The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(13)

Lucy shook her head. “I’ll come with you all right. I’ll come with you and give him a piece of my mind. In fact, I have an idea.” She grabbed Cass’s hand and stalked off.

Garrett and Jane watched them go.

“Do be gentle with the poor man. He’s only a war hero, Luce, he may not be used to your ruthless tactics,” Jane called after her.

Lucy turned back to face her friend and winked at her over her shoulder.

*

Lucy tapped a finger against her cheek as she stared out the French doors to the Miltons’ terrace. There he was. The Duke of Claringdon. Waiting for Cass and looking deuced handsome.

“Aren’t we going out?” Cass asked, paused at her side.

“Not yet,” Lucy replied, still tapping her cheek.

“Why not?” Cass wrinkled her brow.

“Because … I’m thinking…”

Cass’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. Lucy? What do you intend to do?”

Lucy paced back and forth in front of the doors. “Cass. Last night it was obvious that you cannot repeat my words. You’re too … too … nice for your own good.”

Cass nodded. “I know. And I hate myself for it.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll help. But if we’re going to truly dissuade the duke, we need to be more forceful with him. Blunt. Honest. Forthright.” Lucy nodded.

“I know that, Lucy, and I intend to try, truly, but I—”

Lucy swung around, her silver skirts brushing her ankles. “Here’s what I propose. There’s a balcony above the terrace over to the side above the garden. We’ll go up there. I’ll hide behind you where he cannot see and I’ll speak for you this time.”

Cass shook her head. “Speak for me? I don’t understand.”

“You’ll be there. He’ll think it’s you speaking, but it will truly be me.”

The color drained from Cass’s face. “Oh, no, Lucy. I don’t think—”

“Don’t worry, Cass. I can imitate your voice perfectly.” She demonstrated, raising her voice and speaking in a softer, more demure tone.

Cass giggled and pressed her fingers against her lips. “I have to admit, you do sound like me, but what if he knows? After what happened the other night, I’d be mortified if he discovered we were up to something like that again.”

Lucy peered at the window. “He won’t find out. And if he does, it may just make him angry enough to change his mind about courting you.”

“Do you really think so?” Hope lit her features but quickly faded. “But what if Mama—?”

Lucy turned back to face her friend. “Cass, do you or don’t you want to rid yourself of the duke once and for all so that when Julian comes home you’ll be free?”

Cass nodded. “I know being free isn’t going to make a difference when Julian comes home, but yes, that’s what I want.”

“Then allow me to try this. I can say the things you cannot say. Please, Cass, let me help you. I’ll go up to the balcony and be your voice.”

Cass bit her lip and glanced out the window to where the duke stood with his back to them. “I suppose you know how to get up there?” she asked with a sigh.

“Not yet, but I’m about to find out,” Lucy answered with a grin.





CHAPTER EIGHT


“Your Grace.” Lady Cassandra’s soft voice came floating out of the air.

Derek stood alone on the terrace. He turned. No one was there.

“Your Grace,” came the voice again. This time Derek followed it around the corner to a small private part of the Miltons’ garden. Roses twined prettily up a trellis and ended in a bright cluster under a small balcony. There, atop the balcony, stood Lady Cassandra looking as lovely as one of the flowers at her feet.

“Lady Cassandra,” he called. “What are you doing up there? I was hoping you would agree to go for a walk with me in the gardens.” He gestured toward the garden path in invitation. The candlelight wasn’t as strong in this part of the garden and while he could make out Lady Cassandra’s form, she was cloaked in shadows for the most part, including her face.

“Your Grace, I prefer to remain here, and there’s something I wanted to say to you.” Her voice was steady and sure. More steady and sure than he’d ever heard it, actually.

He nodded. “Yes?”

“Stop courting me.”

He furrowed his brow. “Pardon?”

“You’re wasting your time.”

Heat rushed to Derek’s face. Wasting his time? Those were Lucy’s words, not Lady Cassandra’s. Now he understood. The waning candlelight, the balcony, the fact that her voice was a bit different. Lady Lucy was behind this. Literally. She was standing behind Lady Cassandra and speaking for her. He might not be able to see her, but he knew without a doubt she was there. He should be furious. Instead he found himself more than a little amused.

“I am?” he asked, smothering his smile. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yes, I want you to go away. For good.”

Derek twisted his lips. His amusement faded. He’d had just about enough of these antics. He’d made a promise to Swift, damn it. He was a decent catch. He knew that much. And he knew deep down that if Lady Cassandra had a chance to get away from her bossy friend, she might be persuaded to give him a chance. Instead, he found himself in the idiotic position of having to prove to this young lady that a duke was actually someone she might want to consider marrying. Utterly ridiculous. If he hadn’t promised Swift, he might readily walk away from this entire situation, but he had promised Swift. Damn inconvenient, that, and Derek refused to be dissuaded by the likes of Lucy Upton. With that thought riding high in his mind, he called back to Lady Cassandra. “What if I refuse?”