The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(46)

“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.