Page 106 of The Duke's Rules Of Engagement
But Lilly Appleby wasn’t going to allow him a word in edgewise. “She fought for my happiness, yes,” she said accusingly, “but she also fought for Miss Cherrington’s, and yours. Little did she know it would leave her so bereft.”
She stood suddenly, and Bess rose to stand beside her, clutching her hand. Matthew came to his feet as well, the politeness of the act ingrained in him, though being polite at this moment seemed utterly unimportant.
Lilly took a menacing step toward him. “I’m here to tell you, Your Grace, that Jo is not only good enough for you, but she istoogood for you. If only I could make her see it. Instead, she will only blame herself, fool that she is. You accused her of being ambitious, of only wanting you for your title and your money. You are quite wrong. Jo didn’t care about those things. She only cared aboutyou. She would have offered you the most precious gift of all—love—and you chewed her up and spit her out. You are a…a…” She jabbed a finger at him. “Acad.”
She spat the final word as if it were the strongest curse in existence, then turned to Bess. “Come along, Bess,” she said in a clipped voice. “We’re leaving.”
She tugged Bess toward the door, but the other woman dug in her heels. She looked straight at Matthew. “Jo is a good person, Your Grace,” she said quietly. “And she is in love with you. If you ever loved her, I beg you, don’t throw it away. She deserves more.”
And after traveling all the way to Hertfordshire to give him a two-minute piece of their minds, they marched out the door, leaving Matthew staring after them.
…
A fortnight after the Duke of Crestmont had walked out of her office for the last time, Jo sat at her desk with Mr. Pellegrini sitting across from her. The older man was beaming from ear to ear.
“After I finished the song, I laid down my mandolin. Then, I kissed her hand most graciously,” Mr. Pellegrini said, “and I asked her if she’d do me the honor of becoming my bride.”
Jo leaned forward and breathed, “What did she say?”
He blinked, his eyes tearing up. “Yes! She said yes! I am so happy!”
Jo’s hands flew to her chest. “That’s wonderful. I am so thrilled for you.” And she smiled—her first smile in days feeling like it glued a piece of her heart back together.
She knew, right then and there, that if she could keep bringing together happy couples, she’d forge onward. She’d be all right. Maybe not blissfully happy, but had she ever been?
Only in Matthew’s arms.
She banished that thought instantly and resolutely focused on Mr. Pellegrini’s joy. He shook his head. “I rushed into the first courtship,” he said. “This one…well…it feltreal. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I know exactly what you mean,” she told him. “Have you set a date yet?”
“We will marry as soon as the banns are read.” He smiled shyly. “We would be so thankful if you could stand as our witness.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she told him.
A few minutes later, Jo and Mr. Pellegrini stood near the door saying their goodbyes, and Mr. Pellegrini impulsively pulled her into a hug.
“Oomph,” she said, as he squeezed her tight.
“Thank you so very much, Miss Porter. You have made me the happiest man alive.”
Happy for him, she returned his hug, patting his back when her office door suddenly swung open.
Mr. Pellegrini and Jo jumped back from each other in surprise, the action surely appearing far guiltier than the situation called for.
Jo swung around to the gaping doorway to see none other than the Duke of Crestmont standing there, glowering.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The duke’s eyes were narrow, his lips thinning as Jo and Mr. Pellegrini stared at him. Love surged within Jo—she knew that look on his face well. It was the surest sign of him fortifying all those protective walls he built around himself.
Finally, Matthew cleared his throat. “I must have the wrong address,” he muttered, turning away.
Jo lunged forward and grasped his sleeve. “No! I mean, you haven’t. I mean, this certainly is the correct address.”
She had no idea why on earth he was here. He’d said he was going to leave London, hadn’t he? Why come here, of all places, after all he had said? Perhaps he wanted another chance to rail at her, to tell her how badly she’d spoilt everything with him. How she’d hurt him.
Even if that were the case, she still couldn’t allow him to leave.
