaged.”
She didn’t want to admit to him that she thought, if she got caught, it would have taken longer than it had.
“Sure,” Rachel shook her head. “But then you cannot blame me either for assuming that news would not travel to you.”
For a moment, Simon only stared at her without saying anything.
“I am surprised by your audacity,” he said finally.
“Well, you shouldn’t be,” she replied, “considering you already know the audacity I had by starting the rumor in the first place.”
Rachel did not know where this sudden spark of boldness had come from. Simon seemed surprised himself.
But then in a flash, he pulled her closer to him. “You argue too much for someone who is in the wrong.”
Suddenly, Rachel could no longer think of a retort. If anyone—her father or Letitia—were to see them in this state, she would never hear the end of it. She would be forever accused of bringing dishonor upon herself.
“You are too… close,” she managed to say.
“Does it matter?” His lips curved upwards into a smirk. “We are engaged, remember? At least that is what half of the ton seems to think.”
Rachel’s heart thundered in her chest. She should have felt fear, she thought, but fear was the farthest thing from her mind. What she felt was something else entirely—a strange heat that curled low in her stomach and left her unable to move.
“You look pale,” he commented. He was close enough to notice the slightest shift.
“I am… fine,” she tried to argue again. Even though he was having a great impact on her, she did not wish to give him the impression that he was.
Though she was unsure how successful she was in hiding it.
“No, you are not,” he stated it like a fact. “You look scared.”
“I am not afraid of you,” she tried to scoff, but the words died in her throat as he glanced down at her.
“You’re not?” he hummed. “If you were smart, then you ought to be. There is a reason why people stay away from me.”
Before Rachel could answer, he brought one of his fingers to her lips and parted them. It was an oddly intimate moment, and Rachel felt her hands grow sweatier.
“You…”
“I, what?” he prodded. “Say it. You have been running your mouth for so long, it makes no sense for you to grow quiet now.”
“You should not touch me like this.” Somehow, she found herself regretting the words as soon as she spoke them, for he removed himself and put a distance between them.
The absence of his touch was almost jarring, leaving Rachel feeling strangely… incomplete.
“Let us not waste time then,” he said curtly. “Write me a letter of rejection if you choose not to go through with our engagement. Have it delivered to me by tomorrow morning.”
Rachel stared at him, her mind spinning. Too much was happening—all at once.
“And if I decide not to?”
“Then we get married,” he said evenly. “Within the week.”
“I…”
“Enough. We have talked for longer than we ought to.”
He did not say goodbye. He simply left, leaving her standing there, trying to catch her breath.