Page 13 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

Cordelia’s mouth went dry, and she glanced at the doorway, desperate for tea to magically appear. Or perhaps something stronger.

What could I have been thinking? The Duke of Meinster of all people?

“At the ball, I left to speak to the Duke of Meinster about some important business,” she began slowly, and both her sisters were leaning forward in their seats, even calm, controlled Emma looked as though she was hanging on her every word. “He had also heard about the will and his role in it.”

“I see.” A little line formed between her mother’s brows. “You were speaking alone with him?”

“Yes.” Cordelia breathed out slowly. “I know it was not proper, but it concerned the twins or so he told me, and so I followed him, hopeful that it would be a quick conversation.”

Danae rolled her eyes. “Come now, this is the longest story ever told! Please do get to the good part.”

Cordelia could not rebuke Danae’s bright, enthusiastic smile. “We discussed what occurred in the will, and then, he asked me to marry him.”

“What?!” All three women burst forth in the same exact manner at the same exact time.

“The Duke of Meinster?” Emma asked, surprised. “Why, he’s a rake. And you hate him!”

“Emma, you mustn’t speak ill of the man. I’ve never heard you use such language.”

“Forgive me, Mama, but I only mean to protect Cordelia. I know she was rushing into a marriage for the sake of the children, but to the duke? Are you certain about this? You have complained about him ever since Helen and David were courting.”

Cordelia folded her hands in her lap, wondering how on earth life had become so strange. It was all so true, and yet there she was, engaged. To the last person she’d ever expected.

“Yes, I know this. But you must understand. When he spoke to me in the library, he explained to me that while I had received the children, he had received the entire inheritance, including the estate.”

Once more the ladies reacted collectively, this time gasping in unison. “That is why the Duke of Wexford was furious that day,” Fiona said.

“Yes, he thought I had inherited the wealth as well as the children, and I did not know at the time who had.”

“But how confusing. Why should Helen and David do this? Split up their children and the money in such a way?”

Cordelia rose, feeling another frustrating blush steal over her cheeks. She was embarrassed to reveal the duke’s theory about David and Helen’s plan. She walked toward the window and crossed her arms, feeling hot and cold at the same time. The moon was bright that evening and shone a soft light through the glass.

There was something that niggled at her ever since the proposal that evening. Nicholas had teased her mercilessly, but he had not seemed displeased at all by thoughts of marriage to her.

Perhaps because he is thrilled at the prospect of keeping me under his teasing thumb for the rest of his life.

That far too inappropriate image caused a new heat to rush through her, and she turned around, eager to get thoughts of Nicholas out of her mind, at least those kinds of thoughts.

“I don’t know, but Nicholas seems to think that it was on purpose. That they wished us to have to marry one another and bring the two things together.”

Tea thankfully arrived, and for a few moments, everyone was blessedly distracted by being handed cups of tea and passed small slices of cake. Cordelia took a few large sips, hopefully that somehow tea could restore her equilibrium.

Finally, her mother spoke again. “Well, it does seem that the duke is attempting to do the honorable thing. For he would certainly be within his rights to take the money and run. But are you certain, Cordelia? Marriage is a difficult thing, even for two people who love each other desperately, like your father and I did. Could you really tie yourself forever to someone you have nothing in common with? Even for the sake of these children?”

“What choice do I have?” Cordelia’s voice sounded more desperate and more resigned to her fate than she had expected. It seemed like all the fight had drained out of her. “I suppose something positive is that the duke is not a complete stranger, as I thought I would have to marry. I expect, in time, we could rub along well enough together.”

She sipped at her tea, amazed at the lie that dripped from her lips. Even if she was tired and overwhelmed, she was certain she could still find a way to fight daily with Nicholas.

“And what of all that marriage entails? The intimate portions of a couple’s life?” her mother asked tentatively, and this time, Emma was the one who blushed. Danae, however, looked delighted.

“Yes, do tell us about those details, Cordelia. How could you bring yourself to be with a man whom you so despise? Even if he is desperately handsome.” Danae pretended to swoon.

Her mother scolded Danae but only slightly, her eyes turning expectantly to Cordelia.

“It will be a marriage in name only, a white marriage. It was his suggestion.”

She had been grateful that he’d been the one to say the words, not her. And she’d been utterly shocked at his agreement to a white marriage, although his teasing afterward had thoroughly unseated her. The memory of his words, ‘when you finally beg for me’, still brought goosebumps to her skin, no matter how many times she replayed the moment in her mind.