Chapter 7 #2
The duke’s words right before he kissed her still rung in her mind. He did surprise her but in many ways, he was exactly the same as she thought.
A perfect arse.
Later, at breakfast, everyone was quiet. Everyone except Danae.
“You were far too quiet yesterday at dinner, Cord. You must tell us about your conversation with the duke in the garden. Oh, I so want to have a conversation with a duke in a garden.”
Cordelia snorted with laughter, surprising herself out of her gloomy mood.
“It was nothing special, I can assure you.”
Her mother took a sip of tea and said, “He has a way about him, I’ll give him that. But I suppose that is the way of rakes.”
“Yes, it is. And everyone falls at his feet and becomes victim of his blue eyes and mouth and…” she trailed off.
“Mouth?” Danae asked, bright-eyed with interest.
“I only mean that, well, he talks quite a lot and as if he believes everyone to be interested in what he has to say,” Cordelia began to ramble, infuriated that a long night’s sleep had done little to put him from her mind.
“Ah, I see,” Fiona replied, with a secret smile on her lips.
Cordelia looked down at her breakfast plate. She did not wish to know what her mother’s secret smile was about.
“Well? Are you going to tell us about your discussion?” Danae asked before biting into a piece of toast.
“No, I shall not. For it was nothing of consequence. He seems to take great pleasure in vexing me, and so it was simply another opportunity for him to do that.”
“I could imagine him to be quite vexing,” Emma agreed, and Cordelia could have kissed her.
“But perhaps we could hear from you, Mama, what he said to you in the study?” Cordelia asked hopefully. “That is likely far more interesting.”
Before she answered, her mother took a long sip from her tea. “I’m sure he must have told you, but he was kind enough to come and ask me for your hand.”
“Kind enough,” Cordelia scoffed, buttering a slice of toast. “He has not a kind bone in his body.”
“He is marrying you for the sake of the children and giving them a comfortable home!” Danae cried.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Yes, well, I have made my attempts to thank him for that, in a way, but he refuses to be seen as honorable. You see? He is a reprobate through and through. And his business! Disgraceful. Owner of a gambling den?” She shook her head and bit into the toast hard.
“But he will not give it up.” She chewed away in frustration.
“I don’t know what will come of the children with his influence.
” When no one responded, and after she finished her tea, she sighed and got to her feet.
“Forgive me. I am in no mood for company. I should take myself away.”
Before anyone could protest, she left and hurried away to her father’s study.
Closing the door, she leaned back against it and let a slew of memories assail her at the familiar smell.
Her father had allowed them into his study when he was alive, welcoming them in to join him as he worked.
She smiled faintly at the memory and jumped when there was a knock at the door.
Opening it, she found Danae on the other side. “Cord? I want to speak to you.”
“Very well.” Cordelia opened the door and allowed her younger sister in.
“Isn’t this room marvelous?” Danae asked, looking around her and taking a deep breath just as Cordelia had done. “Father was one in a million.”
“So he was.” Cordelia went to sit in the chair by the empty hearth. “So you can see why I bristle so much at thoughts of marriage to such a man as the duke. Father was the farthest thing from a rake or a man who would manipulate another to gain his own advantage.”
Danae nodded, looking more solemn than Cordelia had ever seen her.
“True enough. Father was the best of men.” She smiled as she sat down, and then she leaned over and took Cordelia’s hand.
“I know that I am the youngest, and I shall forever be behind in all things. But I have a feeling, Cordelia. It is rooted deep down inside me, and I cannot be rid of it. I think that everything will turn out well. And that the duke will surprise you in more ways than one.”
Cordelia breathed out, annoyed that yet again, the word ‘surprise’ in reference to the duke was beginning to haunt her.
“Why should you think this? On a mere feeling? He has been a rake ever since I’ve known him.” She let go of her sister’s hand and leaned back, sighing. “I cannot think why Helen and David would devise such a scheme.”
Danae rose to her feet with a bright smile.
“Wait and see, dear sister. Anyone could see there is a spark between you, which may grow yet into a blaze that no one could quench.” Cordelia blushed, looking away, fearful that her younger sister would know the thoughts that had plagued her the previous evening.
Danae was so very fond of passion and passionate romances.
“And do not despair just yet. Your future is before you, and I think it may be ever so bright.
She winked and then was gone, leaving Cordelia to her own thoughts. Danae had ever been buoyant, but there was something that tugged inside Cordelia to believe her.
Eager to think of anything else, Cordelia up and left, touching the back of her father’s leather chair briefly on her way out.