The Last Duchess.

Chapter 1

The last Duchess

It's universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a great fortune , must be in want of a wife.

Oh how I wish it were that simple...

"Ouch! Violette..." I groaned as I looked over my shoulder to the beautiful red headed ladies maid. Her soft chuckle ringing in my ears as she pulled the laces of the corset strings even tighter , cinching me in completely. "Sorry , Milady. Beauty is pain." I couldn't help but to roll my eyes at that...Of course it was , and it always had been. The beauty standards for us women were certainly unnecessary. Violet had always been the closest thing I had to a friend around here...And today , she had worked especially hard.

Today...Was my 21st birthday , most ladies of my age were already unhappily married and providing countless heirs to continue the lineage of egotistical lords...But , not me. Lady Adalaide Hall...The subject to the gossip of every mama in the ton , purely for being unwed...But , not for long...Tonight was the night that my father would basically auction me off to every bachelor in sight. And If I'm honest? I wasn't looking forward to it , not one bit. "Well , you're all done Lady Ada...I must say , you look astonishing." Smiling brightly , I peered at my reflection in the mirror before me , she had done an amazing job.  "Violette...We've literally grown up together , less of the formality , please." Glancing at the small pocket watch attached to her blouse , she nodded her head softly as I stood and straightened my posture...Turning to the door where my father stood. It was time...

"You look...Lovely , Adalaide." Standing behind the doors of our ballroom , I took a breath and mentally prepared myself as my father took my arm in his ready to escort me inside. Piano forte and the harp began to sing out across the hall as the doors slowly opened. Step by step I entered the ball by my fathers side with the fakest possible smile plastered on my face...

"My dear , would you look at the turnout!" I looked around the vast hall , there were certainly far more people here than I would have expected there to be...

"Terrific..." I mumbled through the gritted teeth of my smile as I glanced around. Seeing all the different faces, some familiar...Some unfamiliar , looking directly at me caused my stomach to drop. "That young man over there , Is Lord Augustine," My father gestured over to a man who was seemingly flirting with other women here... "He comes from a vast estate , his family are extremely wealthy and he would make the perfect husband , indeed." He continued as I watched him slowly approach. It took all my self control not to grimace...The way that his eyes roamed my body made my skin crawl...In the most disturbing way possible. I had seen him around the town on my trips out with Violette and I could honestly say that his ways were...Well , not the kind of qualities that I would be looking for in a husband.

"Don't be so picky now , Adalaide..." My mother mumbled as he got ever so closer.

I stepped away from my father as he approached , taking my gloved hand to plant a soft kiss on it , accompanied by a wink which sent shivers through me as he accompanied me to the dance floor. The entire time , I kept my head down...Everything about this guy just gave me the creeps...

"It's rude to avoid my eyes , Miss Hall." I closed my eyes for a brief second , resisting the urge to roll them before I looked up , It would possibly ruin my chances with any other man if I was seen to be rude , so I straightened myself up and tried to excuse my behaviour.

"My apologies...My lord. I'm just feeling rather overwhelmed by the amount of people here." I sighed as I admitted that an event such as this was too much for me , but I never expected his answer...It made me want to throw up in my mouth...