Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I don’t refute him, it would be a pointless endeavour, and this brainless female is done. ‘You will leave the Duke to live in peace. You will never print his name in your newspaper ever again. If you do, I will run away, and if I am blessed to have them, I will take my children with me, never to be found.’ I could scream from the rooftops of the Duke’s innocence. No one will believe me. Or a disgraced duke. Not over a respected businessman and the noble Duke of Cornwall. So, really, this is the only way. And, actually, I love Johnny too much to subject him to the wickedness of society, because, with me, his life will not improve, but worsen.
‘You act with integrity,’ Lymington says. ‘Though, I hasten to add, it is wasted.’
‘Why?’ I ask.
‘I take no pleasure in sharing this with you, Miss Melrose.’
I laugh. I doubt that to be true if his smug smile is a measure. ‘Sharing what?’
‘His attempts to seduce you were in a fit of revenge. You see,’ Lymington goes on, hobbling over to the fireplace. ‘Winters and Frederick went to Eton together, and that Winters was always picked ahead of my son in the Wall Game. I knew the housemaster, you see, and… well…’
‘You had him flogged for being a better player than Frederick?’
His nose lifts, and it is all I can do not to march over and punch him on it. ‘Of course not! I had him flogged for causing a grave injury to Frederick during a game.’
‘It can’t have been that grave. He is still alive! And from what I have heard, the game is a rather raucous affair and many players come off with many injuries!’
Lip curling, Lymington waves his stick at me, dismissing me. ‘Be warned, girl,’ he seethes. ‘Every flog that man endured was deserved.’
‘He was a boy!’
‘Why do you care? Have you not yet realised that you have been but a pawn in his game to seek revenge upon me?’
‘What?’ I breathe, a horrible pain searing me, my mind not helping me understand this news. Father places a hand upon my arm, moving to stand before me, as if protecting me from the wrath of Lymington.
‘Enough, Your Grace.’ And yet he still honours him with his title.
‘Be wise, Melrose,’ Lymington warns. ‘Winters has been acting in revenge and nothing more, and the sooner your defiant, wayward daughter realises that, the better for us all. And by that, I mean the better for you.’
I see my father’s body shrink in defeat before me and I exhale, my heart hurting more than it ever could. Johnny was merely using me in a mean fit of revenge? It’s almost too much to withstand, to believe, and yet all I can hear are Johnny’s choice words when referring to the Lymingtons. He hates them. I should withdraw my demand to free him of the condemnation, but what does it matter? Whether I was a pawn or not, I am not to be with him and I, quite honestly, am too tired to fight any more. For the Duke. And for myself.
‘My conditions still stand, so I suppose you ought to decide what is more important, Your Grace. Damning an already disgraced duke or continuing your family name.’ I quickly think of something else. ‘And Frank must have his position back,’ I order, making Papa’s eyebrow quirk. ‘Good evening,’ I murmur, dejected, as I leave Father’s study, passing a silent Frank and my mother, who’s looking the saddest I have ever seen her. I can assure her, she is not as sad as I am. I have always been dealing with a force far more powerful than I am. Now, it has finally overcome me.
Chapter 17
The following two weeks pass by in a blur of wedding plans and despair. Frederick has called three times. The first time was to finalise the wedding contract in Father’s study, which was followed by a visit to me in the drawing room where, quite awkwardly, because neither of us truly want this, he presented me with an elegant ring. It felt heavy upon my finger. Still does. I had smiled tightly, told him it was beautiful, and excused myself with claims of a headache. I stood at the window watching as the residents of Belmore Square went about their usual business. And I saw him, the Duke, leave his house, starting his life as a free man, while I began mine as a prisoner. My heart had cracked, and tears pinched the back of my eyes as I whipped the draperies across. They have been closed since, sparing me the torture of seeing the outside world.
The second time Frederick called, he brought flowers for my mother and me. Tulips for her, roses for me. Bright red ones. I have to commend him on his efforts to make the best of our dismal situation. But this, me and him, the wedding, is merely a transaction. A business deal.