Chapter 23

“You know my mother?”

“Of course… I do. Your mother is the daughter of a friend of mine.”

The daughter of a friend. Harriet unconsciously rubbed her palm against her dress. It was a confidential fact known to only a few in the Vanetti Earl family, so the Duke was undoubtedly unaware that she was actually the illegitimate child of an unknown actress.

Of course, there was no way she resembled Margaret, her public mother, as they weren’t related by blood. Concluding it was merely a polite remark, Harriet forced a smile.

“You were acquainted with my late maternal grandfather, Your Grace. I didn’t know.”

“Indeed. Margaret was…”

Finding it difficult to speak at length, the Duke fell silent. Unable to bear it, Lennox interjected.

“Father, if it’s too much…”

“I’m fine.”

Cutting off his son, the Duke slowly asked Harriet,

“She was always a polite and kind child. Would you pass on my regards?”

“Of course.”

Harriet nodded, her neck creaking. It had been a while since she had seen her mother’s face.

Satisfied with her confirmation, the Duke gave a faint smile. Despite his evident illness, his sharp eyes naturally exuded an intimidating presence, but when he smiled, the atmosphere completely changed. Captivated by the contrast, Harriet replied again,

“I’ll definitely convey your message. My mother will be pleased.”

“Thank you. Please take care of my son.”

Realizing further conversation was too much, the Duke weakly cast his gaze over Harriet’s shoulder. Understanding the signal, Lennox gently lifted Harriet’s elbow, helping her stand upright.

He moved her back and, with a tender touch, pulled the fallen blanket back up.

“Sleep well, Father. Pull the bell if you need anything.”

The Duke nodded silently in response and closed his eyes. The two left the room cautiously, making no sound.

* * *

Lennox’s words that she would understand when she saw were undeniably true. All the way back to the dining room, Harriet was in a daze.

“He’s very ill, isn’t he? How did this happen?”

“It’s been a while since he became like this. It’s still confidential.”

“Was this why you left during the charity and birthday party?”

“His condition worsened suddenly, and he collapsed. But before that, he was walking around just fine.”

Though he spoke calmly, his expression was dark. For the first time, Harriet felt sympathy for Lennox and offered sincere condolences.

“I’m sorry. Truly.”

“Yes.”

Only briefly emotional, Lennox quickly moved to the main point.

“So, you came here to discuss what to do next.”

“Well, yes. It was impulsive.”

Her father was eager to invite Lennox and the Duke to their home to proceed with the engagement, and her mother was already scouting various salons for engagement dresses. If things continued as they were, she would find herself standing at an engagement ceremony in no time. And Lennox was in the same situation.

Harriet watched the man sitting across from her, waiting for a good idea on how to smooth things over. But his response was surprisingly calm.

“Let’s do it. Get engaged. And married, too.”

“Sure, that… What?”

“Thinking about it, since we’re getting married within the year anyway, having an engagement seems like a waste of resources and time. It would be better to proceed directly to marriage.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

The answer was so unexpected that Harriet was momentarily dumbfounded. It felt like her ears couldn’t keep up with her brain. Only after a few seconds did she grasp the situation and jumped up from her seat. Her ears burned with heat as blood rushed to her head.

“Are you crazy? Why would I? Why would I marry you?”

Lennox’s expression remained calm, as if expecting her reaction. His composed demeanor only heightened her anger as he raised the corners of his mouth.

“Should I be honest? It was just a joke. I made a bombshell announcement because I didn’t want you to lose to your sister in front of all those people.”

“If you hadn’t shown up there, none of this would have happened.”

“Then you would have thrown a drink at that woman. Sisters fighting over a man. It’s news that the media would drool over.”

Harriet, who was about to retort, lost her resolve and slumped back into her seat. She wanted to deny it, but everything he said was true. The incident from three years ago, which was like a mud pit, had already been the talk of many. Every time passersby looked at her with sympathy or curiosity, it felt like her heart was breaking bit by bit.

She thought she had overcome it, but Marianne returned. As soon as she came back, she provoked Harriet and tried to drag her back into the mud. Harriet didn’t know what her purpose was.

The moment she thought about it, a throbbing headache made her lower her head, but she suddenly lifted her gaze.

“Why did Marianne come back?”

“What do you think?”

“She said Father called her. But he would never do that.”

Three years ago, the man Marianne ran away with was supposed to be Harriet’s husband. Marianne not only tarnished the family’s honor but also made them a regular topic of gossip for years, if not decades.

Although her father, the Earl of Vanetti, had taken a step back regarding Harriet’s numerous romantic escapades, he was not the type to easily forgive someone who disgraced the family and betrayed them.

Moreover, after that incident, Marianne had been holed up abroad for three years without any apology or explanation. Even if she had sent letters, they would have been ignored, but as far as Harriet knew, she hadn’t even tried. She must have known it was futile.

“The one thing that’s certain is how the Earl of Vanetti will treat you if you reveal the truth about what happened at the charity party.”

Lennox’s words, which brought the conversation back, made Harriet glare at him resentfully. But she soon admitted it.

“Right. He would weigh me against Marianne. He would do anything for the family.”

The reason for Marianne’s return was speculative. She might have proposed some deal to her father, or her father might have found a use for her.

What was important was that she returned at a time when Harriet was pushing for the opening of the second department store. Theodore, who had become accustomed to dealing with her and secretly had an illegitimate child, was no longer her match.

But Marianne was different. If, by any chance, her father set Marianne up as another competitor? The possibility was slim, but it couldn’t be entirely ruled out.

If she confessed the engagement fiasco with Lennox, she would be at a significant disadvantage.

“Alright. Let’s say getting engaged to you might be a good solution for me.”

Harriet questioned, clutching her dress tightly.

“But for you? What’s in it for you?”

“For me…”

Lennox, who had risen silently, sat beside her. Before she could react to his swift movement, he grasped her chin.

“It benefits you to become my wife and for me to be your husband.”

“…”

“I’ve been saying it all along, Coco.”

His gray eyes stared at her intensely, almost suffocating.

The room’s temperature seemed to rise suddenly. Harriet exhaled the warm air, staring at the handsome face approaching her. Even though she thought it was distasteful, she couldn’t deny the appeal of his face. His languid eyes and the veins visible beneath the slightly rolled-up sleeves caught her attention.

It felt like facing a beast that had been yawning indifferently from afar but suddenly bared its claws and lunged unexpectedly. Lennox Diorne was such a man. He pretended to be indifferent to worldly affairs, but once he took an interest in something, he would go to any lengths to obtain it.

“If you become my wife, you’ll be the Duchess. Many things will fall into your hands. Isn’t that a profitable deal?”

His bluntly honest question snapped her out of her reverie. Harriet, who had been staring blankly at his chiseled features, pushed against his chest as if waking from a dream.

“I know you well. You don’t trust anyone.”

“I don’t.”

He agreed without blinking an eye. Harriet let out a deflated laugh at the subtle pain.

“Are you asking me to be your trophy wife? To be content with the little attention and affection you give, living quietly as the mistress of this vast and luxurious house? Wow, what an honor.”

Though she sometimes let her guard down, Lennox Diorne was a person of this world to the bone. For business interests and family prestige, he was a pure-blood noble capable of anything.

“Coco.”

“Thank you for offering such a proposal to me over the many other women lining up, Young Master.”

The warmth in his golden eyes turned cold. At her chilly sarcasm, Lennox withdrew his hand that was about to grasp her shoulder. Once again, they were at odds. Whenever it seemed like they might connect, they ran parallel.

Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he answered soothingly.

“That’s not what I mean. I’m saying you should have everything you can.”

“And what do you get?”

“Your heart.”

“…”

“Just a piece of your heart. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

It was a desperate longing for a first love he had suffered through without knowing it was love. It felt like he would collapse if he couldn’t have it.

Harriet didn’t answer hastily. An eternity seemed to pass between them. The wavering golden eyes were the first to look away.

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“What should I do to make you believe?”

“You just find me intriguing because I don’t bend to your will. Once you have me in your grasp like a toy, you’ll tire of me and toss me aside.”

If one listened closely, her words were not certainty but insecurity. But to someone excited by her continuous denials and rejections, it sounded like mere refusal.

A toy?

For a moment, Lennox barely restrained himself. His neck involuntarily strained with tension. It seemed his princess didn’t know what a real toy was. He could do things she couldn’t even imagine with her innocent mind.

Did she know what she was saying?