News
Storytelling

A Kind Lady Defended an Elderly Dowager Being Insulted — Never Knowing She Was the Duke's Mother

A Kind Lady Defended an Elderly Dowager Being Insulted — Never Knowing She Was the Duke's Mother

Chapter 20

Theme:
Font Size:
24px
Richard launched into a frantic, groveling bow. "Your Grace! A profound honor. Shall we repair to my study to discuss settlements?""No," Leopold said. The word dropped like a lead weight.Richard blinked, his greedy smile faltering. "I beg your pardon? The dowry—""—I don't want your sister's dowry," Leopold interrupted, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I want your signature. You will sign a document waiving any future financial claims upon my estate. I am marrying Beatrice. I am not funding your political ambitions or paying your tailor. If you attempt to leverage my name for social or financial gain, I will bankrupt you by Thursday. Do we understand each other?"Richard's mouth opened and closed. The grand fantasy of tapping into the Ashborne wealth evaporated in seconds, leaving only terror. "I... I understand.""Good." Leopold dismissed him without another glance.He walked across the room to the window, stopping inches from Beatrice. The intimidating, ruthless Duke vanished; in his place stood the tired, brutally honest man from the park. He reached into his coat and produced a worn velvet box. He handed it to her, closed."It belonged to my grandmother," Leopold murmured, his attention entirely on Beatrice. "The diamond is entirely too loud, but she loved my grandfather fiercely, and she never let a single person dictate her life. I thought it appropriate."Beatrice held the small, heavy box. She looked up into his stormy gray eyes, tracing the deep lines of exhaustion she knew she could help carry. He wasn't a fairy tale prince; he was a man holding a fortress, offering her a place on the wall."I require my own library," Beatrice said quietly, holding his gaze. "I will not be confined to a drawing room, and I will not tolerate being managed.""You get the East Wing," Leopold replied smoothly. "And the day I try to manage you, I expect you to stab me with a letter opener."A genuine, unpracticed smile broke across Beatrice's face. She placed her free hand in his. "Then I accept your bargain, Leopold."He exhaled a rough, heavy breath, leaning down until his forehead briefly rested against hers, right there in front of her stunned siblings. "Thank God. Now, let us leave this wretched city. I want to show you the dogs."Three weeks later, London society received its final shock: there was no grand spectacle at St. George's. The Duke of Ashborne married Beatrice Hastings in a tiny, drafty stone church in Derbyshire.The only witnesses were a weeping Louisa, a thoroughly defeated Richard, and the Dowager Duchess. Agatha stood in the front pew, leaning heavily on her wooden cane. She wore the frayed gray wool coat. And as her son kissed his new, stubbornly cynical duchess, Agatha smiled.
PREV

News in the same category

A Kind Lady Defended an Elderly Dowager Being Insulted — Never Knowing She Was the Duke's Mother

20 Part