The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(83)



Derek nodded and kissed her cheek. “I know.”

Lucy cleared her throat, her face turning pink. She rolled over and slid her arm around his side. “Didn’t you say something about twenty ways to make me feel good?”

He gave her a roguish grin. “Ah, yes. I believe we still have nineteen more to go.”

Lucy laughed and nipped at his corded neck. “By all means, Your Grace. Let’s begin.”





CHAPTER FIFTY


Later that morning, Lucy stood in front of her open wardrobe, hands on her hips, staring at the contents. Which items of clothing might she retain as the new Duchess of Claringdon and which had to go? Oh, she needed Cass’s help. Lucy didn’t give a fig about fashions, and neither did Jane. Jane had on more than one occasion remarked that she’d become a nun for the simplicity of dressing and never having to buy fripperies if it weren’t for all that religious nonsense she just couldn’t get past.

Thankfully, Lucy had managed to slip back into the house early this morning with Garret and Aunt Mary being none the wiser. Lucy was just about to give up on the clothing and go in search of Cass when a sharp knock sounded on her door.

“Who is it?” she called.

“It’s me” came Cass’s sweet voice.

Lucy hurried over to the door and opened it. Excellent timing. “Come in, dear. I was just looking at—”

Lucy snapped her mouth shut. Cass stood in the corridor looking quite pale and wringing her hands. “Oh, Lucy, you must come quickly.”

Lucy’s heart leaped to her throat. “What is it, Cass?”

“Mama and Papa have gone to the duke’s town house to demand that he offer for me.” The words rushed out of Cass’s mouth like water through a dam.

Lucy’s hand flew to her throat. “No.”

“Yes.” Cass nodded, her blond curls bobbing at her temples. “It’s awful. I’m mortified. I’m afraid that if the two of us don’t go and try to explain what’s happened, Papa will end up with a forced offer from Derek and I couldn’t stand it. You must come with me, Lucy. You must help.”

Lucy nodded rapidly and pointed down the corridor. “By all means, let’s go.”

The two hurried downstairs where Lucy took a moment to hastily throw on a pelisse and a bonnet. Then they were off in the coach Cass had come in.

Their insistent knocks at Derek’s door were met with Hughes’s monotonous tone. “Yes?”

“We must speak with His Grace immediately,” Lucy said.

Thankfully, the butler acted as if he’d never seen Lucy before. “His Grace is already occupied with callers at the moment.”

“We know!” Cass brushed past the large man. Lucy was impressed by her forcefulness.

Hughes looked at them both as if they were street urchins forcing their way into the kitchens and demanding scraps. Clearly under duress, he showed them to the drawing room where Lord and Lady Moreland were already having words with the duke. Lucy and Cass rushed inside. But the other occupants of the room didn’t seem to notice them.

Derek stood next to the mantelpiece, his hand braced against it, his face a mask of stone.

Lady Moreland, her nose high in the air, sat on the settee. Lord Moreland paced across the expensive carpet nearly shouting at the duke. “I will not have my daughter treated so cavalierly.”

A muscle ticked in Derek’s jaw. “My lord, if you’ll just be reasonable—”

Lord Monroe pulled on his lapels. “I’ve been reasonable, Claringdon. More than reasonable waiting for you to make my daughter an offer. I demand you make things right.”

“Yes, we were quite convinced an offer was forthcoming,” Lady Moreland said, dabbing at her brow with her handkerchief.

“I’m certain if we all just discuss this rationally…,” Derek continued.

“The time for being rational is over,” Cass’s father nearly shouted.

Cass took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Mother, Father, I know you both think you’re doing the right thing for me, but you’re making a terrible mistake.”

The Monroes turned to stare at their daughter. “That’s enough from you, Cassandra. You haven’t been thinking properly in weeks,” her mother said.

Cass raised her hand in a pleading gesture. “Mother, please. I will not marry the duke.”

Her father clamped his jaw so tightly his jowls shook. “Young lady, you do not know what you’re saying.”

Cass raised her chin. “Yes, I do. I’m telling you that I refuse to marry him.”

“You will marry him and that’s an end to it,” her mother insisted. “Captain Swift plans to marry your cousin when he returns. Do not hold out false hope on that score. Besides, he’s a second son. He’ll never hold a title.”

That last comment caused Derek to raise his brows.

Cass pushed up her chin. “I do not hold out false hope, Mama. Believe me. But that does not mean I should ruin another man’s life by dragging him into a loveless marriage.”

“Who says it’s loveless?” her mother snapped. “You could well learn to have feelings for each other someday.”

Cass smiled and crossed over the thick carpet to lean down and pat her mother’s cheek. “Oh, Mama. I do know you want the best for me. Truly, I do. But the duke is madly in love with Lucy and I cannot blame him.” She turned to her two friends and gave them a warm smile. Lucy smiled back and Derek nodded and shifted on his booted feet, his hands folded behind his back.

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