Duke of Fyre (Braving the Elements #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

R ebecca Crowton stood in front of her father’s large desk. It was only a few years old. He had a new one made every few years just to show that he could. This one was made of a dark chestnut with countless carvings in the side. The whole thing was nothing more than a show of wealth designed to intimidate anyone he bought here, and oh, how it was working.

Rebecca clenched her hands as the sharp blue eyes she’d inherited glared at her from where he sat staring her down. Usually when she was here, it was because Solomon Crowton had found a reason to punish her, not that he needed much of a reason. The man would take any excuse he could find no matter how small.

She would be called in for no other reason than for him to tell her she wouldn’t be getting dinner that night or the already meager amount he spent on her expenses was to be cut.

But that wasn’t why she was here this time.

At least, that wasn't the main reason. His words were still ringing in her ears as she struggled to make sense of them when he spoke again.

“You may go now,” he said, moving to go back to his papers.

“Wait!” Rebecca gasped, her outburst shocking herself almost as much as it shocked him.

“Did you need something?” he snapped when she didn’t say anything for a moment.

Rebecca locked her eyes on the ground, clenching her hands so ,they would stop shaking. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I just needed you to clarify something for me before I go.”

“Of course, you do. I always knew you were dimwitted. Go on. Out with it.”

She swallowed. It was clear she was only displeasing him more and more with each word. She knew it wasn’t smart to keep pushing, but Rebecca could hardly leave after what he had said. She needed to know. She needed to have heard wrong, so she forced herself to speak, her voice coming out small and unsure, ready to be swept away in the quiet room. “You just—you just told me I am to be getting married?—”

“Yes, I fail to see what is so hard to understand about that.”

“I- I understand that, but I’m afraid I must have heard the name wrong. Could you please repeat it?”

He let out a dismissive sigh. “Can you not even hear properly? Truly, Rebecca, can you do anything right? You really are a disappointment. Perhaps it was for the best that your poor mother never had to suffer the indignity of seeing the kind of person you have become despite my best efforts.”

She dug her nails into her palms, trying to block out his words. They weren’t the important part. There was only one thing she needed to know. “I am sorry I have disappointed you, but can you please just say it one more time.”

He sighed, rolling his eyes again. “Very well, if you insist.”

“Thank you, father.”

He continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “I said you are to marry Duke Danton. Did you hear me properly this time, or must I repeat myself once more?”

The ground fell out from under her as she fell into an endless abyss of shock and despair. It didn’t seem possible, but she had heard right the first time.

Rebecca couldn’t believe it. How could he do this to her?

She knew he never paid her much mind, but she never imagined he would do something like this to her.

“Can you not even hear me now?” he snapped. “If you don’t have anything else to say, then get out. I have work to get to.”

Rebecca knew she couldn’t stay silent. She couldn’t let this happen, so she forced herself to find her voice. “But, father, surely this must be some kind of mistake or misunderstanding.”

“Are you questioning my intelligence, girl?”

“No! Of course not!” she backpedaled as quickly as she could. “I wasn’t trying to imply anything of the sort. I would never.”

“Then what were you trying to do?”

“It’s only that Duke Danton is such a recluse. How do we even know he is looking for a wife?”

“His solicitor has been asking around. I learned of his search when I was at a gentlemen’s club.”

“And you suggested me?”

“I agreed to have tea with them and discuss the possibility. We were lucky enough for Duke Danton to actually agree to wed you.”

“But why? We have never met. I don’t even think I’ve ever seen him before.”

“I hardly see why it matters what he sees in you. He has agreed to marry you, and considering your prospects, you should consider yourself lucky.”

“No, I only meant to ask why you put my name forward to begin with.”

“I thought that would be obvious. Can you think for even a moment?”

Rebecca’s heart pounded in her ears. This couldn’t be happening. Even a father as awful as he was would never do something like this to her. She clenched her trembling hands in her skirts. She couldn’t let him see her terror. It would only make everything that came next worse. She just wanted all of this to be over as soon as possible. “Forgive me, father, but I think I need you to explain it to me.”

He signed. “Our family is doing well, but we can always do more to improve our family name. For once, you can actually do something to help it.”

“But how?”

“Marrying him,” he said as though it should have been obvious, and perhaps he was right. He wouldn’t have to say things like this all the time if she wasn’t constantly doing something wrong. “It would be good for our family to have ties to a duke. I must say I was rather surprised you were the only one put forward. I would have thought there would be at least a few other families putting their daughters forward.”

Rebecca hesitated. “Perhaps that might be because Duke Danton is known to be a—” she hesitated again. She needed to be careful here. It wouldn’t help her case if her father thought she was insulting him. “—rather harsh person,” she finally settled on. It was an understatement to be sure, and quite an extreme one at that, but it was as much as she dared to say.

“I thought you hadn’t met him before.”

“I haven’t, but his reputation precedes him. I have heard people talk.”

“So you’re telling me you have not only been engaging in gossip, but you have also been talking negatively about someone of a higher status than you?”

“No, of course not! I?—”

“Then what were you trying to say?”

“I was only trying to explain that I don’t know if this is such a good idea.”

“Is that right?” His face darkened as he leveled her with a glare cold enough to freeze the sun. “And you know what is good for this family, do you?”

She stiffened at his sharp tone. Her heart pounded in her chest. She knew she needed to tread carefully. She had clearly already dug a hole for herself; she couldn’t let it get any deeper. “I only have concerns.”

“Clearly. I just don’t see why you think you need to voice them.”

She looked down, knowing when he didn’t want her to actually reply.

“This is a chance for you to finally do something good for this family, and you want to throw it back in my face? You should be honored that anyone, much less a duke, is even willing to marry you.”

She locked her eyes on the ground.

“Who is the head of this family?”

“You are, father.”

“And who knows what is best for this family?”

“You do.”

“So, who do you think you are to question me?”

“No one. I wasn’t trying to, and I shouldn’t have done anything to make it seem like I was.”

“That’s right, so let’s try this again, shall we?”

“Yes, father.”

“You are to marry Duke Danton.”

“I understand,” Rebecca forced herself to say, keeping her voice as steady as she could manage.

“Glad to see you have come to your senses.”

She remained silent.

“Fortunately for us, he does not desire a long engagement, so he shouldn’t have time to come to his senses and change his mind about you. It’s also doubtful you’ll have to see him before the ceremony, so you won’t have the opportunity to do anything that could risk giving him a reason to change his mind.”

“How long do I have?” she asked barely above a whisper.

“It’s hard to say for sure, but if I had to guess I imagine it will be sometime within the month.”

“So soon?”

“Of course. There’s no reason to wait.”

“But wouldn’t he want a rather extravagant wedding, being a duke and all?”

“You said it yourself, he can be a bit of a recluse. I would be surprised if he wanted anything beyond the most discreet ceremony.”

“I see, so there won’t be any kind of reception?”

“Of course not. Why would you need something like that?”

She nodded. “Of course, father.”

“The exact date will be decided as soon as he receives word from the bishop as to when soon they will allow him to wed. Once the service is over, he’ll take you back to his estate. We will try to come visit you at some point.”

“I see. Then I suppose I will begin preparing and patiently await your visit.”

He stared down at her, a sharp look on his face. She could tell he was waiting for something, but he wasn’t giving her any indication as to what it might be. “Is that all you have to say?”

Rebecca took a deep breath. That was it. Now, she got it. She knew what he wanted from her. What she was expected to say.

Forcing herself into a small curtsy, she said a small, “thank you father.” She could only hope it would be enough. Rebecca didn’t have it in herself to go on and on about how grateful she was at the moment.

He studied her for a moment before he finally nodded with a deep sigh. “I suppose that’s a little bit better.”

She narrowly resisted the urge to let out a sigh of relief. Still, she knew better than to say a single word, instead waiting for him to continue.

He didn’t keep her waiting long. “I am glad to see you still know how to be grateful. You may go now.”

Taking a deep breath, she made her way back into the hall. Gloushire Manor was a moderate size house by the standards most of the ton would expect, but Solomon did everything he could to ensure it would cut an imposing figure.

To be fair, in many ways, he succeeded. Every inch of the place was covered with ways to show off his family’s status and wealth. From furniture to art, he only had the best he could afford of everything.

But Rebecca wasn’t paying attention to any of that. She just kept walking as fast as she dared down the hall towards the gardens. It was one of the few places that wasn’t pristine and ready for display.

In sharp contrast to the rest of the house, the gardens were overgrown as they had been for as long as Rebecca could remember. She had once heard the servants talking; apparently, the gardens had once been the pride and joy of her mother.

After she was born and her mother died of complications from the birth, Solomon demanded that no one was to set foot in the gardens. He even ordered that no one was to open the heavy drapes that covered the window looking out on the grounds. It was one of the only places Rebecca could let herself breathe and think.

It didn’t hurt that Penelope Sutton, her only true friend, was her next door neighbor and had a habit of sneaking over to see her when she would see her from the window. The hours when the pair of them were able to hide out there together were some of Rebecca’s fondest memories though she couldn’t help but hope she would be undisturbed that afternoon.

But halfway to the gardens, a figure came out to block her path. It was her older sister, Dorothy. Despite only having a two-year age difference, Solomon went to great lengths to ensure the girls would never be close.

In fact, he seemed to do everything he could to ensure Dorothy knew just how far above her younger sister she stood. Rebecca tried to just move around her sister and get on her way, but Dorothy moved to stand in her way with a haughty grin on her face.

“Have you spoken to your father yet?” she asked, staring down at her younger sister with smug satisfaction.

Rebecca hesitated. She knew she couldn’t just deny it, but she didn’t want to talk about it anymore than she already had. That didn’t even touch on the look on Dorothy’s face. But Father wouldn’t have told her first, would he?

“Rebecca, are you ignoring me?”

“No, of course not. I would never do that.”

“You had better not.” She crossed her arms. “I asked you a question. Have you met with father yet?”

She hesitated. “Why do you ask?”

Dorothy’s grin only grew, making the anxiety growing in Rebecca’s gut twist and wiggle inside her. “What does it matter? Just answer my question, or should I tell him you were being rude to me again?”

“No, you don’t need to do that!”

Dorothy gave her sister a pointed look. “You had better answer fast then.”

She took a deep breath. “Yes, I have.”

“So then did he give you the news?”

Rebecca looked up at her in shock. She couldn’t believe this. Dorothy knew. Her father had told her first.

“Yes,” she said, wanting nothing more than to run off and hide from this conversation. Even if she tried, though, Dorothy would just follow after her. She had made that mistake one too many times before, and it was always worse when she caught her in the end.

Her sister laughed. “And are you excited to meet your betrothed?”

Rebecca held her tongue. She knew when there was nothing good to say. Of course, Dorothy wasn’t expecting a reply anyway.

“I know you are! After all, who would have thought a duke would want someone like you, even if he is terrible?”

Rebecca’s eyes burned.

“But that’s all right, and do you know why?” She didn’t wait for Rebecca to reply before she continued. “Because you’re terrible as well! You two deserve each other. Why don’t you tell me how lucky you are?”

Barely above a whisper, she forced out a small, “I am very lucky the Duke wants to marry me.”

“That’s right you are, but you aren’t the only one that’s lucky.” She sighed, a dreamy look coming over her face. “It will be nice to finally have you out of the house. You just take up so much space. And I can only imagine how many more gowns I can have once father is no longer responsible for your expenses.”

She pirouetted in place, demonstrating the lacy flow of her skirts in contrast to Rebecca’s mended gown. Rebecca couldn’t remember the last time Solomon had gotten her a new gown. Almost everything she had was a hand-me-down from her older sister at best. Even when she did receive a new to her gown, it would be stripped of all adornment and embellishment before it was given to her. After all, if those things could be reused on Dorothy’s new gowns, then there was no point in wasting them on Rebecca.

“I hope he is able to get you everything you want,” she forced herself to say.

“I’m sure he will, now that you won’t be in the way.”

“That’s good. I’m happy for you,” Rebecca said. She had learned over the years the more she pretended to agree with Dorothy, the sooner she would get bored and let her go on her way.

Sure enough, after a few more moments, Dorothy crossed her arms with a pout. “Is that all you have to say for yourself?”

“Of course. What have you said that I could possibly disagree with?”

She clenched her hands, face turning red. “You little—” she cut herself off with a huff. “I have better things to do than stand here talking to you all day you know!”

“Of course. I won’t keep you.”

Dorothy glared like she wanted to say more before stomping down the hall with a huff.

When she was alone, Rebecca let out a sigh of relief before finally making her way to the garden. It was already late enough into fall that she was quite chilled in her thin shawl, but the air only served to help clear her mind.

It was only once she was outside and sure she would be left alone that she allowed her tears to fall.

“This isn’t fair,” she whispered to herself, crumpling to her knees in the soil. Cold air crept up from the ground, pushing its way through her skirts. She couldn’t be sure how long she sat there before a gentle voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Rebecca.” Penelope’s hand came to rest on her shoulder.

She looked up to see her friend, staring down at her, worry filling her large eyes. Her curly dark hair looked as black as charcoal in the fading lights, matching the ink staining her fingertips. The soft cotton of her simple but well-loved day dress was like nothing Rebecca could ever hope to wear. “What are you doing out here? It’s far too cold.”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Penelope sighed. “But I’ll answer your question first since you asked so nicely. I saw you sitting outside from my window. You looked upset, so I was worried about you. And it seems I was right to worry.”

Rebecca looked away.

“Do you want to tell me what happened? Did your father say something to you again? Because if he did?—”

“It isn’t what you think. This was different from our usual altercations.”

“Altercations,” she scoffed. “I think they tend to be a bit one-sided for that word. Still, that hardly seems the point now. What made this different?”

“Because he didn’t call me to his study for a lecture but to give me news.” Rebecca did her best to force a smile. “I am to be married soon.”

“What?” Penelope gasped. “To whom?”

“Duke Danton,” Rebecca whispered.

“What?” Penelope gasped. “You can’t be serious! Your father—even he wouldn’t do something like that, would he?”

“It seems he would.”

“But Duke Danton is simply more than you can be expected to bear! Did you tell him you wouldn’t be able to go forward with the match?”

“I tried to tell him my objections, but he hardly seemed willing to listen. I don’t think I will be able to avoid it. He seemed rather set on the matter.”

She shook her head. “But you can’t marry him! Surely your father wouldn’t force you to go forward with a match like this against your will.”

“I’m afraid it rather sounds like you have not met my father. We both know my happiness was never a concern for him.”

“Still, you must agree this is too far, even for him. Perhaps even if he won’t listen, there is someone else we could talk to with the power to stop this.”

Rebecca just shook her head. “I’m afraid there’s no way out.”

“There has to be!” Penelope insisted. “I won’t let him do this to you!”

“I think the best thing I can do is to try and make the best out of it.”

“But how can you possibly do that? Duke Danton isn’t just known as a reclusive or harsh man. We’ve both heard the rumors about what kind of man he is. Rumors about just what might have happened to his family.”

“We have, but they are just that—rumors, and we both know the kind of things Dorothy has been saying about me. We can hardly trust them, now can we?”

“But this isn’t the same thing as someone complaining that her sister gets too many dresses or that she isn’t talented at the piano. This is serious.”

“But it is said with all the same conviction as Dorothy talks about me. I think it would be better to wait until I meet him to form an impression.”

“Do you have a long engagement at least? Perhaps you can find a way out of it if he treats you poorly.”

She shook her head. “No, not very long.”

“Do you know when?”

Rebecca sucked in a shaky breath. “Father seems intent on washing his hands of me as soon as possible.

“But you deserve so much better than this.”

“I don’t know,” Rebecca forced a smile. “Maybe it won’t be that bad.”

“Rebecca, you can’t be serious!”

“Why not? It’s better to look on the bright side in times like these, isn’t it?”

“Bright side? Your father is marrying you off to some beast of a man you have never met but everyone knows is horrible. I know you tend to be a bit—well, my dear, a bit too willing to go along with what he wants to keep the peace, but you can’t. Not with this.”

“It isn’t as if I have much of a choice, even if I wanted to fight.”

“Even if you wanted to—” Penelope cut herself off, staring at Rebecca in shock. “Are you saying even if you could, you wouldn’t want to?”

Rebecca shook her head. “Truthfully, no.”

“What? But why?”

“If I’m honest, it doesn’t seem like the worst option. It’s no fairy tale, but you have to admit it’s better remaining here,” Rebecca said, forcing a smile. She could only hope if she held onto it long enough that it would become real in time.

Penelope crossed her arms. “You’re going to need to explain how to me because I’m afraid I fail to see any potential benefits here.”

“Well, to start with I would be a duchess.”

Penelope gave a tight smile. “I will admit there is something amusing about the idea of your status being above your family’s.”

Rebecca chuckled. “I won’t pretend the thought had never crossed my mind. Honestly, that’s a huge part of why I am all right with this.”

“The status?”

“Being free from my family. Marrying would allow me to leave the family home. I would finally be out from under their thumb.”

“Still, who knows what he would expect from you as a wife…” she trailed off.

“My father detests me. My sister mocks me. How much worse can a duke be? At least there, my home might have a chance to be my own. I could have a chance at choosing my own fate. There is no hope of that here.”

“Rebecca…”

“Besides, if he is as reclusive as rumor would have us believe, then perhaps he will simply leave me be.”

“And what if that is wishful thinking? You will still be living together.”

“Perhaps, but the home of a duke must be rather large. It couldn’t be that hard for us to keep to ourselves when home. Perhaps we could each lead our own life in peace. More acquaintances or perhaps even friends than husband and wife but content nevertheless.”

“That doesn’t sound like a woman talking about her betrothed.”

She smiled. “Maybe not, but I think it is the best I can hope for. I can’t ask you to be happy for me, but can you please try to help me accept it?”

“I am trying, but it’s hard because I know you deserve so much better.”

“I’m happy you think so highly of me, but it hardly seems worth dwelling on.”

“Rebecca…” Penelope trailed off.

“Please, try to understand, this could be my only chance to get out.”

It was clear she wanted to argue more, but after a moment, she just sighed. “You’ve already made your mind up on this, haven’t you?”

“I hadn’t before I made my way out here, but the more I think about it, yes I rather think I have.”

“Then I suppose I can’t make you fight this one.”

“I think we both know there was never any chance I would.”

Penelope sighed. “I know, but that doesn’t mean I could just go along with it.”

“I can understand that, but you don’t need to worry about me so much.”

“Don’t I? After whom you told me you are about to marry, how can you expect me not to worry?”

“I understand it might be difficult, but you know me. I always find a way to manage, don’t I?”

“Perhaps. But don’t you see, you should be doing more than just managing?”

“Of course, I want to do more, and I think this will help. All I’m asking is for you to trust me.”

“It’s starting to sound like you genuinely want this match.”

“As I said, it can’t be worse than here.” Rebecca hesitated, chewing her lips. “Penelope, I have never been in a position to choose anything—not the food I ate or the way I live, not the people I see or even the very clothes on my body. I can’t say I want this. I don’t know that I’ve ever let myself want anything. All I have ever hoped for was a way out of this house. I don’t know if I will get another.”

Penelope sighed again. “Then I will try to be glad for you, but we can talk more later. If you feel all right at the moment, then I need to get home. Mama will be expecting me for dinner soon.”

“Of course. We can talk more tomorrow.”

Penelope got to her feet and made her way back to her side of the fence. Rebecca stayed outside for a while after she left.

She hadn’t lied. She did feel better about the engagement now that she had talked it over a bit, but fear and anxiety still wrapped around her heart like vines on the trellis.

The sun had started to go down, and it was close to dinner time when she went in. In most homes, Rebecca would be going to dress for dinner. But this wasn’t most homes, so she simply headed up to her room to wait.

Rebecca’s legs were growing tired when she finally made it to the top of the narrow back stairs. It probably would have been faster if she had used the main stairs, but then she would have risked running into her sister or her father, and she just couldn’t take seeing either of them again in that moment.

Finally, she made it to her room. While Dorothy and her father had rooms on the main floor, Rebecca’s was tucked away in the dark, drafty attic where they wouldn’t have to see or hear her.

The room itself was actually rather large. Rebecca did her best to make the most of the space, laying out rugs she managed to get off of servants before they threw them out and drapes she made herself from an old blanket.

It went a long way to keep out the harsh chill though when winter came in, there was nothing to be done for it. Attics weren’t known for their insulation and warmth, but she did what she could to make it work. After all, it wasn’t as though she had many other options.

“I doubt Duke Danton will force me to sleep in an attic,” she mumbled to herself. “Even if he is said to be cruel, I doubt he would do something like that without provocation.”

She nodded to herself.

It would be all right. All she needed to do was make a good impression then stay out of his way.

It would hardly be all that different from what she was doing now at worst, and it would surely be an improvement in her circumstances.

She was still thinking this over when there was a soft knock at her door. Forcing a smile, she got up and went over to it to see Janet, the maid who usually brought her food.

“Here’s your dinner, Miss.”

“Thank you, Janet.”

Janet handed her the tray then hesitated.

“What is it?” Rebecca asked.

“I heard Miss Dorothy talking. Are you getting married, Miss?”

Rebecca forced a smile. “Yes, I am.”

“That’s wonderful news! I didn’t even know you were courting anyone.”

“I wasn’t. The marriage was arranged.”

“Oh, I see. Are you happy about it? Do you like the man at least?”

“I think I will be.”

“You haven’t met him?” She frowned. “Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry.”

Rebecca shook her head. “I’m not. I don’t want you to be either. True, this was never how I imagined myself marrying, but I am still lucky to leave this place and be welcomed into his home.”

Janet sighed, offering a sad smile. “You have always had a remarkable ability to look on the bright side through everything.”

“Please don’t worry about me. I’m sure wherever I go will be better.”

Janet seemed like she wanted to say more, but just smiled and nodded. “I hope so, Miss. Well, I will leave you to your dinner. Have a nice evening.”

“I hope you do as well.”

Rebecca watched her walk away then headed back into her room. She perched at her desk and uncovered her dinner.

It wasn’t much, but that was hardly a surprise. If she had a big meal, she’d probably end up wasting quite a bit. It was better this way with her small bowl of stew and day-old bread.

She ate alone then left the tray outside her door for Janet to come and collect in the morning. It was still early, but Rebecca knew her father wouldn’t want to see her out of her room for the rest of the night, so she started getting ready for bed.

Her bed was small and lumpy, but it was better than the floor.

She drifted off not long after laying down, her mind turning over her rapidly approaching future.