The Heart of a Duke (24 page)

Valera retreated to the gardens. The gravel
beneath her slippers crunched as she hurried along the path. Tears
blurred her vision, disorienting her for a moment. When the heavily
laden arbor came into focus, she broke into a run. Her humiliation
weighed on her like the thick blooming vine covering the wooden
structure. She wanted to hide forever among the spindly white
flowers, but her parents would come for her eventually and expect
her to return to the ballrooms as if she hadn’t just been scorned
by the man she loved.

Reaching the bench, she sat and pulled her
knees to her chest. Thoughts of facing Alex again made her crumble
inside and fresh tears filled her eyes. She swiped at the wetness
with her fist.

What was he doing here? He had made his
preferences known last night at the ball. He’d chosen Lady
Pitsford. Not only didn’t Alex have tender feelings for Valera, he
held her in disdain. His criticisms rang in her ears, mingling with
memories of her sister’s sharp words from when she was a
girl.

If Val has any hope of finding a
husband, he will have to be an old man with failing eyesight. I’ve
never seen such a plain girl.

Mama, Val is reading father’s
books again. Why don’t you learn something useful, mopsey? Your
pianoforte is atrocious and your needlework is no
better.

Oh, do be quiet, Valera. No
gentleman will care what you think, and neither do I.

She hadn’t wanted to believe her sister.
Valera had set her hopes on finding a man who would welcome her
thoughts and engage her mind as Papa always had. The duke and Alex
had proven how naïve she was. Gentlemen didn’t want a wife who
could converse on a variety of topics. They married ladies like
Janine, blonde beauties with delicate features, blue eyes, and
useless talents.

“
Vallie?” It was Papa.

Sitting up straight, she wiped the tears from
her cheeks and sniffled. She didn’t want him to know how hurt she
was.

His footfalls grew silent as he left the
gravel path and crossed the grass. He cautiously peeked around the
trellis overgrowing with Old Man’s Beard. His lips thinned when he
saw her. “May I join you, pumpkin?”

She nodded. Her father slowly lowered beside
her with a soft groan, showing his age for the first time. Maybe it
would be best if she remained unmarried. Papa would need someone to
care for him in his old age. Mama, too.

Papa pulled a handkerchief from inside his
jacket and passed it to her.

“
Thank you.” She dabbed at her
nose and blinked back fresh tears.

“
I thought you might like a moment
to set yourself back to rights before allowing Lord Ravenswood an
audience. He would like to explain.”

What required an explanation? She had heard
him plainly enough. He didn’t find her suitable as a wife for all
the same reasons her sister had named.

Papa reached out to pat her shoulder. “I see
you hardening your heart against him, but perhaps you should give
the young man a chance.”

Her face burned at the thought of seeing Alex
again, but a flicker of hope refused to extinguish. “Did he tell
you what he wants to say?”

Papa nodded. “If you are not satisfied after
you have heard him out, I will have him escorted from the
premises.”

“
Very well.” She passed the
handkerchief back to her father. “I must look like a mess. Let me
visit my chambers first.”

“
I don’t think you should keep the
poor man waiting, Val. Trust me.” Papa hugged her and placed a kiss
at her temple. “Lord Ravenswood, you may join us.”

He was here? Her heart kicked against her
ribs.

Papa stood when Alex reached the arbor. “After
Lord Ravenswood has said his piece, show him to my study. I expect
we will have a few matters to sort out.”

That sounded very much like Alex had asked for
her hand. Papa left them alone before she could object.

Sunlight filtered through the canopy of a
nearby apple tree and highlighted Alex’s hair with streaks of
auburn. His blue eyes seemed darker and more somber.

Desire swelled within her chest, creating an
ache that threatened to consume her. Why must she want him so
desperately?

“
Your father said this was your
hiding place when you were small. May I join you?”

She wanted to say something nonchalant with
the breeziness Janine would employ to show she didn’t care, but
Valera had never been good at pretending. Steeling herself for the
conversation, she waved to the place beside her. If he offered
marriage, she would decline. She wouldn’t accept a proposal driven
by guilt rather than desire.

“
Val.” Alex sat, his nearness
unnerving. She scooted away and bumped against the trellis. He
slumped on the bench. “I’ve made a muck of everything. Only an hour
ago I was walking on air with the thought of asking you to become
my wife. Now you cannot stomach the sight of me.”

Valera’s heart stalled. Had he truly come here
with the intention of proposing? She didn’t know whether to trust
her hearing.

“
I understand the reason. I just
hope you can forgive me someday.” Alex pulled a hand down his face.
He looked weary and resigned. “Langley said you refused him. I
don’t understand. You had set your heart on marrying a
duke.”

She shook her head. “No. My heart was set on
marrying a man who loves me.” She met Alex’s gaze, silently
pleading with him to be that man.

He reached for her hand, his warmth enveloping
her fingers and invading her heart. “It’s funny, but I never
equated love with marriage.”

His response left her wilted. She tried to
pull her hand free, but he held tightly and scooted toward
her.

“
Valera, it’s important that you
understand how I grew up. My parents always respected one another,
but I never knew there was love between them until yesterday. I
expected to follow the same path as my father, my grandfather, my
great grandfather, and several more before him. Arranged marriages
have been a tradition in my family for many years. Love had nothing
to do with it, and I know I am not alone in my
thinking.”

Perhaps her dream was rare, but love was real.
She’d seen it between Elle and Mr. Farrish. What was Alex implying?
That he didn’t love her but he had come to propose out of… What,
exactly? Duty? “Why are you telling me this?”

He gently lifted her chin to meet his gaze,
his fingers sliding to cradle her nape. “Because when the
impossible happened, I didn’t know what to make of it. I began to
fall in love with you the very moment you fell flat on your bum in
the corridor. One look into your big eyes, and I was lost. I just
didn’t know how hopelessly until last night.”

Valera’s heart lodged in her throat and beat
wildly.

“
I could have told you from the
beginning the gentlemen weren’t interested in you because of me.
You were radiant and irresistible, but if I had told you the truth,
then you might have sent me away. And I can’t stay away from you
any more than I can stop my heart from racing right
now.”

He swallowed hard as his thumb traced the rim
of her ear. “I love you. Every delightful quirk about you. I cannot
fathom spending another day without knowing you will be by my side
for the rest of our lives.” He slowly lowered to his knee and held
her hand, his deep blue eyes beseeching. “Will you marry me,
Valera?”

Joy bubbled up inside her and escaped on a
laugh. “Oh, Alex. I never expected— I’m at a loss for
words.”

A charming smile spread across his lips. “Say
you forgive me and you love me too.”

“
I do. I forgive you.” She
smoothed her hand over a lock of his unruly hair. “How am I to stay
angry when you are capable of such magnificent speeches? With the
exception of you mentioning my bum, that is.”

His thick brows arched in question. “Is that a
yes?”

She captured her bottom lip between her teeth.
She wished she had been brave enough to mention her feelings for
Alex to his sister. Elle had given her no reason to think she would
disapprove of their match, but Valera felt a twinge of guilt for
hiding her feelings from her dear friend.

Tiny wrinkles lined Alex’s forehead. “Maybe? I
can accept maybe.”

Her heart lurched to think she’d made him
fret. Elle would forgive her for not being forthcoming, but never
for hurting her brother.

“
There’s no maybe in love, Alex.
You are either in it or not.”

“
But—”

“
Yes! My answer is yes, you silly
man. I’m mad about you.”

His broad smile was but a flash before his
mouth found hers. He pulled her into his lap. She surrendered to
her desire, allowing the kiss to venture past chaste into
dangerous. He urged her lips apart with the tip of his tongue and
gently swept inside her mouth. Capturing his face, she pressed her
body against his, eager for more.

His fingers tunneled into her hair and knocked
loose several pins. Strands of hair slipped around her shoulders.
He pulled back leaving but a scant space between them. His breath
churned and stirred a curl at her temple. “Your fire will consume
me someday, my love, and I will be glad for it. But your father
will have my head if I don’t stop us now.”

Heat spread up her neck and into her cheeks,
rapid like wild fire. Her wanton behavior was shocking and
embarrassing. “Yes, of course.”

She tried to retreat, but Alex held her in
place, his hands finding and playfully kneading her bottom. “Where
do you think you are going?”

She squealed and wriggled, trying to evade his
hands without success.

He kissed her soundly then grinned. “And what
is wrong with mentioning your bum? It feels quite
lovely.”

She wrapped her arms around his
neck, her smile matching his. “So it was my
bum
that won your heart. How
romantic. I cannot wait to share that when I pass along the
pendant.”

She was teasing, of course. She would never
mention a word to her friends, except to say how ecstatically happy
she was.

His smile faded as he touched a finger to the
spot above her cleavage. “You aren’t wearing the necklace
today.”

She shook her head. “Let someone else have the
duke’s heart. I have everything I want right here.”

And to prove her words, she kissed her future
husband like she wanted to every day for the rest of their
lives.

Epilogue

Valera’s dearest friends were gathered around
her in her bedchamber, declaring her the most stunning lady in all
of London. It was her wedding day. For the first time in her life,
she accepted their compliments as her due rather than secretly
believing they were just being kind. Through Alex’s eyes, she had
come to see herself as beautiful. A ruby, he had once called
her.

She touched the precious ruby necklace
adorning her neck. It was a gift from Alex on the eve of their
engagement. Her heart was so full she thought it might
burst.

Elle linked hands with Valera and held their
arms out to the sides to view her gown more closely. “You look
breathtaking, Val. My brother will be speechless as soon as he sees
you.”

Alison stood beside Elle, beaming, her cheeks
extra rosy. “Lord Ravenswood best find his voice if he hopes to
make her his wife.” She gathered Valera in a squeezing hug. “I am
so happy for you.”

Valera returned her hug with vigor. It meant
the world to her to be surrounded by her most special friends.
“Some day soon I will be gushing over each of you on your wedding
days.”

As Alison released her, there was a knock at
her door. Valera’s mother peeked her head inside. “The carriage has
arrived. We should go, Vallie.”

“
I’m coming, Mama.”

Elle gave her a quick hug too. “If you need
tips on keeping Alex in line, you know where to find me.” She gave
a cheeky wink then hooked arms with Alison and headed for the
door.

Charlotte waved shyly before trailing after
her older sister.

Only Aldora remained behind, perched on the
side of Valera’s bed. She had been uncommonly quiet this morning.
Valera retrieved a small jewelry box from her dressing table and
joined her on the bed.

“
Is everything all right, Aldora?
You don’t seem yourself today.”

Her friend blinked, her chocolate brown eyes
twice as large behind her spectacles. “Everything is splendid.” Her
voice rang with falsehood.

Valera bit her bottom lip. Clearly everything
was not splendid, but she wasn’t sure there was time to delve into
her friend’s troubles. Alex would be waiting for her, and she had
promised not to be late.

A soft smile spread across Aldora’s lips.
“Look at you worrying for me. It’s your special day, Val. I swear,
everything will be all right.”

“So something
is
wrong.”

“
No, it’s just…” Aldora shook her
head. “Do you think I will find a husband this Season? Not every
lady will, and if I don’t…”