Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

V ictoria stepped into the drawing room, grateful her family was occupied with other tasks so she could have a moment of peace to organize her thoughts.

While it was clear she was attracted to the duke, she couldn't help but feel guilty for using such low means as she had to trap him.

His anger was justified. She could admit that now that she had had a moment to think. And then again, she had boasted that she had be able to help restore his reputation. She had to start formulating a plan before he asked and then she had been speechless and caused him to be even angrier at her.

She could imagine he already saw her as nothing more than a conniving woman who could do the lowest things to get what she wanted. She didn't want him to think her also a fraud.

But what could she do?

She sighed and turned. It all seemed so easy when she had been proclaiming it. Now that she had to prove it, her mind was blank. Or rather, clouded with thoughts of the man she was to marry.

There was a lot she didn't know about him and now she would be tied to him, she wondered if she would find joy in her marital home.

"Victoria!" She heard a frantic voice yell from where she lay, reclined against the drawing room chair to recover from the day's stress.

What now? She groaned internally sitting up.

Theodore burst into the drawing room, startling her.

"Theodore what are you doing here?" she asked worried. "Has something happened? Is Henrietta well?"

She hoped nothing had happened to his wife. He always said she was unwell whenever she asked the reason for her absence at societal events. The poor woman had not looked so sickly when she had first arrived.

"She is fine," he answered almost irritably. "What is this I hear about you marrying the Duke of Devlin? Tell me it isn't true."

She rolled her eyes and folded her arms at his theatrics. What did it matter to him if she married the Duke?

"It is and I see no reason why it should upset you so." She answered.

"No reason, Victoria?" He cried. "You're about to be wedded to that..."

"I will also thank you to choose your next words carefully or you might find that you're less one friend." She interrupted. "That man is about to be my husband and if I am to remain your friend, you will respect him."

"Victoria..."

"I mean it, Theo." She insisted. "If you cannot respect him, you might as well leave now."

He looked like he was visibly struggling to come to terms with her words but after a while, he sighed and sank into the sofa beside her. She put some distance between them for propriety's sake.

She didn't know why she defended the duke the way she did every time but she knew one reason was because didn't like the way the ton tended to make anyone slightly different an outcast.

"Victoria I really don't know why you agreed to this marriage." He began again, softer this time as she shot him a glare. "You do not need to marry him."

"I do not need to, Theo. I have to." She explained. "My reputation has been tainted. Remember?"

"Yes but you do not have to be subject to such silly rules. You're a spinster."

She shot him a look and he withered.

"I apologize. I should have considered my words more carefully."

"Indeed you should have." She smiled, patting his hand. "But I forgive you. I understand your concern for me as my friend but I will be well. The duke is not as bad as he is rumored to be."

He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"I find that very hard to believe."

"Theo." She chided.

"You have seen how he glowers at everyone when he chooses to grace any event with his presence." He defended. "I have never once seen him smile. Does that seem the kind of person to take care of a wife?"

"You do not know him."

"Do you?"

"I cannot say I do but he has been..."

"Victoria please. There is still time to end this foolishness."

"I think you should leave, Theo." She told him, folding her arms and turning away from him. "If I am not going to get any support from you when I obviously need it then there's no need for you to be here."

"Vic..."

"Please."

"Alright alright." He agreed, raising his hands. "I promise that there will be no more slander from my mouth."

"Thank you."

"I cannot promise that I can come to like him though."

"Why not?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Because he is stealing you from me."

Victoria let out a laugh, slapping Theodore's shoulder. He had always said so when she had shown interest in any lord and had always laughed with her but now he wasn't laughing.

"I will always be your friend, Theo." She soothed. "The duke cannot stop that. You're my oldest and truest friend. The sooner he accepts that, the better for him."

She patted his shoulder lovingly and leaned back on her chair.

"I have no knowledge about how to plan a wedding. I wonder how and I am going to start. I don't suppose you have any help to offer."

He laughed, shaking his head at her.

"You always have too much on your plate, darling Victoria and its never even food." He teased.

"I know." She answered with a laugh. "If it were food at least I would be happy. What do I know of being a duchess?"

"You are a capable and intelligent woman. I am sure you would excel at it."

"Thank you, Theo." She smiled leaning against his shoulder. "You always know just what to say."

"Of course." He smiled back ruefully. "I know you better than most."

She nodded and relaxed against his shoulder, savoring the moment.

She knew that things would never be the same again and even though she had said she would maintain their friendship, the Duke's estate was too far and since she would be there most of the year, it was highly unlikely he would be able to visit.

"Are you at least happy?" He asked suddenly.

And she thought to herself, realizing that she actually was.

There had been some aching pit inside of her that had wanted more than the life she had led up to that point. She never might have admitted it out loud but there had been a secret resentment she had had for having been resigned to spinsterhood while she would watch her sisters spin and turn about the ballrooms of England in the arms of charming young men.

"Yes." She said. "I am happy."

* * *

Theodore couldn't help but look back at the house when he was helped into his carriage. He couldn't accept Victoria's marriage to that beastly looking duke.

Even if he was if a high social and financial standing, he would not know how to make his Victoria happy. No man would.

They had been friends since childhood and only he knew what made ger tick and all the things that made her happy. He had seen her when she was tired and heavily burdened by her family's troubles.

He had loved her even when she was the least fashionable woman in the ton and had only not married her because he was close to penury and her dowry wasn't much to write home about.

He couldn't allow her to sell herself to someone who would make her even more miserable.

How would she stomach their wedding night with such grotesque scars?

Plus the man never smiled.

How would he be able to make her happy?

The man had been a rake before the scar across his face. He would never be satisfied by his sweet Victoria's innocence and he might ruin her in the process if he took to visiting brothels.

She might have been happy that she was finally leaving the life of spinsterhood behind but he knew that she would only be resigning herself to a golden cage she would never be able to escape.

He couldn't let that happen. He would make her see sense before it was too late and if she didn't, he would take matters into his own hand.