The Unexpected Duchess (18 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Lucy knocked lightly on the door to Cass’s bedchamber. “May I come in?”

“Lucy, is that you?” her friend replied in an equally soft voice.

“Yes.”

“Of course you may come in,” Cass called.

Lucy shuffled inside. She was still wearing her night rail and summer robe of soft linen. She hadn’t been able to sleep after the encounter with Derek.
Derek
. What about Derek? How did she feel about Derek? She didn’t know. He was the most confusing man she’d ever met. What had he been thinking, swinging into her bedchamber in the middle of the night? In addition to breaking his own neck, he might have ruined her reputation, brought the whole house running to see what the commotion was, or all three. He’d been reckless tonight, out of control, and she’d never seen him be either. And if she didn’t know any better, she’d say the man was severely jealous of Lord Berkeley. Not that there was anything to be jealous of. Why, Lord Berkeley had been the first man to pay attention to Lucy in an age. He was handsome and knew how to dance, but she’d only just met him. She had no idea what his true character was. She assumed that he must not be too odious since Garrett saw fit to befriend him, but that hardly meant she and he would make a good match. Still, it was promising, and she did intend to see him again. Before they’d left the ball, she’d agreed to allow him to call on her.

But for some reason she felt as if it was no coincidence that the same night she and Lord Berkeley had danced, Derek had come swinging through her window. Was it? Oh, why and when had everything got so out of control? That’s why she’d come to visit Cass. She had to tell Cass that Derek knew Julian. Until tonight, she’d thought it might be too much for her friend, but now she realized Cass deserved to know everything.

She took a deep breath. Not only did she not know what to think about Derek, she didn’t know what to say to Cass. And there was absolutely no way to explain why she had the man’s bloody cravat folded up in the bottom drawer of her wardrobe … and she may have sniffed it—the non-bloodied part—a few times before she put it there.

She made her way over to Cass’s bedside and sat on the edge of the mattress next to her friend. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

Cass yawned and stretched her arms high above her head. “It’s all right, Lucy. But what is it? What’s wrong?” She snuggled her cheek against her pillow.

Lucy straightened the wrinkles out of her robe. “I’m sorry about the other night, Cass.”

Cass’s brow furrowed. “Sorry for what, Lucy?”

“Sorry I got into a fight with the duke in front of you at the Assembly Rooms. I was just trying to help. For some reason he makes me so … so … angry. I don’t know why.”

Cass gave her a soft smile. “You’ve always had a temper, Luce. That’s what makes you so fierce and strong. You’re not a ninny like I am. It’s what I’ve always admired about you.”

“You’re not a ninny, Cass.”

“Aren’t I?”

“No. You’re lovely and friendly and think the best of everyone.”

“Fat lot of good it’s done me.” Cass gave a wan smile.

“You’re lovely, Cass. Derek … The duke is quite taken with you.”

Cass yawned again and gave her a sleepy smile. “And Lord Berkeley seems quite taken with you.”

Lucy looked down to where her fingers were intertwined in her lap, resting against her white robe. “That’s why I came to your room, Cass.”

“Why?”

“First, I want to tell you what the duke said to me two nights ago.” She couldn’t call him Derek, not in front of Cass.

Cass’s blue eyes widened. “What is it?”

Lucy took a deep breath. “I hope you’re not angry with me, but I told him you were heartbroken over Captain Julian Swift.”

Cass looked wistfully out the dark window. “I’m not angry with you, Lucy. He may as well know. What does it matter if he knows his name?”

“Cass, the duke knows Julian. He’s said they’re close friends. He said Julian recommended he come back to England and court you.”

Cass’s face went pale. “He said that?”

Lucy nodded. “Yes. And he also said he doesn’t intend to stop courting you, Cass.”

Cass traced the pattern of the coverlet with a long tapered fingernail. “I’ve been thinking a lot about everything tonight.” She closed her eyes. “I cannot argue that the duke doesn’t have a point.”

Lucy searched her face. “What do you mean?”

Cass’s breath was long and drawn out. “The fact is that Julian will probably not make it home. And even if he does, he’s still engaged to Pen.” She looked up and met her friend’s eyes. “I’ve decided I’m being foolish, Lucy.”

Lucy couldn’t breathe. The air had been sucked from the room. “Cass? What are you saying? Do you have feelings for Derek?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Lucy couldn’t concentrate on the banter of her friends at Lady Hoppington’s Venetian breakfast. Normally Jane and Garrett’s wordplay amused her, but tonight it just drowned into noise that she couldn’t sort out in her head. She pressed her fingertips to her temples. All she could think about was her discussion with Cass last night.

Cass had answered the question, finally. She’d said that she didn’t know how she felt and needed to think about everything. Understandable, given the riot of emotions she must have endured during the last sennight. But even though her friend’s answer hadn’t been the one Lucy had been dreading, she still felt uneasy about the situation. Should she tell Cass that she’d kissed her potential betrothed? Would that sway Cass’s opinion? And if so, was that fair to Cass? Through his title alone, Derek was an extremely good catch, and if Cass did indeed have feelings for him or thought she could, it would be entirely selfish of Lucy to tell her that they’d kissed. Twice. Especially when she and Derek had both agreed that the kiss had meant nothing and wouldn’t be repeated. At least they’d agreed to that the time they’d both been sober. The other time didn’t count. Did it? And so what if the man had climbed through her bedchamber window last night? He’d been drunk and needed someone to treat his injured hand. She’d helped him. And very well, she’d kissed him once more, and perhaps that was not her best decision. Though the kissing had been extraordinary. She had to admit.

A headache throbbed in her skull. Oh, she was the worst friend in the entire world. The very worst. The situation was absolutely awful. Untenable, really. And now there was Lord Berkeley. He was the first decent potential suitor she’d had in years. She’d be a fool not to continue their acquaintance. She should spend her time with Lord Berkeley, get to know him better, see if they suited. Shouldn’t she?

She needed to talk to Jane. Jane was always sensible. Always right. Always knew the answer. Yes. Jane. Where was Jane?

Lucy swung around, intending to find her friend, drag her into a corner somewhere, and confess all her sins. But the moment she turned, she ran straight into … Derek.

Gulp.

“Lucy?” He placed a hand at her elbow to steady her. “Are you all right?”

She couldn’t look at him. She kept her eyes trained on her slippers. “Yes. I’m fine.”

“You look as if you’ve just seen a ghost.” His voice was smooth.

She cleared her throat, still watching her slippers. “No, truly I’m fine.”

“Are you
certain
you’re all right?” She dared a glance up. His gaze was focused on her in that disconcerting way of his. The way that made her feel like he could see through her.

“Yes. Why?”

His brow was furrowed, and he was watching her with a funny look in his eye. “I don’t know. You seem … different.”

Lucy squared her shoulders. She needed to compose herself and quickly. He obviously didn’t remember their kiss last night. For the better. Obviously. But if Derek could tell she was acting differently, no doubt Cass, who’d known her since childhood, would be able to tell Lucy was a mess within five minutes. She was merely discombobulated. The headache was getting to her. That was all. She would be quite all right.

“Lucy,” Derek continued. “I wanted to say something to you.”

She held her breath. “Wha … What?”

“I wanted to apologize.”

She closed her eyes briefly and then stared at his shirtfront. “For what?”

“For my behavior last night.” He glanced about to ensure they wouldn’t be overheard, but no one else was standing anywhere near them.

She winced. “You remember … everything?”

“No, that’s just it. I don’t remember most of it. So if there’s anything I need to apologize for—”

She let her shoulders drop and expelled a relieved breath. “Oh, no, no, no. No need to apologize for anything.”

“Yes. There is. It was completely irrational and irresponsible of me. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“How is your hand?” she asked, desperate to turn the topic from his apology.

He glanced down to the bandaged appendage. “Healing nicely thanks to your tender ministrations.”

She smiled but glanced away. Why was it that all she could think of were the glimpses she’d had of his bare stomach and the feel of his hot mouth against the palm of her hand when she’d tried to keep him from speaking last night? Not to mention the actual kissing. She swallowed hard.

She took a deep breath and hazarded another glance at his face. “May I ask you something, Derek?”

He smiled when she used his given name. “Of course.”

“When you…” She swallowed again. “When you last saw Julian. Was he…? Did you think he wouldn’t survive it? Is he truly dying?”

Derek’s face took on a somber hue. He put his hands on his hips and blew out a breath, staring out the window as if he was trying to remember. “It was bad, Lucy. Quite bad.”

She nodded slightly. “So, you do think he will die?”

One awful word. “Yes.”

Lucy stumbled backward, away from him. Away. He reached for her but she scrambled out of his reach. “I must go,” she murmured, turning and picking up her skirts. She had to force herself not to run.

That settled it. Julian would die if he was not already dead. Cass deserved a secure future with a handsome nobleman who had sworn to protect her. It was true that Garrett might take offense, but Garrett, while wonderful, was merely in line to be an earl, not quite as eligible as a duke.

Lord Berkeley was perfectly nice. He was handsome and dashing and he wanted to see Lucy again. He wasn’t chasing after her best friend, sworn to marry her by a promise to a dying man. Yes. Much less complicated.

She would still talk to Jane, come clean. Admit everything. Clear her conscience. She and Jane would think of a way to give Cass the little push she needed to actually accept Derek.

But Lucy already knew. She had to stop having feelings for Derek immediately and ensure the match between him and Cass.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Where in the world was Jane? Lucy had been searching for her throughout Lady Hoppington’s house for the last half an hour. She’d checked all her usual haunts: the library, the children’s study, every small nook and cranny she could find in which Jane might insert herself to read a book. Jane certainly wasn’t making it easy for Lucy to confess. To make matters worse, Garrett was nowhere to be found, either.

And guilty as it made her, she’d been avoiding Cass tonight. She just couldn’t bear to see her friend and know how horrendous she’d been. She turned the bend in Lady Hoppington’s corridor and stopped short. There, behind a large cabinet, stood Derek.

And he was not alone.

Lucy froze. A woman’s voice floated on the air. “I’m quite sorry, Your Grace, for the way I’ve behaved.”

Lucy closed her eyes. It was Cass. Cass and Derek were having a private conversation and damn her to hell but Lucy could not, for the life of her, move her feet, turn away. She should not eavesdrop, especially not on this conversation, but she just couldn’t make herself go. Instead she pressed her back against the wall and held her breath, listening intently for every word between them.

“Lucy told me that she explained to you that I … love Julian,” Cass continued.

“Yes” came Derek’s sure, strong reply.

“I’ve always loved him, I’m afraid. But I know he belongs to my cousin Penelope. That is, if he…” Cass’s voice cracked, and Lucy’s heart broke again for her friend.

Derek’s voice was low. “If it helps to know it, Lady Cassandra, Captain Swift held … holds you in the very highest regard.”

Lucy could hear the smile in Cass’s reply. “Yes. As I do him. I’ve written to him every day while he’s been in the army.”

“He told me how much he looked forward to your letters.”

Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. This had to be excruciating for Cass to hear.

“Thank you, Your Grace, for telling me that,” Cass murmured.

“Of course,” Derek replied.

“I must admit something to you,” Cass said.

Lucy held her breath.
Admit something? What? What?

Cass’s voice was soft. “When I first met you, I was frightened of you. Terribly frightened.”

“I’m sorry if I frightened you,” Derek said.

“No. No. It wasn’t you, not you, yourself. It’s just … that you’re so…”

Ridiculously handsome
, Lucy thought and then stepped on her own foot for her idiocy.

“It’s complicated,” Cass finished.

“I understand,” Derek replied.

“I just wanted to tell you that I’m not frightened of you anymore, Your Grace,” Cass said. “As soon as I learned you were Julian’s friend. Well, any friend of Julian’s is my friend, too.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Lady Cassandra. And I want you to know that I intend to give you all the time that you need. But I do hope that eventually, you’ll believe that we might get to know each another a bit better.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” came Cass’s reply. “And if you’d still like to, you have my permission to court me. When I’m ready, of course.”

Derek remained silent.

Lucy turned her head away and swallowed the painful lump that had formed in her throat.

CHAPTER THIRTY

This time the letter from Collin was even shorter. It had been scrawled on a bit of dirty parchment his brother had obviously scrounged up somewhere. Collin must be in a very rough place indeed.