Page 50 of A Duke in Her Fate
Margaret raised an eyebrow. “Nervous?”
“Not at all,” Isla said. She tried to smile.
The look on her sister’s face said it wasn’t at all convincing. “You’ll have to work harder on that expression, whatever it is you think you are doing. I have never seen you so nervous before, Isla. What is it? Cold feet before the wedding?”
“I’m afraid so.” She scooted over to make room for Margaret and the young woman took her seat. Swallowing hard, she managed a tentative smile. “What if this is all a mistake?”
“Do you think it is?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you!”
Margaret rolled her eyes. “Yes, but I’m not the one going to be married at the end of the day. My opinion doesn’t matter.”
Frowning, Isla said, “Yes, it does. You’re my sister.”
“Very well. You want the truth of it, Isla?” Margaret clasped her hands together and faced her straight on. “You have found yourself an eligible duke who is rich, generous, and agreeable. I don’t think there is such a thing as a better match than that. Only a fool would turn down such an offer.”
“But I am a fool.” Isla groaned. “It’s hardly even a proper marriage.”
Margaret scoffed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Once again Isla found herself sharing secrets, unable to manage the weight of them on her shoulders any longer. She explained about Oliver and the truth of Ronan’s offer. Their union was practical and in name only, nothing more.
“Really?” Margaret asked when she fell quiet.
“Really.”
She didn’t know what to think when her sister fell silent. Twisting her hands about, she knew she was taking awful care of her gloves. Lovely white satin and lace gloves that Ronan had purchased. Then there was the pale green gown she wore that came from him as well. What a traitor she felt like to wear his gifts, and all the while consider refusing the impending union.
Even as we are committing ourselves to each other, we are doing so as strangers. He doesn’t care for me in the way I had hoped for a husband might. What if he sets me up in a houseand never sees me again? What sort of life awaits me once his duchess?
Coughing lightly, Margaret asked her tentatively, “Do you want this marriage… or do you simply feel you have no other choice?”
This returned them to the conversations they had endured over the last couple of weeks. Isla simply didn’t know what to do. There was no perfect avenue for her future, and it was awfully frustrating.
“I don’t know that I have any good choices,” she muttered.
Even with Ronan’s generosity––the gifts and the servants and the goods––their family’s situation remained dire. What little money they still had would eventually run out. If Isla didn’t do something to help her family, then they would become destitute.
What else could she do? Marry someone else? Go to their aunt?
The woman was only a last resort, and not one Isla desired. She didn’t want to take the charity of another. But surely this was what she was doing with Ronan. He had said aloud what she had tried to hide, that her family could use his financial protection.
Besides, if she became a duchess, it would further elevate and support her sisters for their futures.
I suppose I don’t really have a choice after all. I only wish… I only wish Ronan cared. Just a little more. Sometimes he looksat me and I feel as though he might. But our marriage is just a partnership, he said. That’s all it is.
“You shouldn’t do what will make you unhappy,” Margaret murmured.
Slowly shaking her head, Isla felt uneasily but knew the choice was still made for her. After she inhaled deeply, she stood up.
“I will marry him,” she decided.
It was a choice she had to make repeatedly and would do so as long as it would take, she told herself.
Standing, Margaret eyed her curiously. “You’re certain?”
“Certainly. At least this way, we’ll have a future to look forward to. Not just for me, but for you and Lacey. He’s already told me he’ll provide for everyone. There is no romance or future children in my future, unfortunately, but… this is for the best.”
