My Darling Duke

“Yes, Mamma,” she said softly.

A peculiar stillness settled over the parlor, as if they dared not breathe for fear the promise of a different future would burn away like ashes in the wind.

Mamma favored her with a long, probing stare. “I am astonished you never told us you met a duke, let alone one as powerful as Thornton. I met him years ago via your father. A most charming and handsome young man, I recall, though there were whispers of an accident that left him hurt. He has been missing from society for a number of years, and there has been much speculation as to if he would ever return. I cannot fathom how such news was not imparted to me. What is going on, my dear?”

A rather large lump formed in Kitty’s throat. She hated very much to lie to her sisters and mother, but she did not want them to be a part of her mad scheme. If she was ever found out, Kitty wished for all the recriminations to be laid at her feet. Once again, her heart trembled, and her resolve wavered. If her ruse were uncovered, the scandal would be far-reaching, destroying all her sisters’ chances, as little as they were.

“Our correspondence has been through letters. I…I did not wish to give false hope, but we have formed an attachmen

t.” Tears burned in her eyes that she had to deceive them so, and she almost crumbled and confessed all.

Except with a gasp, her mother lifted trembling hands to her lips and said, “We might be saved?”

Yes, I promise it, Mamma.

“I cannot perceive it to be true,” Anna cried. “Why would he choose you, Kitty?”

Her sister’s astonishment hurt Kitty when it shouldn’t have. “I do not pretend to any extraordinary beauty, but why shouldn’t a duke offer for me? I am pretty, my eyes are fine, I am quick in thinking, and I am educated. I am not a spendthrift, and I daresay I can manage a large household. I am also the daughter of a viscount, even if he had been an impoverished one. We do have some connections, Anna.”

“Oh, of course, anyone would appreciate your fine qualities. It is all so extraordinary. What will this mean for us?” Anna intoned.

And for the first time in a very long while, hope shone in their eyes, and the cold knot of doubt in Kitty’s stomach loosened.

“It means our family may be saved,” Mamma said fiercely. “It means we will have coal this winter. It means I will no longer have to swallow my pride and pen letters to your father’s heir, begging for scraps. It means you will not have to return to that dreadful house, Annabelle, and good heavens, it means my girls may have a chance for a better life.”

Judith clasped her hands together. “I may have a season?”

Kitty smiled at her sixteen-year-old sister, who spent most of her days dreaming of balls and courtship. She was already quite decided about her future and possessed too much of a romantic nature. “I daresay in a couple more years it may be possible. A coming-out at eighteen is acceptable. And we may be able to hire a governess for you, Henrietta.”

As it were, Kitty was responsible for her eleven-year-old sister’s education, and she had taken rich pleasure in teaching her varied subjects.

She faced Annabelle. “This season will be yours. As the fiancée of His Grace, I will be better positioned to introduce you to those who wish to be in his good favor. You will not be going back to that house, as you were suggesting.”

Her sister cast a furtive glance at her mother before lifting her chin and nodding firmly. Anna was one and twenty and wasn’t out in society as Kitty was. All their fragile hopes had been hung on Kitty finding a good match. After it had been evident Kitty was to be a failure, Anna had accepted a position as lady’s companion to Lady Shrewsbury, and her son had frightened Anna greatly with his brutish advances. Anna’s arms had been badly bruised, and the imprint of the viscount’s fingers on her sister’s inner thigh would haunt Kitty forever.

How Kitty wished it had been her, and not her sweet, gentle sister. Not that she had wanted to be defiled or frightened, but she was made of sterner stuff and not as fragile as dearest Anna.

Kitty was grateful her sister had confided in her; how she wished she could call out the blackguard to defend her sister’s honor, but instead the knowledge had been the additional spur Kitty needed to conjure up her daring scheme. The weight of her sister’s pain and shame felt like evidence of Kitty’s failure to see them all safe, as she had promised her papa on his deathbed.

Kitty hadn’t hesitated to confront the bounder with her papa’s pistol and warn him to stay away from Anna. Of course, the scoundrel had been more amused than afraid, but she had gotten her sister away from that dreadful place. A life like that wasn’t to be Anna’s, Judith’s, or Henrietta’s future— Kitty would ensure it.

Anna nodded, clearly still dazed. “But when will we meet him?”

I pray, never. She had only this season to get things right.

While the duke was a recluse, Kitty did not believe she could fool society for more than that time. Everyone would wonder where the duke was during this farce. They would wonder at the wedding never taking place, and they would rabidly speculate why he was not by her side. She had to move quickly and smartly to secure her sisters’ futures in one season.

It felt impossible. It felt hopeless. It felt terrifying.

Kitty wetted lips that had gone dry. For several nights she had lain in bed unable to sleep, planning for all eventualities. Taking a bracing breath, she spun tales of hopes for them, of an eventual meeting when he returned from Scotland, and how they would take the last of their money and order three new daring ball gowns for herself, two for Anna, dancing slippers, and assorted fripperies. It was such a gamble to spend the last of Mamma’s portion, but she also had to look the part of a duke’s fiancée, and Anna had to be out in society for the plan to bear fruit.

Now that the news had been announced, the wave of interest and curiosity into their lives would move unchecked.

Her mother stared at her for quite a while, and a lump grew in Kitty’s throat at the emotions she spied in her mother’s eyes.

“Sometimes it steals my breath and crumples something in me when I think of the weight of the responsibility on your shoulders, my dear,” her mother said softly, an odd sort of knowledge in her eyes. “You’ve always been a lively and daring spirit, Katherine, and for so long I’ve worried the onus of taking care of us would dim your charming light. You’ve not flinched from everything required of you and have taken on a burden to see this family well, a responsibility that should belong only to your father and me. My Artie would be so very proud of you, my dear.”

Kitty swallowed and nodded, offering her mother a watery smile.