The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(14)

That should do it. The feisty Lady Lucy didn’t like it when anyone questioned her.

The voice became a bit more piqued. “Why would you refuse?”

He folded his hands together behind his back. “Because I intend to change your mind.”

This time the voice was decidedly disgruntled. “Your Grace. I don’t mean to be rude, but—”

“Don’t you?” he countered.

“Of course not. What an utterly stupid question.”

“Lucy!” This obviously from the real Lady Cassandra.

“Cass, stop it,” came Lady Lucy’s hushed whisper.

“I don’t enjoy being rude,” the fake Lady Cassandra’s voice amended. “But you leave me little choice as you’re completely insufferable.”

“Lucy!” came Lady Cassandra’s half-strangled voice in reply.

Derek unabashedly grinned up at them. “Let’s stop this, shall we? Lady Lucy, if you have something, rude or otherwise, to say to me, I suggest you say it directly.”

Lady Cassandra squeaked and fell back into the shadows and Lady Lucy’s defiant, pretty little face appeared. She leaned over the balcony and blinked at him, shooting daggers with her unusual eyes. She braced both hands against the balustrade and leaned down to challenge him head-on. “Fine, Your Grace. Let me be quite clear. Cass isn’t available. Leave her alone.”

Beside her, Lady Cassandra hung her head.

Derek glanced at Lady Cassandra. “Is that right, my lady? You’re not available? When I asked you yesterday you said you were not betrothed to another.”

“I’m … not,” she breathed, tugging on her gloves and looking extremely uncomfortable.

“Then I don’t understand,” he replied.

Lady Lucy hunched her shoulders and glared at him. “You don’t have to understand. I’m telling you.”

Ignoring Lady Lucy’s reddening face, he turned his gaze to the other lady again. “Is this true, Lady Cassandra?”

“Yes,” Lady Cassandra said in a shaky voice. “And you frighten me a bit, Your Grace.”

“I understand, Lady Cassandra,” Derek replied as tenderly as he could. “I hope to have the opportunity to change your mind. If you get to know me a bit better, perhaps—”

Lady Lucy nearly leaped from the balcony. He could just imagine her lithe form tangled in his arms. Truthfully, he wouldn’t put it past her to jump on him. “Good heavens, can you not take no for an answer?” she asked.

Derek arched a brow at her. “Seems not. While I can understand Lady Cassandra’s reluctance, I’m confident that once she comes to know me a bit more, she will think better of me.”

Lucy glared at him, her chin raised, her eyes flashing, defiant. “That is your problem. You’re far too confident.”

Cass slunk back into the shadows.

“Confidence wins battles,” he countered, with a grin.

“This is not a battle,” Lucy shot back.

Another eyebrow raised. “Isn’t it?”

She glared at him, her nostrils flaring. Some of her adorable little curls had sprung free from her coiffure and were bobbing jauntily along her cheeks. “I’ve found that often the things in life most worth winning are those worth fighting for, my lady.”

Lady Lucy clenched her fists. “Cass is not a prize to be won.”

Now she was angering him. Who exactly couldn’t take no for an answer here? “No, she’s a lady who has the full faculty of her tongue and can make her own decisions without her friend chasing off all her suitors.”

Lucy gasped. She straightened to her full height, which was all of nearly five and a half feet. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I would never presume to insert myself in Cass’s affairs. Cass asked me to help her.” She clenched her jaw. Without looking behind her, she addressed her friend. “Cass, will you please tell His Grace that you asked me to be here?”

Lady Cassandra cleared her throat. Her voice came, thin, shaky. “I did. That is true.”

“And that you want me to help you?” Lady Lucy continued.

“Yes,” Lady Cassandra added.

Derek turned his attention back to Cass. “I can appreciate that you don’t know me, my lady. And that I can be … intimidating. But I assure you, I have only your best interests at heart and I would like very much to get to know you better.”

“She doesn’t want to get to know you better,” Lady Lucy nearly shouted. “She’s in love with another man.”

Derek’s head snapped up. “Is that true, Lady Cassandra?”

Even in the waning light he could tell Lady Cassandra’s face was bright red. “Y … yes.” She nodded slowly.

Derek furrowed his brow. “And has this other man asked you to be his wife?”

“No, no.” She shook her head vigorously.

“But you expect him to?” he asked.

“No. Actually, Your Grace, I do not expect him to at all.”

A smile spread across Derek’s lips. “Well, then. Competition is my specialty.”

Lady Lucy snorted. “What is the matter with you? Why do you insist upon pursuing a lady who is clearly not interested?”

Derek shrugged. “I just heard her say that she does not expect an offer from this other man. Who is this fool, by the way?”