Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Griffin stood at the far side of the hallway where a vase lay shattered at his feet.

“Your Grace! Are you all right? What on earth happened?” Charlotte exclaimed, walking ahead from the rest of the family coming to investigate.

“Oh, my lady, do forgive me. I was walking out of the drawing room when I saw a rat scurry down the hallway. I chased after it, after all, I know what pests they could become after they’ve started breeding in the walls or ceiling. I stomped on its tail. But unfortunately, my actions made the vase fall as well.”

Marina didn’t believe his story for a second, for she had never seen a single rat in Lyford House. That was up until the point where Griffin held up the lifeless rodent by its tail. Nancy gave a little shriek.

“I would ensure this vase is replaced with another one of great quality by tomorrow morning. I feel ashamed for having destroyed such a prized possession,” he said as he stood amidst the pieces of the formerly loved vase.

“Penny!” Uncle Josiah called. She came running into the scene and almost stepped on a shard of broken vase. “Dispose of the rat before cleaning up the shards,” was all Uncle Josiah said to the poor Penny who was handed a rodent by its tail. She scowled in disgust but knew she couldn’t protest the instructions she was given.

Marina momentarily wondered if her uncle’s angered tone was because he was upset with Griffin. Instead, he thanked Griffin profusely and offered him a cup of tea. His blunt tone of voice was obviously reserved for maids, servants, or anyone else he thought to be less than his station. That included Marina, her mother, and the majority of London’s population.

The rest of them stood in the corridor for a moment, confused about what they had just witnessed.

“Oh, what a brave man!” Nancy exclaimed, breaking the silence.

“A brave man indeed,” Marina sarcastically commented underneath her breath, staring at the broken vase.

Back inside the drawing room, brief conversations continued between the duke and Uncle Josiah. The women listened eagerly, except for Marina who worked on her needlepoint.

“Oh, Marcus!” The duke laughed. “Why, it’s been years since I’ve seen him. I knew him from the brief years we studied together.”

“Well, it’s great to know that you’ve already acquainted yourself with him. My son remains my pride and joy,” Uncle Josiah responded.

The only memories Marina had of her cousin Marcus was of him making an active effort to pull her hair as a child any chance he got. She’d always regarded him as a stubborn, less intelligent boy and couldn’t understand Uncle Josiah’s pride in him.

“He’s currently working outside London,” Nancy chipped in. Her comment fell upon deaf ears and was ignored by all. Marina wanted to look up at Nancy to make it seem as if someone was listening to her. Instead, she found herself looking at the duke, whose eyes were already fixed on her.

He smiled briefly at Marina when Uncle Josiah was preoccupied with complaining about the cook’s pastries. Marina felt prompted to smile back but felt too stunned to offer anything more than a furrowed brow.

Eventually, after what felt like a couple days to Marina, the Duke of Darrington finally parted ways from the Lyford House when dinner time approached. Marina was pleased to have a better sense of comfort in her home, well, as far as her comfort could stretch while Uncle Josiah and Charlotte controlled the house.

“How wonderful it is that you managed to catch the Duke of Darrington’s eye from all people.” Charlotte said at the dinner table. Marina found the series of compliments comforting, as she was able to eat in absolute silence.

“And I must say, he would be a great asset to the family. Well done, Nancy,” Uncle Josiah added.

“Thank you, Mama, thank you, Papa,” Nancy responded, her cheeks switching between shades of pink and red as she blushed from the compliments.

“I’m truly so happy for you, Nancy,” Marina finally found the opportunity to say. Before Nancy could thank Marina for her comment, an unpleasant look crossed the face of none other than Uncle Josiah. Marina saw the veins pull at his forehead, his chin showing every muscle working in order to create his angry glare. The room fell quiet.

“Marina? You have the audacity to enjoy a meal with us without any shame?” he started. This caused Marina to place down her fork and knife, as she looked at the man reprimanding her. “We haven’t heard even a slight mention of a possible suitor for you. Are you unable to attract anyone? If I were you, I wouldn’t be so proud to sit here at the table with us, one-and-twenty years old having to listen to a lady two years younger be courted, but not you. It’s shameful to say the least. It’s shameful that you haven’t put in a speck of effort to get a man interested in you. But then again, if I were a man of decent descent, I also wouldn’t want to take up the job of putting up with you or your mother–,”

Marina’s mother was quick to interrupt his tirade. “Don’t speak about her that way!” her mother shouted at Uncle Josiah, her eyes wide with shock. At first Marina feared her uncle would lunge at her poor mother, but instead he broke into a fit of laughter.

“Oh, the poor widow is trying to protect the last family member she has left, isn’t that sweet?” he laughed before switching back to his serious tone. “I’m warning you, Marina. If you don’t find a suitor by the end of the season, I’d have to take it upon myself to get one for you.”

Marina nodded in agreement, fearing that a word would cause him to take a more drastic measure. She hoped that her agreement would mean the fight was over, but instead he turned to face Marina’s mother.

“Oh, Louisa. My family rued the day my brother married you. And now you yell at me like you are the man of the house? How comedic. I was the only one willing to take care of my brother’s poor, abandoned family. And in return, you fight back against conversations necessary for your daughter to obtain a future for you? Well, Louisa, let me remind you that I certainly won’t be the one caring for you after your daughter is married. So, I’d suggest you make sure that she finds someone decent!”

The room was quiet, only the scraping of a knife and fork against a plate could be heard. Charlotte had continued to eat her meal throughout all of this, not being bothered by any of the words her husband spat.

“All I’m saying is don’t push it, either of you,” Uncle Josiah said, pointing two fingers towards Marina and her mother. “Just make sure to find a husband.”

Marina composed herself well for the rest of the dinner, but after she closed her bedroom door, the guard she put up fell to her feet.

She fell onto her bed, tears welling up in her eyes before she allowed them to fall in streams down her cheeks.

“I’m trying, I really am!” she cried to herself in a whisper.

She’d been trying to stay strong with her uncle moving in. She’d been trying to stay strong when the chances of courting went horribly wrong.

But now, alone, she acted like a complete damsel in distress; the only problem was that she had no one to save her. She curled into a ball, clutching her pillow to her chest. Muffled cries were all that she allowed to escape her lips, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

“I have failed in the single mission I’ve had in my life,” was all Marina thought.

It lasted a handful of minutes, but just as the last tears started to dry up, she heard a knock at her door. Desperately, Marina wiped her eyes in an attempt to destroy the evidence of her breakdown. Passing her mirror, she saw that her attempt had failed; her eyes still had a scarlet shade to them.

“Penny?” Marina asked, surprised. She wasn’t used to seeing Penny appear at her door at unexpected times.

“Oh, my lady, do forgive me,” Penny whispered, slipping past Marina into her bedroom. Marina turned to face Penny in confusion.

“Is there anything I can do for you? I didn’t plan to eavesdrop but the entirety of Lyford House heard the nasty words your uncle shouted at you. My heart broke for you in an instant and I just wanted to come see if you’re all right.”

“Oh, Penny. I don’t possibly know how my mother and I can last in these nasty conditions. It’s one thing for me to sit silent whilst he throws vile words my way, but my poor mother hadn’t been doing well before they moved in last year and most certainly is doing worse now. I feel like I had no other task to find a husband this year so that my mother and I could escape Uncle Josiah, but I was unable to do so,” Marina whispered to Penny, her tears starting to pool in her eyes.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Penny said, wrapping Marina in a large hug while she cried helplessly into Penny’s dress. “Status, status, status!” Marina cried. “Since I was a child, I knew I had to marry for status, knowing true love to be a harder task. But who knew even just finding a man of status would be so difficult?”

“As long as you are aware there is nothing wrong with you, my lady. You remain the most beautiful woman in Lyford House. And I think I’m rather pretty if I must say so myself,” Penny said, rubbing a hand over Marina’s back to comfort her.

“It’s truly just you who can lift my spirits, Penny. What would I have done without you?” Marina asked, whipping her tear-stained face to have a better look at Penny. She couldn’t help but think about all the times Penny had assisted her through troubled days. She had no idea how to express her gratitude.

“You’d have filthy bedsheets without me, that I can assure you,” Penny said, already straightening her bedsheets that she previously cried upon.

Penny made her way out, looking left and right before her exit to ensure Uncle Josiah and Charlotte couldn’t see her visit to Marina. And with the slightest bit of comfort provided, Marina was able to enjoy a relatively peaceful night of rest.

With each passing day, Griffin’s appearance became a more frequent sight at Lyford House. Marina had learned to avoid the drawing room most of the day as that was where Nancy and Griffin stayed during his visits. She didn’t want to intrude on any budding relationship, although Griffin struck her as having odd behavior for someone who claimed to be “in love”.

“Oh, Your Grace. Remind me to show you the bluebells I’ve planted outside. They’ve grown so well in this weather, and if you see them, you’d certainly see their resemblance to my eyes,” Nancy blabbered to the duke one day. Marina was passing by when she overheard this interaction.

“Yes, yes,” was all the duke said in return. Marina slightly peeped into the drawing room and saw Griffin’s gaze averted from Nancy.

Griffin also had a habit of appearing in odd places throughout the house, making Marina wonder if he was lost or hiding from Nancy. There was a time Marina thought that perhaps he was also pressured for marriage as Uncle Josiah pressured Marina, but he sounded happy with the courtship with Nancy. His actions just didn’t always match his words.

“Miss Marina,” Marina once heard a voice behind her as she went for a stroll in the garden. “I heard a rumor that the roses in this garden rival the beauty of the ones in the royal gardens. I must say, the rumors seem to be true,” Griffin said, entering a slight jog in an attempt to catch up with her.

“Your Grace, I’m afraid our roses might be too flattered if they hear of such comparisons,” Marina replied in a mocking tone. “They are creatures prone to vanity, if I must say so myself.”

Griffin laughed. “However, you don’t seem to be one of the vain, beautiful roses in this garden.”

Marina blushed but didn’t want to take it to head too much. “Your Grace, I see you have quite a talent for dishing out compliments. Nancy must be intoxicated by them all,” Marina laughed, imagining how giddy Nancy must be at every compliment he gave her.

Before he could reply, he made a quick turn in the other direction, leaving Marina confused. But ahead of her, she saw Nancy and thought that was the reason for his abrupt departure. Yet, why did he run away instead of toward Nancy?

“Marina,” Nancy said out of breath, yet in a stern enough tone that served as a warning. “I’d like to remind you that the Duke of Darrington is here to visit me and not you. I wish you to keep it that way.” She strutted off in the direction Griffin had left in, leaving a perplexed Marina behind. Marina could only pull her bonnet closer to her face before continuing her walk.

She watched as Nancy walked away, leaving her alone amidst the roses. She couldn’t blame Nancy for her jealousy, but oh, Marina had enjoyed the little conversation she’d had with Griffin.

Uncertain of what the day entailed when her uncle announced that the family was having tea with the Duke, Marina decided to fake a headache that would allow her to wallow in her bedroom.

She started her morning at breakfast with a groggy expression that worried her poor mother.

“Oh, what’s the matter?” she asked Marina as they sat down for a meal.

“I just woke with quite the headache, it feels like my head has grown a pulse,” Marina said, placing her thumbs on her temples.

“Oh dear, I think it’s best you stay in bed for the day then,” Nancy quickly commented, mostly in an attempt to distance her from Griffin. Charlotte and Uncle Josiah remained silent, which made Marina realize that she’d won a day dedicated solely to herself.

By the time Griffin was expected to arrive, Marina made her way to her bedroom where she continued her needlepoint for a while. She heard laughter and piano e from the drawing room as they attempted to entertain Griffin. Marina didn’t mind it, as she knew no one would come looking for her. She was able to mindlessly hum in her armchair while she stared at the hydrangeas she was busy with. There would be no worry about being polite or dainty whilst having company over.

That was until a knock sounded on her door. She jumped to put away the needlepoint before laying down on her bed. “Come in!” she yelled in a faked weak tone. It was Penny.

“I heard you were feeling unwell, my lady, so I brought you some tea,” she said, placing a fine China cup beside her bed. “Please let me know if there’s anything I could possibly do for you.” Marina thanked Penny for her efforts and dismissed her.

She quickly came to realize the book she had been planning to read was still in her father’s old study, which now belonged to Uncle Josiah. She knew she couldn’t sit in her room all day with nothing to busy herself with, so she decided to sneak past the company in order to retrieve it.

She opened her door slowly so as not to make any noise. Then she gently started her way through the corridor, avoiding the drawing room at all costs. Her footsteps were so quiet that for a while she thought she was floating rather than taking steps.

The door to the study was closed, leading Marina to take the softest turn at the knob in order to enter, but instead she was met with an unexpected sight.

At the desk, a figure was bowing down in front of the drawers. The figure seemed to be preoccupied with looking for something that they didn’t notice her yet. She was just able to see his back, but the figure was far too muscular for it to be Uncle Josiah’s. For a second, she wanted to scream in case it had been an intruder, but then she caught a glimpse of dark curls that could only belong to one person.

“Your Grace?” she whispered, causing him to jump, nearly bumping his head on the edge of the desk. An array of files lay scattered across the floor, several others still held in the palm of his hand. On instinct, Marina tried to turn around to alert her uncle of what the duke was doing in his study, but a strong grip caught her by surprise.

She was unable to come up with any action plan before she was pressed against the wall, with Griffin’s hand pressed firmly over her mouth. She looked at him terrified, trying her best to escape his grip and yell but he wouldn’t let go. He looked just as terrified as her, maybe slightly more, but at least he had the upper hand in strength.

He closed the study door with his left foot before speaking. “My lady, you have to listen to me carefully. I will fully explain to you what’s going on if you promise, and truly promise not to tell what you caught me doing.”

Marina was so terrified that she just nodded profusely, which caused him to slowly remove his hand from her mouth. Marina took in a deep breath, wanting to scream at the top of her lungs, but before she could do it, his hand had clamped her mouth again.

“My lady, I don’t quite think you understand. Let me explain to you and you will know why I’m doing this.

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The Unbending Duke’s Betrothed

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