Chapter 3
Cassian did not intend to become a hero.
The last thing he wanted was to become notorious for being a valorant gentleman, for the expectations were too high for him to reach. He preferred a quiet life, one where he did not have to answer to anyone. He was a duke, and he wanted to make the most of that by being left alone.
And yet, when he saw how terrified the young lady was, he could not help himself.
He knew, as he waited at the Home Office the following day, that it was not a reasonable excuse for collaring Mr. Hargrave the way he had. They would not care that she was in danger, nor that Cassian had not had time to think. He had been aggressive, and that meant he was in the wrong.
Mr. Hargrave’s smarmy look when they entered the room was proof enough that he reveled in it, even if his face was bruised.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” the officer greeted.
“Might we get this over with? I have affairs to attend to.”
“Be that as it may, Your Grace, this gentleman claims you have attacked him unprovoked, and as you can see, he is injured.”
“I did not cause those injuries,” Cassian insisted. “This has nothing to do with me.”
“You were seen chasing him yesterday. You followed him down a darkened lane.”
“Yes, but I did not—” Cassian stopped himself.
He knew his reputation preceded him and that he was not the most respected man. His stature certainly did little to dispel the claims that he was violent and volatile, and faced with a man who was perceived to be the exact opposite, he did not stand a chance.
“Might we discuss this in private?” the officer asked.
Cassian nodded, following him into another room.
“Sir, if I may, that man is a liar. He was the one chasing a young lady, and I merely collared him so that he would release her. I did not cause those injuries.”
“And I am inclined to believe you, but I am in a difficult position. With everything that’s being said about you, we need to launch a formal inquiry.”
“Because I am the ‘violent Duke of Ashford’, yes? The Dragon Duke? I thought you had to go on more than rumors and names.”
“We do have more than that. Allow me to make it clear to you. Unless you had a personal reason to intervene, we have to consider it an unprovoked attack, which means we must investigate further.”
“And a personal reason cannot be that I do not want ladies to suffer at the hands of cowardly men who feel the need to lord their power over them?”
“Unless you are engaged to or courting that lady, then no. I do not want to believe that you are capable of unprovoked attacks, but I must work with what I have.”
“I understand that, but—”
“Then you understand why I need a better reason.”
Frankly, the only thing Cassian could think of was that he was trapped. Trapped by bureaucracy, by Mr. Hargrave’s lies, and all because of a woman who should have meant nothing to him. He did not even know who she was, but one look at her terrified face, and he knew what had to be done.
He left the meeting seething with anger, for he did not want any of what was to come, but he only had himself to blame. He knew what became of men who acted as vigilantes, and he had done it regardless.
Even so, stepping out into the street, only to be offered a scandal sheet, did not make him happy with his decision. He only needed to glance at the front page to know that it was not an issue that would be easily solved.
It is one thing to leave London in disgrace, but to stir trouble as Lady Adelaide Wynn did is another. This author cannot help but wonder if she does it deliberately, reveling in the attention it brings her, for one cannot possibly fathom any other reason.
That is, unless this is all an attempt at revenge. We all remember her scandalous engagement to Mr. Hargrave and how it led to her prolonged absence. With her sudden return, one can assume that she came seeking vengeance, which the Dragon Duke was more than happy to enact for her.
He crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it to the ground, furious at the speculation, but at least glad to learn the name of the lady he was searching for. He ordered a carriage and rode to her townhouse, knowing what had to be done and hoping that she would have the decency to agree.
He waited in her drawing room, and when she entered, she seemed genuinely surprised to see him.
“You have not read what has been written about us, it seems,” he said in place of a greeting.
“My mother keeps it all from me. She says there is nothing to be gained from idle gossip.”
“Well, it pertains to you, so you ought to listen.”
He tried to ignore the fact that she looked as lovely in her pink dress as she had in her blue dress the day before. She was undeniably a beautiful lady, and though that was not why he was speaking with her, he had to admit that it made what he had come to do easier.
She seemed to realize the gravity of the situation, and he took that to mean she had some sense, too.
He took a steady breath, trying not to take his frustration out on an innocent lady.
“Unless I can prove that my rescuing you yesterday was for a personal reason, it will be labelled as an unprovoked attack, and that will prompt further investigation.”
“Oh! My sincerest apologies, Your Grace. I never would have wanted that.”
“I am aware, but now we must rectify it. I must prove it.”
She gave him an uncertain look, one that told him she knew precisely what he meant by that. It was sudden, and probably not what she had wanted for herself, but they did not have a choice.
“Mr. Hargrave is an awful man,” she sighed. “The ton adores him, but he is terrible. There is nothing I can do to help you.”
“But there is. I need to give the constable proof, and the only one they would accept, that would give the control to me rather than that pathetic excuse for a man, is a marriage contract.”
Lady Adelaide froze, and he knew that her fears had been confirmed. She would have to marry the most feared man in London, and it was through no fault of her own.
Cassian pitied her. But if the scandal sheet was to be believed, she had problems of her own.
“I cannot trap you in such a fate,” she whispered. “That is not fair.”
“Make no mistake, Lady Adelaide. This is not a trap that you have set. I am the one forcing your hand, not that I have a say in it any more than you do.”
At that moment, Lady Wynn entered the room. She took a moment to study him.
Cassian wondered if she knew the purpose of his visit and if she had read the same scandal sheet.
“You are a man of honor,” she said in a low voice. “We at least have that to be thankful for.”
“Mama,” Lady Adelaide interjected, “what are you—”
“This is what must be done, dearest. Unless he has come to inform you that you will not be married, that is.”
“On the contrary, Lady Wynn. I have proposed, and she has accepted.”
While not strictly the truth, it was not as though Lady Adelaide could say otherwise. There was no changing what had to be done, for if Mr. Hargrave was as vengeful as Cassian believed him to be, there would be no escaping him.
“Is that true?” Lady Wynn asked her daughter, who nodded sheepishly. “Very well, then. Welcome to the family, Your Grace.”
“That will not be necessary,” Cassian replied, turning to Lady Adelaide. “Ours will be a marriage of convenience only. There shall be no demands, no expectations, and absolutely no affection. All our marriage will offer is protection in name and in law. Do you understand?”
He could see her fighting with herself. No lady wanted to be in a loveless marriage, but then not many ladies in her position received offers either. He knew that she would accept, for she did not have a choice, but that did not mean she would be pleased with it.
That was just as well, for he did not take any pleasure in it either.
“If you refuse,” he added in a low voice, “Mr. Hargrave will ruin you. He will also drag me down with you, and I will not stand for either.”
At last, her defenses were broken. She seemed to accept defeat just as he had, and though he could not claim to be pleased that she looked so miserable, at least it meant that there were no hopes in her to be dashed.
Had she thought that she could change his mind, there would have only been more trouble.
“Then we shall get married,” she said softly.
“Very well. It shall be done within the week.”
“A week?”
“Yes. The ceremony will not be what you might have dreamed of, but I will do what I can. I will see you then.”
He turned to leave, but Lady Wynn called him back. He turned to find Lady Adelaide glowering at her, but the older woman seemed rather unaware that anything was amiss.
“Would you at least like to stay for tea? I should like to get to know my son-in-law.”
“That will not be necessary,” he replied in a cool tone. “You and I will not speak with one another.”
“What do you mean?”
“I won’t be frequenting this place. Though, of course, I will not stop your daughter from visiting.”
“But my mother will be alone,” Lady Adelaide argued. “I am her only child.”
“Which is precisely why you will be free to come and go as you please. I did not want a wife, so for all intents and purposes, I shall act as though I do not have one. I urge you to do the same.”
It was harsh and not the proposal a lady deserved, but he did not want to get her hopes up. He would not be a cruel husband, but he would not be a good one either, and he wanted her to be aware of that before he put the ring on her finger.
Then again, it was not as though she was able to turn him away, even if it was not what she wanted.
He had named it a marriage of convenience, but as he climbed into his carriage, he laughed emptily at just how inconvenient it all was. He was better off alone, without someone to think of, and that could not change simply because he had pitied her once.
And she was better off, he decided, without being tied to a man like him. They would be married and live in the same house, but she would not see him. There was no other way for them to be, he was certain of it.
Even if he felt a pang in his chest at the fact that he was to blame for it.