Chapter 16 #3
“Consulting you? ”Alice snapped back, unable to maintain her pleasant demeanor a moment longer, even if it meant she never knew the truth of the playing card.
She couldn’t help but notice how Hackman’s eyes widened triumphantly at her shift in tone, yet she barreled ahead.
“Why would I consult a man who all but sneered at me when offering for my hand?
Why would I care about anything you have to say when you have done nothing but belittle me to my face and behind my back?
If you are such a good friend to me, my lord, why would you not bring your concerns about my engagement to me or my mother rather than insinuating that I am not better than I should be? "
“My concerns!” Hackman laughed, shaking his head derisively. “Well, they all stem from that little playing card in your bag, missy."
“How so?” Alice asked, disgusted by this man but needing to hear him regardless.
“And why are you asking me and not Mr. Alegria? Do you perhaps not trust him?” Hackman taunted as if he sensed the progression of her thoughts.
“My reasons are my own,” Alice barked, unable to stop the rise of guilt inside her at the thought that she was somehow betraying Marco by discussing this with Hackman. Still, she needed answers. "Explain why the card has anything to do with my engagement."
“Very well,” Hackman said, his eyes full of cruel mischief. “The night of the Marchioness of Bath’s ball, the night I believe you met him, your betrothed took part in a game.”
“What kind of a game?” Alice pressed, knowing that Hackman would never deliver the whole story without making her beg for every word just so he could feel in control.
“It centered around a certain young lady with a significant dowry and a wealthy duchy to bestow upon her son,” Hackman drawled, observing her face for a reaction.
Alice felt as if her heart was frozen. She didn't think she could draw breath when she realized that she had been right all along. She chastised herself for being a fool. Marco was nothing like what he seemed.
“Marco won me in a bet?” she asked, her throat dry. Even though the words hurt to speak, she had to know.
At those words, however, Hackman burst into uproarious laughter. It was so uncannily similar to the laughter in her dreams that Alice couldn’t move, too stunned to speak, forced to wait for his mirth to end.
“You truly do not see the truth, do you?” Hackman gasped, smiling at her wickedly. “You may be beautiful, but the idea that any man would enter a bet with you as the prize is ridiculous.”
Marco’s derisive voice from her dream stabbed at her painfully. She tried to tell herself it wasn’t real, but a part of her was terrified that it was a premonition, and here was its fruition. She meant nothing to Marco.
“And why is that?” Alice swallowed heavily, needing to understand what he was saying. “If I am so beautiful and valuable...”
“You are the Ice Queen,” Hackman sneered, and the words took Alice’s breath away. “I see you have heard the appellation. Yes, you are haughty and abrasive and act as if you are above everyone else, despite the indignity of your birth. Why would any respectable gentlemen want to win you?”
Of course, she heard the whispers. Heard herself referred to as the Ice Queen.
Derided as a bastard upstart. They had cut to the quick initially, but she learned to swallow her tears and ignore the rumors.
But what he was saying made no sense. She had been vigorously pursued by many 'respectable gentleman', Hackman included.
“Then why bet at all?” Alice persisted.
“The bet was made despite you,” Hugh said sharply. “The man who lost would be forced to wed you, and afterward, he would share your wealth with the others."
“Share the wealth? Marco made a deal with you and the other participants in this game to distribute my money amongst you?” Alice could sense her legendary iciness taking hold of her heart.
Could feel that organ freezing solid inside her.
She would get the information she needed and leave.
She would show none of the cruelty or betrayal his words caused in front of such a nasty man.
“Your future husband is a conman,” Hackman sneered. “When he lost, he reneged on his word and threatened us all with exposure. Although I suppose I may have wanted to keep the whole honeypot for myself too if I were forced to wed you."
“So he is marrying me because he lost?” Alice demanded. Everything Marco had ever said to her had been a lie.
“Of course. Well, that and because of your dowry. It is your only attraction when you put aside your looks.” Hackman stared at her for a long moment as if hoping she would burst into tears.
Then he stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on her arm.
Alice fought the urge to flinch. “You could have made a better choice, and you know it. There is still time to remedy things. Do what your father wanted all along and accept my proposal.”
Alice took a deep breath and glared at him, not bothering to hold back her words.
“You wish to lecture me about making better choices?” she hissed, her voice as cold as her heart.
“I have your entry into that game in my purse, my lord.
You were also part of that bet. And you are more the fool than I, for I may be a bastard and have ice running through my veins, but even if you were my only chance to marry, I would never have married you. I would have died first."
Alice wrenched her arm from his grip and left. She held back her tears as she stormed out. It wasn't until she was in her carriage that she let the dam inside her break and allowed the despair in her heart to burst through like a flood.