The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(72)

“I’m damn glad you’re alive, Adam,” Derek bit out, just before his youngest brother quit the room.

Collin stood and drained his glass before setting it aside. “I’m damn glad he’s alive also.”

Derek nodded. “You weren’t able to learn anything more about Swifdon and Rafe?”

Collin glanced down, regret etched on his face. “Nothing.”

Derek clenched his fist and braced it against the nearby wall. “I’ll talk to Wellington. And this time I refuse to take no for an answer. We’re going back there. For them.”





CHAPTER FORTY-SIX


September in London. The air had turned cooler. The days had become shorter. They would be off to the country soon. And Lucy detested the country. Not the land itself but the company. Being shut up in a house, however grand, with her parents for months was far from her idea of a pleasant way to pass the time. Thank goodness Cass and Garrett lived nearby.

Lucy traced the raindrops on the windowpane of the drawing room. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Derek since she’d left Bath. She’d dodged all of her friends’ attempts to visit her as well, either claiming she was out or indisposed. Every day she checked the Society pages of the Times for the news of Derek and Cass’s impending nuptials. It was never there, but surely it was only a matter of time. As the days passed, she became increasingly nervous, certain she would see it soon.

But something else was missing from the pages of the newspaper. News of Captain Julian Swift’s death in Brussels. Had it happened and not been reported? Was Cass grieving—and bad friend that she was, Lucy was ignoring her? Oh, she had been convinced that she had to give the entire affair time and space. But it felt as if she was hurting everyone who was important to her.

When Janie came bustling into the drawing room, hands on her hips and no book in sight, Lucy knew it was serious.

“I don’t care what your latest excuse is, you’re coming to the theater with me tonight,” Jane declared, shaking her head so hard her spectacles nearly popped off her prim little nose. She fumbled for them and set them back in place, then crossed her arms over her chest and eyed Lucy sternly.

“I don’t want to.” As excuses went, it was particularly weak, but at the moment it was all Lucy had.

Jane gave her a long-suffering stare. “I don’t care.”

“I can’t, Jane. What if, what if…?” Lucy couldn’t bring herself to say, What if I see Derek? It was insane and useless and she didn’t want to have to explain herself. “I refuse to go to the theater. That’s all there is to it.” She nodded resolutely.

“It’s Much Ado About Nothing,” Jane added in a singsong voice. “One of my very favorites.”

Lucy winced. Blast it. She couldn’t miss Much Ado About Nothing. It was one of her very favorites as well. And Jane knew it. Knew it and had come here armed with that information.

“Besides, Upton and Lord Berkeley have agreed to accompany us,” Jane added, taking a seat on the settee and removing her gloves. “Do you have any teacakes?”

Lucy gulped. “Lord Berkeley?”

“Yes.”

“Is coming?”

“Yes. He’s in town for a few more days and he indicated that he’s quite eager to see you.”

Lucy twisted her hands together. “He did?”

“Yes.”

Lucy winced. “I find that surprising given that I haven’t received a letter from him since I left Bath. I barely said good-bye.”

“Nevertheless, he expressed his intent interest in seeing you again. That must have been some kiss you gave him,” Jane said with a laugh. “Oh, come on, Luce, you know it’s serious if I’m conspiring with Upton to get you out of the house.”

“Where is Garrett, anyway? I haven’t seen him in days. How were you two able to conspire without me finding out?”

“Upton paid me a call. We discussed it all at my parents’ town house. He invited Berkeley, too. The chap seems quite smitten with you, I must say. I’ve no idea why you’ve been hiding in this house for so long.”

Lucy set her jaw. “I shall throttle Garrett the next time I see him.”

“No you won’t. You’ll be charming and sweet, at least while Lord Berkeley’s around.” Jane laughed again. “Now ring for tea. I’m in desperate need of a cake.”

“No one needs a cake.”

Jane gave her a withering stare. “That is hardly relevant.”

Lucy shook her head and rang for tea. Jane was not to be dissuaded once she’d set her sights on a teacake. “You and Garrett at another performance of Much Ado? That’s sure to be a disaster.”

Jane tossed a hand in the air. “Yes, exactly! Take it seriously. It truly is. Only for you would I do such a thing as agree to accompany Upton to the theater again. And only for you would I go see Much Ado About Nothing with your infuriatingly wrongheaded cousin.”

“You may call him Garrett, you know. You two have known each other long enough.”

Jane rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.”

Lucy turned back to face her friend, a stern and resolute look on her face. “Janie, I appreciate your efforts, truly I do, but there’s absolutely no way in the entire world that I’m leaving this house tonight.”