Chapter 6

LORD Matthew helped his wife to get into the carriage before her father was helping her. Becca gathered her skirt as she went inside the carriage, then her father followed her and the footman shut the door.

"So—"

"What did I tell you, dear? No more questions. It was enough that you asked her to come to this ball when she did not enjoy being in the crowd," Lord Matthew asked his wife as he was arching his eyebrow at her. Lady Georgia scoffed.

Talking about scoffing in public, Becca mused before her mother was glaring at her father.

"She would not only capture one of the most out bachelors of the island if she decided to stay at home tonight. Imagine the social status that we will have, Matt,"

"Enough! Was it always power that you seek when you married our daughters?" Lord Matthew asked his wife before Lady Georgia was silent. Becca was clapping her hands in her mind as only her father could silence her mother with words.

"Now, I know that you were hoping the duke would take an interest in our daughter," Lord Matthew said before Lady Georgia was beaming at him. Then, her husband continued.

"But I heard that he was one of the Higher Court. On top of that, he was the most powerful lord as well since he was related to the young Queen. I cannot imagine what would happen to Becca if she was married into that lifestyle," Lord Matthew said as he was looking at his daughter. Becca smiled.

"But she did not have to work for a single day in her life—"

"I can still manage to feed her and give her clothes and home. If she chose to be a spinster, then so be it," Lord Matthew stated before ending the conversation Becca knew her mother would revisit it again and again until the duke was at the front door of their house.

And Lady Georgia Davis should know that she must be careful about what she wished for.

IT HAS been a few weeks after that fateful ball that Becca was forced to go and meet Lord Niklaus Dragomir, whom she did not know at the time was Duke of Belikov. She thought that everything went south after that dance and conversation that they had but she guessed wrong.

Why she guessed it wrongly?

It was because the duke was sitting on the divan, sipping tea that her mother was asking the maid to pour it for him.

"Thank you for allowing me to meet with your daughter, my lady. I cannot thank you enough," Niklaus stated as Becca was walking into the drawing room. Her skirts were swooshing against each other before Niklaus was turning to look at her. His blue orbs clashed with her green eyes.

"Ah, Becca darling. You're here. It was such a surprise that the duke was coming here this morn to court you, was it, Your Grace?" Lady Georgia asked him before Niklaus smiled.

"That would be correct, my lady, yes," he replied before Becca stiffed.

No, no, no!

"Come on, darling. Don't just stand there. Come sit here," Lady Georgia ushered her daughter to the divan in front of the duke before she made her way to the end of the room.

Lady Georgia will be acting as a chaperone so that Niklaus and Becca will not be left alone. Imagine the scandal, Lady Georgia will not taint her daughter's good name.

But if I was to leave them alone and let the scandal take place, the pair would be married by now, Lady Georgia thought before Niklaus was clearing his throat.

"I am sorry for that night when I was not telling you the truth," Niklaus started as Becca was glaring at him.

"Yes, imagine the shock that I have when my father calls you 'Your Grace', my lord. I am insulting you and yet you did not correct me," Becca said before her mother cleared her throat.

Becca closed her eyes as she was trying to control her sharp tongue when her mother was around. Becca hated it when her mother was correcting everything that she did wrong in public.

It was...unpleasant most of the time.

"No, it was entirely my fault, my lady. I am sorry if I have offended you with my lie," Niklaus said as Becca heard a giggle from her mother.

Becca thought that her mother was hearing the wedding bells now. She sighed. And to think that he did not correct me again when I called him 'my lord'? That should be an alarm, right?

"And you wish to court me, Your Grace? Am I not suitable for someone of your social status?" Becca asked before her mother cleared her throat. She rolled her eyes before Niklaus chuckled.

"Please call me Nick or my lord, I don't want you to be formal with me, Becca. Shall we take a stroll, my lady?" Niklaus asked before he stood up and straightened his coat. Becca's skirts swooshed when she stood up as well.

She blushed when Niklaus was being forward as he was calling her by her pet name. Oh well...

"Yes, let's take a stroll in the garden outside," she stated before Niklaus offered his elbow before they walked to the garden where Becca had spent most of her time as well, when she was not in the library.

"Is your mother always like that?" Niklaus whispered to Becca before she glanced over her shoulder. Her mother was giving her some space to talk with Niklaus in private.

"I would not lie but the answer is yes," Becca said before she turned to look at Niklaus. Their face was inches away before Becca was looking ahead of the hallway.

Her face heated when Becca realised that she was inches closer to Niklaus. She was hoping that her heart would stop beating fast like the lightning was striking inside her veins.

Oh well… what can one lady do when she was hopeless in her effort to ensure that she would not be chosen by any lord to be their bride?

It would seem that Becca’s fate had been intertwined since their meeting at the ball last night.

Becca gripped her free hand tightly against her skirts. She could smell the signature scent that Niklaus carried anywhere with him. Her fingers were tightening against the crook of Niklaus’ elbow. She was hoping that she would not be too shameless by showing her nerves around this lord that had the intention to take Becca as his bride.

How can I deter him from taking me seriously as his bride? He knew that I hate balls and lavish lifestyle of the gentry. It is not common knowledge but Nick knew that about me.

Perhaps I could reason with him that I am not suitable to be a duchess. His duchess, in this case. Yes, that will be a great move for me to deter him, Becca mused as she hid her smirk when they were taking their steps towards the beautiful garden outside.