Miss Fairfax's Notorious Duke by Eva Shepherd

Author:Eva Shepherd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-05-25T13:10:20+00:00

Chapter Twelve

News of her engagement brought Irene’s three closest friends rushing down to Devon. When they arrived on her doorstep, straight from London, she realised that she had erred terribly. They had always shared everything since they first met at Halliwell’s finishing school, and she had failed to share with them something so monumental as getting engaged. They had to read about it in the newspapers. Her only excuse could be she had been befuddled by what had happened, and the speed with which it had occurred, that she hadn’t had time to inform them first before they announced it to all of society.

‘Why didn’t you tell us you were to marry?’ Emily said as they entered the cottage.

‘And to the Duke of Redcliff,’ Georgina added, taking off her hat and coat and handing them to the footman.

‘I’m so happy for you,’ Amelia said, causing Irene to frown. Amelia had recently married Mr Devenish and had not long returned from her honeymoon. Love had made her radiantly happy, and she quite obviously thought, or at least hoped, that her friend was also now in love.

This was all going to take some explaining. They continued chattering and firing questions in her direction as she ushered them into the drawing room. She waited until the footman had closed the door before starting.

‘I’m so sorry for not writing to you,’ she said. ‘This all happened so quickly that I didn’t really have a chance.’

‘That’s the best way,’ Amelia said, her hand on her heart. ‘Once you know you’re in love you might as well marry as quickly as possible. Waiting is far too hard.’

‘I’m not in love.’ Irene said quietly so no servants would overhear. She knew how fast gossip could spread in a small village and it was essential that nothing untoward got back to her mother or Lady Prudence. Discretion was essential.

‘This is not a real engagement. It’s just a ruse to put off my mother and the Duke’s aunt, who are determined to marry us off.’

All three friends frowned as one.

‘Why?’

‘How?’

‘What happened?’

Irene was unsure who had asked which question but it hardly mattered. ‘I painted a...a portrait of the Duke. Mother saw it and insisted we marry.’

The three sets of eyebrows raised in question.

‘But we’re not going to actually marry,’ she rushed on before those questions could be asked. ‘We tried to discourage my mother and his aunt but they are determined. It was the Duke’s idea that we pretend to give in, get engaged but never actually marry.’

She looked from one friend to the other, hoping they would understand.

‘A painting?’ Amelia asked. ‘What sort of painting?’

‘Why would a painting mean you have to marry?’ Emily said.

‘Can we see it?’ Georgina added.

The three friends nodded, causing Irene to blush slightly. ‘Well, yes, I suppose so.’ She could hardly refuse to let her friends see the painting. She had originally intended to submit it as part of her portfolio so she could gain entrance to another art academy, so it wasn’t exactly taboo.

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