Page 94 of The Duke's Rules Of Engagement
A woman had schemed to marry him for his money and for his title.Again.
And this time, it wasn’t just one woman who’d been involved. A group had knowingly conspired to manipulate him. Joanna Porter was the architect. Harriet Cherrington was her willing tool. Lilly Appleby and Charles Cherrington provided their support.
Jo was just like Fanny. He’d thought himself in love with them, but they had tricked him. Used him for their own purposes. Fanny for his title and money for herself. Jo for his title and money so Charles Cherrington could marry the woman who was like a sister to her.
She’d made him think he loved her.
He meant nothing to her.
His title and his fortune meant everything. Just like they had for Fanny.
He was pathetic. His uncle had been right.
“Crest,” Cole said quietly. “Let’s go home.”
Cole turned to Cherrington and said something, but Matthew couldn’t hear it through the roar in his ears.
Somehow, Matthew rose and stumbled after Cole like the gullible weakling he was.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Thick emotion had crowded Jo’s throat throughout the next morning. Now, it was early afternoon, and she could hardly breathe past it.
Today was the day. Right at this moment, Matthew could be on bended knee, proposing to Harriet.
She dropped her head.Be strong, Jo. Be strong. Please.
She’d been telling herself all morning to remain in her office. To get some work done. She needed to write to a few of her old clients to see if they might have any referrals for her. Mr. Pellegrini was due to stop by in an hour to discuss a strategy for proposing to Mrs. Fineman. She should be thinking about that.
But she could focus on nothing but Matthew. Of him asking Harriet Cherrington to be his wife.
She had to stop thinking about him. She needed to think of Lilly.
Yes, Lilly. The happiness that would shine in her eyes on her wedding day. Her bright smile. The way her new husband would shower her with his love, and the way she’d soak it in. Lilly deserved that kind of happiness.
It was all worth it. For Lilly.
Even if she did leap up and run over to Charles Cherrington’s house, even if she did run between Harriet and Matthew and try to stop the betrothal… Well, what then? He didn’t want Jo. He wanted a perfect duchess.
She’d repeated it to herself a hundred times:You’re not perfect, Jo. You’re not what he wants.
Buthewas whatshewanted.
It hurt so bad that he’d willingly marry someone else after what they’d shared. But she knew that was what men often did. They murmured sweet nothings into women’s ears and then, once they had obtained what they wanted from them, they left without looking back.
She had always known her liaison with Matthew would be temporary. But that tiny kernel of hope within her was too potent to ignore. And the way Matthew had looked at her, the way he’d touched her—it seemed real. Itfeltreal. It felt like how she imagined love might feel, if she was ever lucky enough to experience it.
She dashed away the errant tear rolling down her cheek.
She needed to stop this. She was sensible Jo, spinster matchmaker. She’d given too much power to her emotions when it came to the handsome Duke of Crestmont.
The door to the kitchen opened, and Lilly rushed in. “Jo!”
Jo blinked up at her through the haze. Lilly was waving a sheet of parchment at her.
“Oh, Jo, this is going to be the best day of my life, I can feel it.”
Oh God. He’d done it. He’d proposed to Harriet. It was all over. Jo couldn’t breathe.
