The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(77)

“Oh, Cass, you’re so lovely. I’m so proud to call you my friend,” Lucy said.

“The feeling is entirely mutual,” Cass replied with a smile.

Lucy sighed. “How will I tell everyone else? Does Garrett know?”

Cass shook her head. “About you and the duke? I don’t think so.”

“But you and Janie do?”

“Of course. Why do you think I faked a head cold and asked you to spend time with him? Not to mention acting like such a spineless ninny the entire time he was attempting to court me. I am a ninny. But I hope I am not quite so spineless.”

Lucy’s mouth fell open. “You are not a ninny, Cass.” She plunked her hands on her hips. “You faked your head cold?”

“I absolutely did. Janie helped me put rouge on my nose, but the false sneezing was all me. I did an admirable job of it, did I not? And I can tell you, it wasn’t much fun having to be cooped up in bed all those days in a row whenever you were about.”

Lucy snorted. “I cannot believe it. You detest lying.”

“Oh, it was lying for the very best reason, though, wasn’t it? That’s why Janie was hiding from you. She thought if she got alone with you to talk, you’d ask her too many questions and she’d be forced to admit to her duplicity.”

Lucy shook her head. “You two. I should have known you were up to something, especially when I overheard you saying what a ninny you were being. But I truly believed you needed my help dissuading Derek.”

Cass smiled back. “I know how stubborn you are, Lucy. You’d never have discovered what a match you were without a little nudge from me.”

Lucy shook her head. “I cannot believe it. And Janie knew about this?”

Cass nodded. “Can you ever forgive us?”

Lucy gave her a sidewise glance accompanied by a wide grin. “I think perhaps I can.”

“If you truly have feelings for the duke, I’m happy for you.” Cass leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. “And do you know what I think you should do?”

“No. What?”

“I think you should go to him and tell him how you feel.”

Lucy winced. “I don’t know that that’s such a good idea. I’m not certain how he’ll react.”

“Why?”

Lucy rubbed her hand across her forehead. “When we were in Bath, I told Derek to marry you. I also told him I didn’t want to see him again.”

“What? How does that make any sense?” Cass asked with a laugh. “If we’d married, you’d be certain to see him again.”

Lucy shook her head. “I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. I only knew I had to get away from him. I felt so guilty knowing how my feelings for him were growing when he was meant for you. I told him I’d forsake my friendship with you to allow you two to marry happily.”

Cass’s hand dropped to the desktop. “Oh, Lucy. That’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard. Is that why you’ve been hiding from me? How could I ever be happily married if I lost my closest friend as a result?”

The two women leaned over the desk and hugged, tears streaming down both of their faces. “I love you, Cass.”

“I love you, too, Luce.”

They finally let go and wiped their tears away with their handkerchiefs. Dabbing away the remaining wetness from her eyes, Lucy allowed an enormous smile to cover her face. “You know, I think I may do just what you suggested, tell Derek how I feel.”

Cass’s face turned somber. “Wait, Lucy, there’s one more thing I must tell you first.”

Lucy searched her friend’s face. “What is it?”

“Mama seems convinced that Derek still intends to offer for me. She and Papa have been discussing it. I told her not to hold out hope. I told her that I’d informed the duke I wouldn’t marry him. But she won’t listen.”

Lucy furrowed her brow. “What do you mean she won’t listen?”

“Apparently your aunt Mary wrote to her and told her how pleased she was that the duke had been courting me in Bath.”

Lucy winced. “Oh, no.”

Cass bit her lip. “Yes. And after the duke escorted Mama and me to the theater last night, she’s even more convinced he intends to offer for me. I’m quite worried that she and Papa won’t let it go. They’ve even written to Owen.”

Lucy stood up and paced over to the window to look outside. “What do you think your mother intends to do?”

“I don’t know. But I think I should warn the duke. I don’t want him to be caught off-guard if Papa attempts to speak with him.”

Lucy bit the end of her fingernail and turned back to look at her friend. “Do you think he’ll do that?”

Cass shook her head. “I don’t know. I wrote Derek a letter.” She pulled an envelope from her reticule and laid it onto Lucy’s writing desk. “I intend to have a maid bring it around in the morning. Other than that I’m not certain what else I can do. Besides trying to reason with Mama and Papa again.”

Lucy crossed her arms over her chest but forced a smile to her lips. No sense worrying about something that may not happen. Was there? “Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Cass returned her smile. “Yes. Let’s.”