BETRAYAL OF DIGNITY
Part 7
The Duke's Proposal
Upon returning to Castle Verdier, Chloe immediately washed herself in the tub. The sensation of heat radiating from her body persisted. She asked Gilles to prepare mulled wine with cinnamon and orange. Fortunately, the provisions that the Duke had brought for his hunting expedition were still in abundant supply. After draining a glass of the steaming hot medicinal wine Gilles had prepared, she retired to bed. Gilles cast her a worried glance, but seeing her remain tight-lipped, he left the room without probing further.
You mustn't collapse, Chloe. Hold yourself together.
After a long, feverish night, Chloe awoke the following day feeling surprisingly refreshed. Perhaps she had managed to will herself back to health, determined not to fall as severely ill as she had three years earlier. For the first time in a while, she finished a full plate of breakfast and began to clean the long-neglected areas of the castle in the afternoon.
When she saw that the royal family had sent more gifts following the congratulatory message, Chloe suspected that her intuition had been correct. Though Prince Johannes was the heir apparent, it was Duke Thisse who was the most widely respected among the people. The royal family was likely delighted by the news that the Duke, whose power and influence had grown immensely, was marrying the daughter of a humble viscount instead of a noblewoman from a distinguished family.
The Duke was no doubt well aware of this fact.
Upon hearing about the impending arrival of horses, dairy cows, and poultry, Chloe promptly arranged for a carpenter to repair the stables. Such matters had to be dealt with swiftly, even if the animals were to be returned later.
She also did not neglect to tend to her father, who remained bedridden. Though he was still in frail condition, he seemed to have finally accepted the fact that his younger daughter had run away with a child inside her for the sake of forbidden love.
His worry for the future now seemed to weigh more heavily on him than his despair and heartache.
"What did His Grace say, Chloe?" he asked cautiously.
Chloe found herself at a loss for how to respond. She had taken the biggest gamble of her life, but the unexpected incident at the end of their meeting had sent her fleeing without hearing the Duke's response. Nothing had been settled, and he had not sent any correspondence even after a week had passed.
"He must have taken offense at the refusal of his proposal, and rightly so," sighed the Viscount.
"Let us give it a little more time, Father."
Chloe swallowed hard as she set down her teacup. The memory of her last encounter with the Duke came flooding back-the blinding sun that had made her head throb, her bonnet being swept away by the wind, his face breaking into a smile in the breeze, and the feverish heat concealed within his lips as he claimed hers with a primal intensity.
"I am prepared to humble myself before him," said the Viscount.
Holding her father's trembling hand, Chloe shook her head.
"Please do not say such things, Father."
Like her father, Chloe had been growing distraught with each passing day. One thing, however, was becoming increasingly clear. If the Duke had any intention of withdrawing his offer of marriage, the royal family would have been the first to be informed
"A guest has arrived, my lady," Gilles announced.
Chloe swiftly turned around to look out the window. Seeing that the person she had been waiting for had finally arrived, her heart pounded inside her chest.
