Duke of Fyre (Braving the Elements #1)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

O nly a week later, Rebecca stepped into the carriage. Her heart pounded in her chest. She tried to keep her focus on the small bubble of excitement of getting to leave that house rather than the nerves at the thought of what would come next. She chewed her lip as she watched one of the footmen secure her meager bag of belongings on the back of the sleek black carriage. There wasn’t much in there. In fact, there so few things that the bag lay limp and could almost be mistaken as being empty, but it was all that she had. It held her few dresses, her two shawls, and her one cloak. Part of her was amazed her father had let her take anything given how he and Dorothy had treated her in the remainder of her time living there.

As awful as Dorothy could be, Rebecca was glad she was the only other occupant of the carriage. Solomon had ridden to the church ahead of them, leaving her alone with Dorothy. Her sister was smiling smugly at her from her seat across from her. She was decked out in all her finery in a sharp contrast to Rebecca’s own simple afternoon dress.

Anyone looking at us would think Dorothy was the bride, not myself, Rebecca thought. No one would have guessed that Rebecca was doing anything more than going out to do a bit of shopping and perhaps visiting a friend.

“You look so beautiful in your wedding dress,” Dorothy grinned.

Her words could almost be mistaken as kind if her snide tone made her mockery clear.

“Thank you, Dorothy,” Rebecca said, eyes locked on her hands folded in her lap. She focused on taking deep breaths. For good or ill, it would be over soon.

“I genuinely don’t know that I have ever seen a bride who looked quite like you do, at least not of our status. You truly are a marvel.”

“It was very kind of you to pick out this dress for me.”

“I do try. As your older sister, it is my job to look after you. Besides, it also frees up space in my closet. I hope you don’t mind that I kept the lace for myself. But then, why should you?”

“Indeed, why would I? It was kind of you to think of me at all.”

“Yes, it was, wasn’t it? Be sure not to forget it after today. Are you excited to be a great duchess?”

Rebecca gritted her teeth. She only had a few more hours of this at most then she would be on her way to her new home with her new husband. At the moment, she would have almost preferred blows, deceit, or outright lechery to one more minute of her sister’s mockery.

“You still haven’t seen him, have you?”

“I’ll be meeting him today,” Rebecca replied, as though Dorothy didn’t already know that.

“I’ve met him, you know.”

Her head jerked up to look at her sister. “No, I didn’t.” Questions bubbled in her throat, but she didn’t dare voice any of them. She couldn’t risk giving her sister any more words to twist against her.

Dorothy hummed. “Yes, it was only once and not very long.”

“When?” she asked before she could stop herself.

The grin Dorothy gave Rebecca made her mistake clear, but it was too late. “It was at the very afternoon tea that father agreed you would marry him.”

“Why were you there for that? If I wasn’t able to be present, it hardly seems appropriate.”

Dorothy shot her a cold look at the audacity of Rebecca’s question, but it had been a fair question. After all, it was more than a little odd that she had been there, especially since Rebecca hadn’t.

In fact, not only had Rebecca not been there, not only did she not know about it, but she hadn’t even known her possible engagement was on the table. “Father arranged a formal tea to work out the details after he heard from the gentlemen’s club the Duke was looking for a wife. As your older sister, it only makes sense that I would be there to help find an appropriate husband for you. Why wouldn’t I have been there?”

Rebecca backpedaled quickly. The ride to the church was far too long to be trapped with her sister while she was upset. “I can understand why you were there. Of course, you had your reasons, but it just seems like the kind of discussion where only the parties involved would be present.”

“But it does involve me. After all, having a sister married to a duke raises my prospects quite a bit. I hope you know just how lucky you are.”

Rebecca looked away. “Of course. How could I ever forget?”

“You are an ungrateful thing. I’m not surprised you would forget,” Dorothy huffed, crossing her arms. “Still, it is your wedding day, so I suppose I can forgive you.”

“Thank you. That is very kind of you.”

“Yes, it is, isn’t it." A slow smile curved Dorothy’s lips. “Do you want to hear what he is like?”

Rebecca hesitated.

“Come now. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. I’m sure you want to know if they are true.”

“Well, I- I try to avoid gossip as best as I can.”

“I’m sure you do, but in this world it is rather hard to avoid. You can’t tell me you haven’t heard any of them.”

“I suppose I might have.”

“Then why don’t you ask me about them? I’d be more than happy to tell you all about him.”

“I wouldn’t even know what to ask.”

“Come now, I’m sure you have questions.”

She didn’t say anything.

“If you don’t want to ask, why don’t I just tell you what I think?” Then she leaned in closer. “Every word is true,” she whispered.

Rebecca felt the color drain from her face. “What?”

“I said, every single word you’ve heard is completely true.”

She was too stunned to speak.

“Why don’t I start by telling you what he looks like?”

Rebecca wanted to tell her no. to tell her to stop. She knew it didn’t matter what she said. It was going to happen. There was no point in scaring herself, but she couldn’t force herself to say a word.

“He’s just as hideous as you have heard. Not only that, but he has an awful scar on his neck. I heard his brother gave it to him before he died.”

Rebecca’s heart pounded.

Dorothy laughed, grinning down at her sister. “But you don’t need to worry. I think he’s positively perfect for you.”

“Perfect for me?” She dug her nails into her palm. “How—” she cut herself off, but it was too late.

“Of course, he is.” Dorothy gave a cruel grin. “Do you want me to tell you just how well suited you are to one another?”

Rebecca hesitated.

“Don’t worry, I won’t make you ask. We both know you do.”

Dorothy took a deep breath, smiling like a woman who anticipated the most delicious of sweets. “Well, to begin with, he’s also known to be a rather cold man, just as you are a cold woman. Not only that, but he is known to hate balls and parties. I’m sure that must be quite a relief for you, after all, you wouldn’t even know what to do at a ball. No, it isn’t a place for someone like you.”

Somehow that was the thing that broke her out of her stupor. Maybe it was foolish, but she had always dreamed about going to a ball and dancing with a charming man the way Dorothy got to so often. “It wasn’t as if I ever had a chance to learn,” Rebecca dared to whisper, lip trembling.

That was a mistake. She should have known better than to let emotion get the better of her. She should have known to hold her tongue.

Dorothy leveled her with a look that could curdle milk. “Why would you? You’re too young to be out.”

“You had already been out for almost a year by the time you were my age.”

“But I’m the oldest, so that makes sense. You can’t be out until I get married. Besides, who would want to dance with you?”

Rebecca opened her mouth and did something she’d never dared to do. She talked back to her sister. It wasn’t a slip of the tongue. It wasn’t letting her temper get the better of her. It was a conscious choice to say something to her sister.

“Then perhaps you should be the one to marry the duke!”

Dorothy snarled at her. “Would you like to know another thing the two of you have in common, dear sister?”

Her fire started to dim. “And what would that be?”

Dorothy leaned forward, eyes glinting. “Everyone says he’s a murderer. Just like you.”

Rebecca shook her head. “I never?—”

“Didn’t you?”

She shook her head, heart pounding. Not this again. She couldn’t do this. Not today. Not just before she was to be married.

“Because I think you did. Or do you not remember what you did to our mother?”

“I miss her too.”

“Miss her,” she scowled. “You didn’t even know her.”

“That doesn’t mean I?—”

“You killed her with your birth! You were born wrong, and this is only one more thing that shows it..”

“I wasn’t?—”

She scoffed, turning away from her. “There's no point in lying. We will all be better off when you are out of the house. Just don’t make more trouble for Father and me.”

Rebecca stayed silent after that. There was nothing she could say that would make things better. Her eyes burned with tears she had no time to shed.

For now, all she could do was to sit and wait for them to go the last little distance to the church.

When they finally arrived, Dorothy raced out of the carriage ahead of her without waiting for even a second. Rebecca had no choice but to trail a distance after her.

Before she could enter the church, Penelope was by her side. “Rebecca!”

She turned to her friend, heart pounding. “Penelope, I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

“As if I would miss your wedding! How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” she said, but Penelope’s frown made clear she wasn’t buying it.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“It doesn’t make a difference what I want.”

“Rebecca…” she trailed off.

“It’s all right. It isn’t about this. It's just… Dorothy.”

“I see. Did she say something to you?”

“Doesn’t she always?”

“I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve that any day, much less today.”

“Thank you, but at least she won’t have as many opportunities soon.”

“So, you’re still looking forward to it then?”

Rebecca gave a hesitant nod. “I think so.”

“That’s good, I suppose.”

“Especially since there’s no going back now.”

“I don’t know. It isn’t too late for you to run off into the night.”

Rebecca chuckled. “No, it would be far better to just get this over with.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. Give me a moment alone then I’ll see you once I’m a married woman.”

Penelope pulled her in for a tight hug. “I will come by and visit you as soon as it is proper to do so.”

“I know you will. And I promise I will tell you all about it.”

They shared a last look then Penelope nodded and released her.

Rebecca only had a moment or two to herself before Solomon was suddenly by her side, an unreadable expression on his face.

“Shall we get this over with?”

“I don’t—is this the type of thing one gets over with?”

He glared down at her. “It is in this case.”

“Right,” she looked down. “Then I suppose there’s no point in waiting, is there?”

“I’m glad to hear you are seeing sense.”

Then he snatched up her arm and all but dragged her into the church.

That was the first moment she caught a glimpse of her soon-to-be husband. When she saw him, her heart began to pound. She almost stopped in her tracks, much to Solomon’s annoyance, but she couldn’t help herself.

Duke Danton cut an imposing figure. He was tall with broad shoulders, dark hair, and piercing blue eyes. Then, of course, there was the scar on his neck.

It was a jagged stark white streak curving along his neck and up across his jaw. It only seemed to accent the harsh set of his mouth and bring out the coldness in his eyes.

Those eyes that were locked right on her. She didn’t know what it meant, only that the sheer intensity of it knocked the air from her lungs.

“What are you doing?” her father hissed. “Get moving. You’re making fools of this family just standing here.”

“I’m sorry, Father.”

“Don’t be sorry. Do what you are supposed to.”

She took a deep breath and started making her way towards her… her fiancé. The man who would be her husband.

The closer she got, the more intense the Duke’s gaze became. Rebecca swallowed, clenching her hands to keep them from shaking.

They made it to the front of the church and her father stepped aside, leaving her to walk the last few steps on her own.

Finally, she was standing in front of the vicar and Duke Danton. There was a moment when the vicar started to speak. Rebecca locked her eyes on the ground and tried to focus on just breathing.

It seemed like a miracle that she made it through the ceremony at all. She found herself unable to focus on anything but the way his eyes almost seemed to burn into her. She hadn’t even spoken yet, and she’d found a way to displease him. She looked away from his sharp eyes, fighting back tears.

But that just made her eyes linger on the scar peeking out from above his cravat. He’d made no effort to conceal it, and it was big enough that no one could avoid noticing it. It wrapped around his throat, an angry red line.

She tore her eyes away. What was she doing?

He was already disappointed in her, and here she was, staring at his scars like a mannerless child.

Rebecca looked back to his face, and her heart clenched in fear.

The next thing she knew, the vicar was declaring them husband and wife. The parish clerk noted the completion of the ceremony and called Solomon and Dorothy over to stand witness. One look at Dorothy’s snide face told Rebecca exactly what her sister wanted to say.

“The pair of you look so perfect together. You deserve each other.”

She couldn’t help but wonder what the Duke thought about her. Rebecca glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. He was still standing there as though he hadn’t heard what the vicar said.

After a moment, he turned on his heels without saying a word. He walked from the altar without waiting to ensure she followed him. After all, why would he bother? What else was she going to do?

When she made it outside the church after him, he was already getting into his rather nice carriage. It was far larger and more ornate than her family’s. She gave herself a minute to take in the shining lacquered finish and gilded panels on the door. The very thought of sitting in the velvet interior made her want to wince.

It felt as though her very presence, let alone her touch, would cheapen or possibly even ruin it.

I suppose that is what you have when you’re a duke, she thought to herself.

But did he really want her to ride with him?

The thought caused her to hesitate for a moment. It was possible he would have a second carriage take her home. He hadn’t said anything.

In fact, aside from giving his consent to the match in the ceremony, he hadn’t said a single word since she had met him.

He must be horribly disappointed with me. Rebecca chewed her lip. It wouldn’t be the first time she disappointed someone. Still, she’d hoped it would take longer than this.

Her spiral was suddenly cut off when the Duke stuck his head out the carriage window and asked, “Are you coming?” in a rough, annoyed voice.

She jumped and winced. She had been too slow and disappointed him again. “Yes, of course!” Rebecca hurried to join him in the carriage.

In her race to comply, her foot slipped, and she started to fall, letting out a small yelp.

But before she could hit the ground, a hand closed around her wrist.

She looked up to see the Duke staring at her, that intense look still on his face. Rebecca felt her face heat under it.

“Did you hurt yourself?”

She got her feet under her before pulling her hand away. “No, I only slipped. Thank you for saving me.”

“All I might have saved you from was a tear in your skirts.”

“Nevertheless, I appreciate it.”

He huffed, crossing his arms. “Just get inside. I would like to return to the manor before dark.”

Rebecca scurried to comply.