Deceived Read Online Free

appearance of favoritism toward either of us. This marriage contract does not say Charlotte Aurora Kimberly. It plainly says only Charlotte Kimberly. So, if Cally wants to marry this duke, she can. He certainly won’t know the difference, having never laid eyes on me in his life.”
    â€œNo! No! Aurora! We couldn’t do such a thing,” Oralia protested.
    â€œWhy not?” came the quick response.
    â€œWell, for one thing,” her stepmother said with what she hoped was perfect logic, “the duke is expecting to marry the heiress to St. Timothy, and not a girl with a thousand a year, a thousand pounds in gold, and some jewelry. Calandra’s dowry simply wouldn’t be good enough for the Duke of Farminster.”
    â€œMama,” Aurora countered with equal reason, “if this duke is coming from England to marry Charlotte Kimberly, then it would appear he is a man of principle. If he cannot marry Charlotte Kimberly, I do not believe he will return quietly to England without protest. I am not the attraction for him. How could I be? He knows me not. It is the island and the plantation that hold an appeal for this man, and he will not be satisfied to go home without them. So he must have a Charlotte Kimberly to wife. Cally wants a duke for a husband. I do not know what I want, but I do know I will not be driven to the altar. Cally’s inheritance from Papa shall be mine, and I would have one other thing. I want the Meredith plantation house that belonged to my mother’s family. Cally will then be this duke’s Charlotte Kimberly, and this island and the plantation will be turned over to her husband upon their marriage. Everyone will be happy. The duke will have the island, and Cally will have the duke. It is a perfect answer to our problems.”
    â€œYou are so very clever, Aurora,” her stepmother admitted, “but what if the duke learns of your deception? If indeed I would even allow such a thing. Could it not be considered fraud? No! No! I will not permit such dupery. It is dishonest!”
    â€œThen you face the possibility of having the duke demand we turn over St. Timothy’s plantation to him anyhow, and we shall all be dispossessed, homeless, abandoned by all. After all, he is keeping his part of the bargain by coming to marry Charlotte Kimberly. If the bride will not cooperate, do you really expect him to bow, and graciously withdraw, leaving us to our home? Nonsense, Mama! He will be mortally offended. Why, George may even have to fight a duel to death to assuage this duke’s honor. Then the duke will demand reparation for his embarrassment and broken heart. Well, it shall not be my fault. I have offered you a reasonable solution to our problem. Don’t you want Cally to be a duchess? She’ll be a perfect one with her classic features, her marble-white skin, and raven’s-wing hair.”
    Oralia Kimberly bit her lower lip in vexation.
    George Spencer-Kimberly shook his head in admiration at his stepsister’s devilish cleverness. Then he looked toward Calandra. She was absolutely holding her breath in anticipation.
    â€œSay yes, Mama!” she half whispered, her tone almost desperate.
    But Oralia Kimberly held firm. “No,” she said. “I cannot permit such a thing. Be reasonable, Aurora. Your father planned this marriage before your birth. If he were alive, we should not be having this conversation at all. I will discuss it no further.” She arose from the dining table and hurried from the room.
    â€œI want to be a duchess,” Calandra whined.
    â€œYou will be,” Aurora assured her stepsister.
    â€œYou heard what Mama said,” George reminded them.
    â€œMama will change her mind, I promise you,” Aurora said with a mischievous grin. “She will have little choice when the duke’s ship sails into the harbor and I am still refusing to marry him. When that moment comes, her resoluteness will