Chapter 3 #2
A slight grin, twisted like a grimace almost, showed on his face before he waved at her to join him. Like this wasn’t her home. But she accepted it, not knowing what else to do. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth so she couldn’t talk even if she wanted to.
“I came to inquire after your health,” the duke said as they took their seats on opposite sides of the room.
He didn’t have to raise his voice, low and deep as it was.
She suppressed a shiver though she felt no cold or fear.
“The physician confirmed you were well, but I thought I might see for myself.”
She started. “The physician reported to you?”
“I paid him,” he pointed out.
Like she couldn’t have paid herself. Isabel felt a flush creep up her cheeks. “It wasn’t necessary. I was well enough. If memory serves, you are the one who needed assistance.”
“I was fine.” He leaned back. Her eyes darted to his forearm. While she thought she could see a slight bulge there like there was a bandage dressing under the dress coat, she couldn’t be sure. “It wouldn’t be the first time there was a knife stuck in me.”
The duke had appalling manners, clearly. Isabel attempted to size him up. He was composed of so many opposing concepts, however, it was fairly difficult.
He was a duke and yet he fought like a ruffian.
Everyone whispered about him still fighting publicly.
Her brother had seen him once, apparently, said there was nothing ducal about him in the ring.
The man spoke with a clean and gentlemanly accent but spoke crudely on certain matters.
His size and dark gaze frightened her, and yet the open gaze he offered her shared no threat or promise of hurt.
He was, if anything, brooding. But something about him almost seemed harmless. It was a fascinating paradox.
“My lady?”
Realizing she had leaned forward to study him, Isabel hastily righted yourself. “Your Grace.”
“You don’t have to call me that.”
“It befits your station.”
That garnered a grimace. He danced his fingertips on his knee for a minute before looking at her again. His green eyes pierced her. “Is all well for you, then?”
In that moment, Isabel could sense he was asking after more than her health. Most likely he had noticed the household was struggling. Why else would he have bought them coal? But she didn’t want his pity. She didn’t want his curiosity.
“I’m very well.” She came to her feet, and he immediately followed. “Is that all?”
“Well…”
Isabel swallowed and gave a nod. “Very good. Thank you for your visit, Your Grace.”
“Vale.”
“Eastwynd,” she said tersely. “You have confirmed my health, and you have provided more than enough recompense for any slight or injury that might have befallen me the other evening. You may now take your leave.”
He stepped forward. “I would marry you.”
The words came out so bluntly and plainly that at first, Isabel didn’t understand the words. She blinked. She saw his reluctant expression, the way he worried his lip and played with his cuff. The man was uncomfortable, and he had just proposed marriage.
Moving back a step, she shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
The man opened his mouth and then closed it before patting his clothing. It took him a minute to find a paper that he had tucked in there. Once crumpled, the wrinkled words were already fading. But as she grudgingly accepted it, she understood.
It was the London Ear, everyone’s favorite gossip rag.
The date was from two days ago. That was the morning after the ball and after the Duke of Eastwynd had saved her. Heart hammering in her chest, she caught sight of the words.
‘What an adventure must have befallen Duke E–– to collect the unattached and scandalous Lady R––– in an embrace on a snowy evening! From hence did they come? And whither did they go? Perhaps a tale worthy of Shakespeare is the only answer. We can only hope they will tell us all.’
So they already knew. It wasn’t Lucy telling them all today. Rather, Lucy had been telling her that the world already knew.
“Oh,” was all she could muster.
She slowly lifted her head to look up at the duke who stared at her without feeling, without sentiment.
Already he knew and understood the scandal.
This was what he had to do to retain his honor among society.
Not because he cared for her or knew her.
If anything, he already knew of her family and was embarrassed to be here. But what else could he do?
And what else could she do?
It was a fragile independence she had in this house, running it on her own. Her parents had deserted her alongside everyone else. She was alone but for her servants. And yet, she had never had anyone else to answer to.
Until now.
“My lady…” Sebastian let out a short sigh. “It is for the best.”
Yes. A marriage was for the best. Anything less meant the final ruin where society would never accept her again.
Swallowing, she nodded. She had been disgraced in the arms of the beastly duke. Now, she was destined to spend the rest of her life there.
“Very well.” Isabel straightened her shoulders. She looked up at him, dimly remembering the way he had appeared the night in the street. He had been terrifying and magnificent. She hadn’t known what to feel then beyond her terror. Now, it felt like very much the same concern.
But this time, she managed to smile. “I would like to accept your offer, Your Grace.”
His lips twitched. “Vale.”
She nodded, wondering about his Christian name. Knowing that she would come to get used to his family name in time. “Vale.”