Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

F rances held the letter in her trembling hands. No matter how many times she read it, she couldn't believe it. They'd been caught. She was ruined. She didn't know if she should laugh or cry.

How ironic was it that she finally gave in to the pressure to find a husband, and when she did, she ended up being ruined by another. This time last year, she couldn't get a man to look at her as marriage material for the life of her. Between then and now, she fell in love with a man she couldn't have and couldn't have a man who wanted to marry her.

"Let me read it. This can't be right. How dare he accuse you of something so untowardly." Solomon's outrage only made it worse.

"Papa, there's nothing to read. He writes that it has come to his attention that someone saw me in a compromising position with Duke Pilton, and he has to rescind his offer of a proposal."

"How dare he believe someone's word over yours. Over the Duke's! I'm reaching out to Pilton. He should be outraged this lie is tarnishing your name after everything you have done for him!"

Frances continued to stare out the window. They heard a creak from the floor that night. She just assumed it was caused by them. Someone was there. Her cheeks flamed. Someone saw them kissing. There was no use denying it.

"Frances," her father's voice whispered, "is it true?"

Frances chewed her lip. There was no sense in lying to her father. The truth was obviously out, and the only one it would hurt was her. No one would put any blame on Thomas; in their society, it was the woman who carried the weight of infidelity.

"Oh Frannie. I should never have placed this all on your shoulders. Do you love him?"

Once again Frannie could only sit there, chewing her lip. She feared if she tried to talk, only tears would come out. Just when she thought she cried her last tear, another bout would start, and she couldn't stop.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth when I asked about your feelings for the Duke?"

"Because I am no match for him. Nothing has changed." The strength it took to say those words once more out loud sent her spiraling into another round of sobs.

When she opened her eyes, she saw her father kneeling before her. He cradled her head in his hands. "My sweet child. This world doesn't deserve you. We will find a way out of this, I promise." He dried her eyes with the handkerchief he pulled from his pocket.

Dorothy entered the room. "Miss Frances? Duke Pilton is here to see you."

Frances and Solomon exchanged looks.

"Did you write to him?"

Frances shook her head. "No."

"Let me meet with him first." Solomon turned on his heel and started for the door.

Frances reached out and caught his arm. "No, Papa. Let me."

"I will not have him cause you more pain. This family has been through enough. Duke or not, he should've known better."

Frances allowed herself to smile. "Papa. I said I was a grown woman. He didn't trick me or seduce me. In fact, it was I who propositioned him."

Solomon looked distressed. "Frances."

Frances shrugged with a watery smile. "It is the truth, Papa. Dorothy? Please let Stephens know we'll accept the Duke in morning room."

Frances and her father stopped outside the door to the room where Thomas was waiting.

Solomon took his daughter by the shoulders. "I'm going to wait right out here. If anything happens, I'll be right in."

Frances leaned in and gave her father a hug. "Thank you, Papa. I'll be fine."

Squaring her shoulders, she pushed through the door and was transported back to the first time she saw him standing in his library. Once again, he stood at a window, broad shoulders taking up the space between the panes as he peered out into the street. She licked her lips at the memory of how those shoulders felt under her hands.

"Duke Pilton? To what do I owe this honor?" She knew her voice sounded small, but it was the most she could put forth in her current condition.

At the sound of his name, he turned. Frances jerked back a step. There was something off about him. He looked as dashing as ever in his blue fitted topcoat with his dark hair curling over the collar. His long legs were clad in leather riding breeches, and his one foot was tapping impatiently in its tall riding boot. But there was a distance in his eyes she didn't care for.

"Miss Ambrose." He moved to take a step but stopped. "I heard the news, and I have come to offer my sincerest apologies for the role I have played in it all." His voice was short and succinct. It cut Frances to her very core.

Miss Ambrose.

A lump formed in Frances' throat. The man before her was not the man she fell in love with. Her Thomas had passion; even when they were arguing, emotion simmered under the surface. This man before her was the persona of a proper Duke; he was what society expected of him. She had done her job too well.

She shook off his apology. "I knew what I was doing, Duke Pilton. I am a grown woman who can accept her consequences."

They stood on opposite sides of the room, like chess pieces waiting for the next move to play out so they could counter.

"Be that as it may, I have also come to offer my hand in marriage."

Frances blinked. "I'm sorry, can you say that again?"

A dark eyebrow rose. "Now is not the time for games, Frances."

Frances folded her arms across her chest. "Oh, now I'm Frances?"

Thomas growled and paced the floor. "My God woman, you can't go on like this. Please, let me make it right?"

Frances didn't move. She stood, watching the beast of man pace in front of her like a caged lion. "Oh, how I swoon at your romantic proposal." Frances rolled her eyes.

Thomas stormed over to her and stood directly in front of her. "Frances. You are ruined." She couldn't help but cower at the word. " Please . We can make this right. I can help your father; I can protect you with my name. You can be taken care of if you'd just let me."

He's doing this out of duty. Not out of love. Of course, it wasn't out of love. It was foolish of her to think he would return her feelings. It was all just an agreement for him.

Resolve hardened over her broken heart. "I'm sorry, I cannot accept your offer."s

Now it was Thomas who stood gobsmacked and blinking. "Can you say that again?"

Frances took a second to compose herself. It was hard enough the first time; she didn't know if she could keep the facade up to repeat herself.

"She declined your offer, Pilton," her father's gruff voice sounded from the doorway.

Both Frances and Thomas' heads swung to her father.

Thomas turned his attention back to Frances. "Why?" he demanded. "I am a duke, much better than a viscount. Tell me why I'm not a suitable match for you." His eyes were wild and wide, blue fire that called to every cell in her body.

Solomon took a step forward at the Duke's outburst. Frances solemnly put her hand up to stop her father. She could do this. If she couldn't have the life she wanted with the man she loved, then she would make sure he would live the life he deserved. She could do that much for him.

"You are exactly right." She nodded. "You are a duke, and I am a baron's daughter. I knew from the beginning that our relationship would only be one of friendship. I understand now that is all it ever was… will be." Her eyes dropped. Her strength waning under his intense stare.

"Frances, look at me." He grabbed her shoulders and lowered his face until it was right in front of her. "Look. At. Me."

Frances couldn't bear another minute in his presence. It hurt too much. She didn't want to hear any more of duty or responsibility or what was right. She wanted peace. She squirmed against his hold, her eyes squeezed shut.

"Please, Thomas, just let me go. Let us go."

The words hung between them. He dropped his hands.

Frances opened her eyes but still couldn't find the strength to look up. Instead, she pushed past him and out the door.

Frances' eyes were swollen, her throat was dry, and her head was pounding. The slight knock at her door had her dragging the pillow over her head to drown out the sound.

"Frannie? It's Dorothy. Mama sent up some tea and bread. You should eat something."

Frances pretended to sleep, hoping Dorothy would get the message and leave.

"You can't fool me, Frannie, I've known you for too long. I know you're not sleeping."

Frances sighed and pushed the pillow off her head. "Leave the food."

Dorothy didn't move from her spot beside the bed.

"I promise, I'll be fine."

Dorothy put the tray on the dresser and motioned for Frances to move over. She sat down on the bed and wrapped her arms around Frances. "I knew you had feelings for him."

"I didn't want to have feelings for him."

Dorothy chuckled. "Best laid plans and all that."

"I'm serious, Dorothy. He is everything I would normally find repulsive. He's opinionated, closed minded, moody…" The lump in her throat closed off her airway. "He's a horrible man," she cried through tears.

Dorothy gathered her closer. "Oh, Frances. He offered you marriage; why didn't you accept?"

"Because he is a duke —"

"Frances. You honestly think the man who has fought against every societal rule you introduced would care about what is an appropriate match?"

Frances wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "That's just it, Dorothy. He has worked so hard to be seen as an equal in the ton. Marrying me would throwing away all his hard work."

"Isn't that his choice to make?"

Frances peered up at one of her oldest friends. "I don't like this side to you."

Dorothy stuck her tongue out and giggled. "What? Wise?"

Frances sighed. "It doesn't matter my feelings or what he truly wants. He doesn't love me. He proposed out of necessity to help save my name. He has the ability to find someone he wants, so he shouldn't be tied down to me because he was following through on a proposition I made him."

"You propositioned him ?" Dorothy sounded shocked.

Frances cringed. "Oh, right. I didn't tell you about the deal I made with him. Well, it doesn't matter now. I put us in this situation, and like I told him, I can handle the consequences of my actions."

"It's not fair, Frannie. He was as much a part of the ruination as you were; how is he allowed to get away with punishment?"

A laugh bubbled out of Frances. "I'm a punishment, am I?"

Dorothy nudged Frances. "You know what I meant."

Frances nodded solemnly. "I do. Which is why I needed to decline him. I refuse to let all his hard work go to waste. And Jenny. You should have seen her at the ball, Dorothy. She absolutely glided around the ballroom, garnering attention from every corner. She will do just fine this season. I would hate to be a blight on what will be a remarkable season for her."

Dorothy shrugged. "I'm not sure, Frances. The Duke doesn't seem like someone who would offer marriage just because someone expects him to. Maybe there is more to his feelings than he's letting on."

Frances shook her head. Happily-ever-afters were reserved for fairy tales and stories for children in leading straps. The world rarely worked in favor of love. Soon this would all blow over, and the ton would find new gossip to focus on, so she could go back to being a well-liked wallflower.