Page 13 of An Orphan for the Broken Duke

Violet opened her mouth to list the reasons, as if they existed. But none of these imagined excuses materialized on her tongue, and she was forced to shut her mouth. At which point she simply scowled.

He is hiding something… he must be!

So far, the duke had done and said nothing to raise alarm. He appeared genuine, sincere in his concern for Lucy, and if he was anybody else, then Violet might have believed him.

But was that not the point? Her father had trusted many a man just like the duke, and there was no need to dwell on where that had led him.

“I do not trust him,” Violet said stubbornly and folded her arms.

“Oh, I can see that,” Charlotte snorted. “But let me ask you this. Putting aside what you think you know, what do you actually know of His Grace? Is there anything you have heard to suggest he is trying to use you… or that he means any harm to Lucy?”

In truth, Violet knew little about the duke. She might have been of the gentry, but he was a lord, so far beyond her world that he was practically a different species. All she knew was what she had seen, which, to be fair, might have been a mark in his favor.

But Violet was stubborn; she did not trust easily, and she could not escape the feeling that there was more to him than he was letting on.

“I know enough,” she said determinedly.

Charlotte scoffed. “You see what you want to see. I do find his obsession with Lucy rather curious, however. I do wonder…” She flashed her eyes wickedly. “Might it be possible that Lucy is his child? A lovechild who nobody knows about? Oh, how wicked that would be.”

“Do not be absurd,” Lucy said.

“Why not?” Charlotte demanded. “You said yourself that he becomes rather withdrawn when you ask him the reason. And I cannot think of any other reason that would explain his obsession. It is possible.”

Violet paused on that thought for longer than she wanted to.

Was it possible? Was Lucy the duke’s child and now that she was to be adopted by somebody else, he felt a sudden need to claim her? It would explain why he had funded the orphanage, and it would explain why he seemed to gravitate to her.

And it would also explain why he would marry someone like Violet, just so that he could adopt her.

Surely, that cannot be the case?

“I still do not like it,” Violet said, digging in her heels. “And I like it even less that he means to use me to get his way. It is just so…” She ground her teeth. “Typical. All I am is a prop.”

“Does that even matter?”

“Of course it does!”

“No, it does not.” Charlotte dropped the façade of humor, and she looked seriously at Violet. “Putting his true motives aside, what does matter is what this will do for you, Violet. He promised to clear your debts⁠—”

“I do not need his help!”

“And what of Rose?” she countered quickly. “Would she say the same? You claim so often that you will do anything you must to protect her, which I believe, by the way. Well, this here is that anything. His Grace is clearly not telling you everything; he would likely prefer not to involve you at all, but if marrying him solves your problems, and gives Lucy a nice home, can you afford to say no?”

Violet scowled at her friend because she had no good argument left to give.

Charlotte was right, and oh how Violet hated the fact. For three years, she had struggled, and in one week all those struggles would be for nothing. She would lose the house. Her sister would be forced to live with their uncle. And Violet, never one to give up, would find herself in a position where no amount of fighting would make a difference.

“And might I add…” Charlotte grinned. “It does rather help that His Grace is so delicious.”

Violet scoffed. “That does not matter.”

“It does,” Charlotte said with a giggle. “I have seen him, you know. That dark hair… that perfect face as if he was designed by a sculptor. All things considered, I can think of worse men to be tied to for life.”

Violet rolled her eyes, attempting to dismiss her friend’s comments. However, despite her best efforts, her thoughts slowly drifted to the duke.

He is rather good to look at.

Truly, were it not for Violet’s initial assumption about the man, she might have felt a small thrill at the idea of marrying him. How tall and imposing he was… how perfect his face was… how confident, how assured, and how safe she could feel knowing that someone like him was there to protect her. What might it be like not to have to worry about such a thing for a change?