Nine
Eudorapuckered her forehead, seemingly genuinely confused. “No, I don’t believe we forgot?—”
“First—” Darius didn’t let her finish. He had heard enough. “I would never presume to ask my father or his heir to guarantee me an annual allowance from the duchy’s coffers. It is not my birthright. Besides, I am a man who prefers to make his own way in the world.”
“Stuff and nonsense.” She pooh-poohed his objection as if he’d suggested she select a Maid of HonorTart for tea rather than a Shrewsbury. “Your father has oodles of money. It’s no secret, Darius. Don’t you want to make your bride happy?” she crooned seductively before forming her mouth into a well-practiced moue.
Ah, there was that pout again.
“Mama has vowed she shan’t consent to the match otherwise.”
Ofcourse, the fortune-hunting dame had.
Eudoracurved her lips into a coquette’s invitation.
“Surely we can negotiate financial requirements, Darius dearest.”
Pressingher length against him, Eudora moved suggestively.
Definitelynot an innocent.
Therewere names for women like her, and none were the least flattering.
Dariusgrasped her upper arms and set her away from him.
“The second thing you and your manipulating mother have forgotten is that I have not asked you to marry me, MissClarke.” He paused for effect, enjoying the moment far more than a gentleman should have done. “Nor do I intend to propose.”
“But…. but…” She retreated a step, appearing utterly dazed and confounded. “But you simply must. Must, I say!” As if repeating herself would make it a fact. Eyes wide and wild, she gestured frantically. “Everyone is expecting it. I expected it!”
Nay, she and her harpy of a mother expected to live out their lives in the lap of luxury, no doubt imposing upon his parents to finance their every frivolous whim.
“No, Imustn’t.” Darius pointed toward the door. “We are done here. You should go.”
Narrowingher eyes in a manner that reminded him of a furious cat, Eudora planted her hands on her hips.
Allpretense of affability had flown with his rebuff.
“You cannot discard me like an old shoe or a stained handkerchief, DariusWestbrook. I shan’t have it.” She stomped her foot like a toddler. “I’ll claim you violated me.”
Anunbecoming sneer contorted her face.
She’dbest take care, or she’d develop wrinkles from all her scowling.
“You’ll have no choice but to marry me then,” she declared.
Hepermitted a mocking half-smile to arch his mouth.
“As this is the first time I’ve ever been alone with you, Eudora, you know there has never been an opportunity to compromise you. Likewise, as the door is wide open, I’m certain several people in the bookstore have heard every word of this conversation, and no one will believe your madcap fabrications.”
Sheblinked rather owlishly and darted a brief, half-panicked glance at the open door as he stated the inarguable facts.
Handsthrust into his pockets, he leaned forward, rather enjoying her discomfiture.
“I’m sure you don’t wish to be shackled to a working-class gentleman your entire life, do you? ForI’ll not accept a groat from the duchy at your request. As a matter of principle, I shall refuse any help from the current and future dukes. I don’t think you’d flourish in impoverishment.”
Thepoint was moot, in any event.
Nocircumstances could compel him to exchange vows with her.
“It’s your word against mine, Darius.” Eudora lifted her pointed chin in smug defiance. “Who do you think the townsfolk of Woodhaven will believe?”
A formal naval officer who served with distinction and honor and the son of a respected peer of the realm or the pampered, willful daughter of an unpleasant, greedy harpy?
“I think we both know the answer to that question, Eudora,” he said, his tone dryer than the Sahara’s summer sand.
Worrypleating his forehead, Cassius peered around the doorframe.
Bless the interfering rapscallion.
“Right you are, Dare. I’ve been blatantly eavesdropping just outside the door.” His visage stern, Cassius shifted his attention to Eudora. “Unlike my buffleheaded brother, I never trusted you, MissClarke. I recognize a fortune hunter when I smell one.”
Hewrinkled his nose as one does when one chances upon fish rotting in the afternoon sun on a hot summer’s day.
Cassiuscontinued conversationally, as if they sat in HefferwickshireHouse’s drawing room, exchanging banal pleasantries. “WhenMissWeldon informed me that my imbecile of a brother had escorted you to his office, I deemed it prudent to spy unabashedly upon you.”
Hereached behind him and dragged Araminta into the entrance.
“Using the guise that two witnesses are better than one, I also compelled MissWeldon to eavesdrop. To her credit, she was most reluctant to intrude.” A rather smug grin split his face. “I, happily, have no such compunction.”
Darius’susually taciturn twin appeared positively gleeful.
Aramintalifted her contrite green-eyed gaze to Darius’s, and he couldn’t summon a jot of anger. Their joint testimony would protect him if Eudora carried out her preposterous threat. Though why she would when he’d made it clear that he would probably never possess the amount of money she coveted was beyond him.
“We heard everything as well.” GarnetMulbury stepped forward, arm in arm with her sister Opal, their eyes alight with mischief. “Safety in numbers and all that.”
“’Twas quite entertaining, I must say,” Opal added with a cheerful smile.
“MissWeldon, do forgive our forwardness.” Garnet turned to address Araminta. “We took the liberty of purchasing another hot chocolate and more biscuits for your sisters.” She leaned in and whispered sotto voce, “Didn’t think their young ears should hear this claptrap.”
“Thank you.” Araminta gave her a grateful smile.
“Where is my daughter?” Mrs. Clarke’s imperious voice rang out from the shop floor. “Eu-doooooo-ra?”
Herbellow rose an octave on the last syllable.
Bloodyperfect, but not unexpected.
“Where are you, daughter?” Mrs. Clarke called in a sing-song voice. “With your betrothed?”
Severalaudible gasps carried into the office.
Apparently, everyone in the bookstore had taken it upon themselves to listen in on the conversation, and several had assembled just outside his office.
Goodfor them.
Dariuswould emerge from this potential scandal unscathed.
Eudora, on the other hand…
Themachinating wench and her meddlesome mother had clearly planned this debacle, and they deserved the unpleasant and likely lasting repercussions.
“LordDarius is not her betrothed,” came the satisfied voice of an older woman.
Amale patron chimed in, “Turned the chit down flat, he did.”
“Even after she tried to blackmail him,” another woman added. “Such a shock. Is that how you raised your daughter, Mrs. Clarke?”
“Do shut up, you cackling hens,” Eudora bit out between clenched teeth as she stomped across the floor, fury accenting every step. Gone was the guise of a demure, sweet-tempered, biddable miss. A malevolent, intractable viper had replaced her.
Araminta, Cassius, and the Mulbury sisters slipped farther inside, each giving the frothing female, Darius had once considered marrying, a wide birth.
“I shall not be publicly scorned,” Eudora fairly snarled each clipped word. “This is not the end of this, LordDarius.”
“Oh, I very much think it is.” Cassius quirked a dark eyebrow. “You’ve no recourse. None. Except, perhaps, to leave town.”
Eudorarounded on Araminta and jabbed a finger at her.
Aramintastood her ground, poised and calm.
Brave darling.
“You caused this, AramintaWeldon,” Eudora seethed. “I know you have always been jealous of me. You wanted LordDarius for yourself, you plain, dowdy, frizzy-haired frump.” She pointed her critical gaze at Araminta’s gown, then at her bare hands. “You’re no lady. Your clothes are hideous, and you don’t even wear gloves.”
DidEudora think disparaging Araminta cast her in a better light?
Farfrom it.
Herunkindness had the opposite effect, as demonstrated by the contempt etched on the face of every person who’d witnessed her outburst.
“I did no such thing, and you well know it,” Araminta said in a serene voice. “As for my clothes, yes, I’ve altered them from kind donations to the church. But clothes do not make a person. Nor do I need to justify myself to you. Furthermore, only a birdbrain would wear gloves while handling stacks of books. They would become irreversibly soiled.”
Aramintamet Darius’s gaze across the room, and for a moment he forgot there was anyone else there. His sister had described that feeling to him—of how she felt when she met Owen’s gaze across a crowded ballroom, and everything and everyone disappeared, and they were the only two people in the room.
Magical.
Thatwas how Althelia had described it.
Dariushad thought it a silly romantic notion. Something his dear sister would say, but now, in this moment, he believed her.
Itwas magical.
What’smore, he hoped—prayed—Araminta felt it too.
Sheturned her glittering, green-eyed gaze on Eudora.
“Besides, to harbor jealousy, I’d have to envy something about you, Eudora. You’ve made it plain as day to everyone present that there is nothing inwardly or outwardly the least enviable.”
Touche!
Dariusbarely refrained from applauding.
Cassiusclasped his hands behind his back and gave her an approving nod.
TheMulbury sisters did not hide their exuberant grins.
“Someone’s getting their comeuppance,” Garnet whispered to Opal.
“Ooh. Ooh,” Eudora hissed, seemingly unable to cobble a coherent response together. “You…you…”
Sheraised her hand as if to slap Araminta.
“Do not dare!” Darius roared. He was across the room in an instant and stood in front of Araminta, shielding her with his body. “You can direct your fury at me, but no one else deserves your wrath, most especially not Araminta.”
Mrs. Clarke trundled into the office, her face as flushed as a squalling babe’s. She looked as if she were about to erupt into a tantrum.
“What is the meaning of this?” Taking a position beside her petulant daughter, she shook her cigar-like finger at Darius. “You’ve compromised my daughter’s reputation. Duke’s son or not, you shall do the honorable thing.”
Dariusscratched the side of his nose.
Agentleman wouldn’t utter the words parading through his head. His ungentlemanly impulse would disappoint Mother and Father. Yet sometimes, the truth needed saying.
Thiswas such a time.
“I’ll wager a gentleman compromised your daughter long ago, but nothing occurred in this office that can be construed as untoward.” He canted his head toward the quartet near the doorway. “Ask these upstanding witnesses.”
“Witnesses?” Mrs. Clarke whispered in a deflated voice as she took in the bystanders.
TheMulbury sisters wiggled their gloved fingers in a little wave. Cassius saluted, and Araminta gave a firm nod.
“Mother, I want to go home,” Eudora snapped before shoving past the other enraptured onlookers who had eased into the office. “I told you this wasn’t a good idea. Now see where it has led us, you stupid cow? I shall never be able to show my face in Woodhaven again.”
Despicabledidn’t begin to describe Eudora.
Anamazingly subdued Mrs. Clarke followed her daughter.
Eudora’strue colors hadn’t shown until now, and they weren’t pretty.
You, DariusEthanTrentWestbrook, have been spared a lifetime of misery—all because a lovely girl wearing a hideous gown had chased her goose down the street and knocked him off his ladder.
SurelyGod had a sense of humor.
“Thank you. I don’t know how to express my appreciation.” Darius scraped a hand through his hair as he took in each onlooker. “Please go about your business. I shall return to the bookshop momentarily.”
Thespectators shuffled away, murmuring amongst themselves.
Cassiusextended an elbow to each MissMulberry. “Allow me to escort you, delightful ladies.”
“Young scamp.” Garnet gave him a cheeky smile.
“Indeed,” Opal agreed. “But very charming.”
Aramintaturned to leave but hesitated at the threshold and gave Darius a searching glance. Compassion softened the gentle edges of her face and radiated from her emerald-green eyes.
“I’m sorry, Darius. That was awful. I know you regarded Eudora highly.”
Apolite way of saying Eudora’s beauty had blinded him; therefore, he hadn’t seen her superficiality or deviousness.
“Yes, it was, but I’m glad I finally saw her true nature.” Darius offered a wry grin. “I have you to thank for that.”
“Me?” Confusion whisked across her pretty face. “How so?”
“IfI hadn’t met you, Araminta, I’d never have understood that your inner beauty composed of goodness, kindness, and generosity outshines Eudora as brightly as the sun does a candle.”