Page 2 of The Duchess’ Second Chance

Amanda’s eyes widened in horror. “Oakwell? Father, no, you couldn’t send me to him!”

“It’s already done, Amanda. The arrangements have been made. The two of you are to be married in a week.”

“A week?” She couldn’t believe it. That was so little time! If there was longer, her father might have come to his senses. There would have been hope. But a week?

She had to try. “Father, I know you’re grateful to have found someone willing to marry me and take Rose on as well. I know that must have been difficult.” If she could flatter him, there might be a chance. “But you can’t want our family to be associated with Lord Oakwell. He’s a madman.”

“He’s a respected member of society, Amanda. I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

“You don’t? What about the fact that he’ll challenge a man to a duel as soon as look at him?” she asked desperately. “What about the fact that he’s in constant bar fights? He’s a dangerous man, Father. He’s aggressive, and I have a child I need to think about.”

“I suggest the two of you don’t make him angry,” her father advised.

“Is that really all you can say? Don’t make him angry? What if he does get angry? If something happened to Rose?”

“That child is beyond fortunate to be living in a London estate at all,” her father said. “She could be in the workhouse. Anyone who is willing to take her in deserves nothing but respect and gratitude.”

“And you don’t worry about how it will reflect on you? Having our family name associated with someone so volatile? You know, the next time he starts trouble, people won’t just be saying there goes Lord Oakwell again. They’ll say there goes the son-in-law of Lord Stapleton. They’ll say I wonder why he wanted to see his daughter married to such a man. There will be speculation. People will wonder whether he had something over you, some way of forcing your hand.”

She had thought this a compelling argument, so she was surprised and dismayed when her father just laughed.

“People aren’t going to wonder why I was willing to give you to him, Amanda,” he said. “They’re going to be asking why he was willing to take you. Your reputation is the one in greatest peril here. No one really knows the extent of what went on between you and your late husband. No one knows whether you’re suitable for another man or not. The fact that there is no heir…that raises questions. And the fact that you’ve taken in that girl as though to compensate for your lack only makes those questions more profound.” He sighed. “I had to do a lot of negotiating to find a man who was willing to marry you. People will be far from surprised to see that I took what I could get.”

“Father, are you so sure he’s going to accept Rose?” This was her greatest worry. “What if he’s just telling you that now? And then, when the marriage is finalized, what if he sends her to an orphanage or a workhouse? If I’m his wife, I wouldn’t be able to stop it. I wouldn’t be able to protect her. Even if he’s promised now that he won’t do that, what if he goes into one of his rages and breaks that promise?”

“You should have thought of all this much sooner,” her father said. “If you wanted to control your fate, you should have taken steps to do so before now. There was plenty of time for you to sort out your own prospects, and you didn’t. Now you’re going to be married to Lord Oakwell, whether you like it or not. Make whatever preparations you must. The wedding will take place next Sunday, and then you and the girl will both be out of here.”

He turned on his heel and walked off.

Amanda watched him go. She was trembling, unable to quite believe that this was happening. It wasn’t hard to imagine her father doing something like this, but Lord Oakwell? Did he truly have so little regard for her safety and happiness?

And what was going to happen to Rose? No matter what her father might say about it, she didn’t believe that Lord Oakwell would be happy to give the girl a home. He certainly wouldn’t be a good father to Rose. This was going to be dreadful.

I have to figure out a way to get out of it, that’s all. I have to find some way of freeing myself from this.

But she had only a week.

How could such a thing be done in so little time? It wasn’t possible! There wasn’t a thing she could do between now and next Sunday that would have a hope of changing her father’s mind, and she knew it.

Even so, she refused to give up. She recoiled from the very thought of it. Because what really mattered in all of this was Rose. The little girl depended on Amanda, and Amanda refused to let her down.

I will find a way. I will figure out the answer to this, and I’ll do what needs to be done in order to protect us both. I pledge it on everything I hold most dear. If I truly must marry this man, if that is the only way forward…I will just have to figure out a way to keep Rose safe while doing it. That’s all that really matters.

CHAPTER 2

“Ijust can’t believe he’s making you do this. It’s completely mad of him, Amanda.”

“I know it is,” Amanda agreed with a sigh. “But what can I do about it, Dorothy? Father has made up his mind.”

“Well, you must refuse!” Dorothy insisted. “Go in there and when they ask you if you take Lord Oakwell to be your husband, you must simply say no!”

“Oh, Dorothy.” Amanda turned away from the looking glass. She’d been gazing into it for the last half hour as her best friend had helped her dress for her wedding, not really taking anything in at all. She supposed the gown was pretty. Her father had splurged for one of the latest fashions. It was covered with lace and a soft cream in color. Amanda had to admit that it was something she might have chosen for herself—even if nothing else about this day was.

“I don’t think it’s right,” Dorothy fumed. “And you wouldn’t be in this situation at all if not for me!”

“Oh, no, that isn’t true.” Amanda took her friend’s hand in both of hers. “You must stop blaming yourself for things that happened in the past.”

“But it was my fault,” Dorothy insisted. “I was trying to set up a courtship between you and Nathaniel, but…”