The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(59)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN


“Another letter?” Garrett asked, strolling into the breakfast room the next morning. Jane had been nowhere to be found all morning, and Cass was still in her sickbed. Lucy had been eating alone, since Aunt Mary usually took her breakfast much earlier. But this morning Lucy hadn’t minded being alone. She’d just received another wonderful letter from Lord Berkeley.

“Yes.” Lucy nodded happily.

Garrett made his way to the sideboard and loaded ham, eggs, cheese, and toast onto a plate. Then he came to sit next to Lucy. “Ah, young love. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Lucy slapped at his shoulder. “Stop it. I’m not in love.”

“Aren’t you?”

“No. I’ve only barely met him. Though he does seem rather nice. And his letters are”—she sighed—“amazing.”

Garrett furrowed his brow. “Never knew Berkeley had it in him, to be honest. He wasn’t much of a writer at university.”

“I cannot believe that,” Lucy replied, rereading one of her particularly favorite passages. “Just listen to this part—” She opened her mouth to speak, but Garrett dropped his fork and clapped both hands over his ears. “No. No. I cannot listen to a love note written by one of my closest friends to my own cousin. Please do not attempt to subject me to such torture.”

Lucy laughed and set the letter aside. “Very well, but suffice it to say he is quite a good writer.”

Garrett shrugged. “If you say so. Seems odd that he isn’t visiting as much as he’s sending letters, however.”

Lucy took a sip from her teacup. “Not at all. He’s been preoccupied with his cousin’s wedding. Besides, between you and me, I believe he expresses himself a bit better in written word.”

“Ah, now that I do believe.” Garrett took healthy bite of eggs.

“It’s quite extraordinary, really. When he’s here, we barely speak two words to each other. But when he sends these letters, it’s as if an entire other world has opened up inside him and he can express who he truly is.”

“That’s a bit too poetic for me. I’m trying to eat.”

Lucy laughed again. “Oh, stop. You’re the one who introduced us, remember? I have you to thank for this pleasant acquaintance.”

Garrett waggled his eyebrows at her. “Sounds like more than an acquaintance to me. And speaking of acquaintances, I hear you’ve been spending time with Cassandra’s duke lately.”

Lucy shrugged and set the letter aside. “Only because Cass can’t. But I must say he’s been surprisingly pleasant.”

Another eyebrow waggle. “Pleasant? That is a surprise.”

Lucy took another sip. “Isn’t it?”

“Have anything planned for today?” Garrett asked.

“Yes, actually. The duke will be here at half two.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT


“So what did you and Cass have on the agenda for today?” Lucy asked with a saucy smile when Derek appeared at the town house that afternoon.

Derek returned her smile and bowed over her hand. “I was hoping to tour the ruins. The bathhouses.”

Lucy sat on a settee in the drawing room. As soon as she saw Derek, her plan to get out of the day’s activity somehow vanished into ash. What harm did it do, really, for her to spend time with him? He wanted to get to know more about Cass, didn’t he? She could help.

Very well. Perhaps the harm it did was that in the last few days while she’d been busily romping with Derek, she hadn’t spent any time whatsoever with Lord Berkeley. Oh, the entire thing was so backward and awful. And to make matters worse, soon Lord Berkeley would be returning to London for a bit before retiring to the country for the autumn and winter. She might not see him again for quite a long while. All of these arguments and more raced through Lucy’s head. Guilt, it seemed, was her constant companion. But it didn’t keep her from looking up at the handsome duke standing in front of her and saying, “Visit the bathhouses? Now, that is something I’d very much like to do.”

He bowed to her gallantly and offered his arm. “I’m assuming Lady Cassandra continues to be waylaid with a cold.”

“Yes, poor girl,” Lucy replied. More guilt. The truth was she hadn’t even checked to see how Cass was doing today. Just assumed—no, hoped—that her friend was still stricken with her cold so that she, awful person she was, might enjoy more time with her beau.

Derek smiled at Lucy. “By all means, then, let’s go.”

They strolled together out of the drawing room just as Garrett walked past. “Good afternoon.” Garrett gave Lucy a raised brow. “Claringdon.” He nodded toward the duke.

“Upton.” Derek inclined his head in Garrett’s direction.

“Here to see Cass, I assume?” Garrett asked.

“Yes, and since she remains ill, Lady Lucy and I have decided to go see the bathhouses together.”

To his credit, Garrett’s face remained completely blank. “Ah, I see. Enjoy yourselves.”

Lucy wrinkled her nose at her cousin but continued through the foyer with Derek.

“Oh, Lucy,” Garrett called out when they’d nearly reached the door.