Ducal Encounters 01 - At the Duke's Discretion (31 page)

BOOK: Ducal Encounters 01 - At the Duke's Discretion

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A stultifying silence greeted this announcement. Crista was unsure what it said about her character when she found it deeply satisfying, especially when Amelia’s mouth fell open in a most unladylike way.

“He cannot have done so!” she cried, her face rendered white with jealousy.

“Thank you for your congratulations, Amelia.”

“But, my dear, why did you not mention you and his lordship were attracted to one another?” Mama’s entire attitude changed in a heartbeat, and she made to embrace Crista. Since she had not done so when she walked into the room, Crista fended her off. “If I had known I would have−”

“Would have what, Mama?” Crista asked.

“Well, given him encouragement, or something, but it seems none was necessary. You really are a sly little thing. I did not realise you had it in you. Anyway, it probably explains why you look almost pretty today. We have so many plans to make. Amelia and I will have to move in here and help with the arrangements. My father will have to receive me now, and you will be thrown constantly into company with the duke and his remaining brothers, Amelia.”

“No help is necessary, thank you, Mama. Arrangements have been made for you to return to London tomorrow. I shall send you an invitation to the wedding, naturally.”

“Don’t be so silly, Crista. A girl needs her Mama on the eve of her wedding day.”

“Where have you been on all the other occasions when I have needed you, Mama?” Crista asked softly.

“Oh, you never needed me. You are far too much like your father, self-sufficient, sure of yourself, intolerant of advice.”

“How do you know I never needed you? Did you trouble to ask?”

As always, Crista’s mother ignored a question she had no wish to address. “You see, something good came out of this business with the diamonds after all. I knew you would be all right.”

“You knew?” Crista sent her mother a questioning look, which is when it all suddenly fell into place. The mystery that had eluded her for so long, perhaps because she wasn’t ready to face the truth. “It was you, Mama,” she said slowly. “You told them I was Papa’s apprentice. That is how they knew to come after me, to threaten me and Uncle Charles if I did not work for them.”

“No, I did not−”

“No one else knew of my skill, not for certain. It had to be you.”

Mama blanched beneath Crista’s unwavering glare. “I did not mean to, but they would keep on at me. They threatened Amelia. Threatened to go to Mrs. Devonshire with what they knew about your papa’s activities.”

“Activities which he only entered into in order to satisfy your greed.”

“Don’t speak to me like that, Cristobel Brooke. I am your mother.”

“No you are not. You are a stranger to me, now.”

“No, don’t say that, my dear. Everything worked out well. You are to marry Lord Amos, and naturally your husband will take care of us all.”

“I wouldn’t count on that.”

Amos walked through the adjoining doors and stood behind Crista, hands resting protectively on her shoulders.

“But, Lord Amos, things are different now. We are all family.”

“You, madam, will take your younger daughter and return to Chelsea.”

“You can’t expect me to live in that hovel. It would not reflect well upon you if I do.”

“I don’t much care where you live, but this is what I am prepared to do for you, in spite of the fact that you wilfully put your elder daughter, my future wife, in danger’s path. I will give you a generous allowance so you can live in Chelsea without financial concerns. I cannot prevent you from flouting Crista’s connection to my family for your own benefit, ensuring Mr. Devonshire marries Amelia. Forget any ambitions you might have with regard to her and any of my brothers. None of them is interested in the scheming little minx.”

Amelia pouted at being thus addressed, but wisely remained silent.

“Oh, this it too much!” Mama swiped imaginary perspiration from her brow and slumped in her chair.

“It won’t work this time, Mama,” Crista said, smiling up at Amos and covering one of the hands still resting on her shoulders with her own. “I suggest you accept his lordship’s generous offer before he has a change of heart.”

Crista was deaf to her mother’s pleas, wheedles, and entreaties and had the satisfaction of seeing her leave the Park without getting her way. She couldn’t recall the last time that had happened.

“Now you look better,” Amos said, pulling her to her feet and into his arms. “The shadow has left your eyes, and you seem completely at your ease, radiant as any bride ought to look.”

“You knew it was Mama who gave me away?”

“I suspected as much as soon as I met her and saw for myself just how single-minded she can be. There is nothing she will not do for her own advancement, and Amelia’s. I also knew you needed to solve the mystery of who exposed your talent, which is why I proposed to you before your meeting with your mother. I needed you to face her from a position of strength.”

“It had been worrying me, how the people behind Reece discovered I made jewellery as well as Papa.”

“I realised you would not have settled easily without knowing.”

“Quite. Almost no one knew, you see, and the most obvious candidate was Mama. I just wasn’t ready to think that badly of her.” She shook her head against his broad shoulder. “Now I know better.”

“And feel better, I hope.”

“Yes, my love.” She twined her arms around his neck and smiled up at him. “Now I am ready to be your wife.”

The End

About the Author

Wendy Soliman is a British author, brought up on the Isle of Wight, who now divides her time between Andorra and the west coast of Florida. She shares her life with her long-suffering husband and a rescued dog of indeterminate pedigree, named Jake Bentley after the hero in one of her books. Both Jakes are handsome mongrels with independent spirits and wild streaks.

Wendy has over forty published books to her credit, ranging from Regency romance, (her first love), to contemporary women’s fiction and marine crime mysteries. She also writes erotica for SirenBookStrand under a pen name.

When not writing, Wendy enjoys walking miles with her dog, reading other people’s tomes…oh, and she’s on a one woman mission to save the wine trade from the world recession. She figures someone has to do it!

Check out all of Wendy’s books, and learn more about her from her website:
http://www.wendysoliman.com

Twitter: @wendyswriter Also available from Bookbaby To Defy a Duke

A Duke by Default

The Duke’s Legacy

Saving Grace

Mrs. Darcy Entertain Series Miss Bingley’s Revenge Colonel Fitzwilliam’s Dilemma

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