Wager for a Duchess

The Duke pushed past the people waiting at the counter, ignoring their protests in his need to get out of the bank. He didn’t understand what was the matter with the man. Didn’t he know what a prestigious marriage could do for his business? Hadn’t Jenkins’ man told him that Mr Bradley had married a baronet’s daughter? He couldn’t seriously be advising his daughter to marry for love? That was the fool’s notion, the Duke thought. It could only lead to unhappiness. 
He strode through the streets, not even certain of where he was going. The banker had seemed fairly certain about his daughter’s fate, and determined to shield her as best he could from avaricious men. He didn’t blame him, it was the right thing for a father to do, but it didn’t help him solve his problem. He had to marry Frances Bradley, or risk losing a large sum of money.