The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(85)

The queen, the prince regent’s mother, had been the bane of Lucy’s young life five years ago. She and her mother had gathered the requisite fripperies and frills: huge old-fashioned hooped skirts, feathered headdresses, and high-heeled boots with too many ribbons to trip over. They had dutifully trotted to the palace to make Lucy’s requisite debut in the queen’s chambers. It was the one time Lucy could remember her mother paying the slightest bit of attention to her since before Ralph died. And Lucy had tried, truly. As hard as she could. But Mother wanted her to pretend to be someone she was not. Someone like … Cass. And Lucy had failed, again. She would never be a son. She was an inadequate daughter.

They’d traveled to the palace that day, only to be escorted out after Lucy’s antics had garnered the censure of the queen and the derision of the princesses. Lucy had never been so glad to leave a place in all her life. The only good thing was that she’d never have to return.

Never, that was, until Her Majesty summoned her.

It seemed Lady Moreland had made good on her threat to bring the nation’s newest duke’s marital plans to the attention of her monarch. Because Derek had been granted his title with stipulations, without Their Majesties’ approval, he could not marry. It was unthinkable but it was true. The royal approval must be had. And Derek had chosen the most unsuitable candidate in Society. Her.

Never in her life had Lucy wished more that she was respectable and proper and knew how to do and say the right things. But the queen already hated her. If she remembered her, that is, and how could she not? A young lady who started a scandal in the chambers? One who essentially had a tantrum and didn’t show her sovereign the proper respect? An abomination. Yes, that was her. Lady Lucy Upton, abomination.

And she’d already made the biggest mistake of them all. When she’d spent the night with Derek, it had never occurred to her that Lady Moreland might try to upend her marriage plans, but it seemed Cass’s mother was so thwarted in her dreams for her daughter, she was set on revenge no matter the cost.

Cass had snuck over to visit Lucy, despite her mother’s insistence that they end their friendship. Cass had cried and told Lucy how utterly ashamed and sorry she was for her mother’s behavior. “I’ve tried to reason with her, Lucy. She refuses to listen.”

In the end, it seemed, there was nothing anyone could do. Lady Moreland was well connected at court and set about making it her business to bend the ear of the queen. She couldn’t force a duke to marry her daughter, but she certainly could set about trying to ruin said duke’s plans to marry an inappropriate duchess. And now the summons from the queen sat on the desk, like an awful little papery recrimination, reminding Lucy of how utterly unladylike and unworthy she was and always would be.

Lucy had just decided to toss the summons into the fireplace when Cass and Jane floated into the drawing room.

“We’ve come to help. A plan is in order,” Jane declared, hands on her hips, already searching about for the tea tray on which she would inevitably find her favorite cakes.

“Plan?” Lucy echoed, turning to face her friends. “Am I to have a plan?”

“Of course you must have a plan,” Jane replied, taking a seat on a rosewood chair next to her friend. “This situation isn’t about to resolve itself, is it?”

Lucy frowned. “What situation?”

Cass crossed over to the writing desk and scooped up the summons. “Just as we suspected, the queen wishes to see you.”

Lucy blinked. “How did you—?”

Cass shrugged. “I did some investigating. Seems when a duke decides to take a bride, the potential bride must be officially summoned by the queen.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “I suppose I should be honored that she’s bothering to take the time to meet with me.”

Cass stamped her foot. “See, right there. That is the attitude you must change if we’re to help you.”

“Have you told His Grace?” Jane, having found the tea tray, popped a piece of cake into her mouth.

Lucy sighed. “No. What’s the use? She will never approve of me. Oh, Cass, why did I ruin your potential engagement for this? You and Derek might have been happy together.”

Cass slapped at Lucy’s sleeve. “Are you completely daft? We would have made each other miserable and you know it. Not to mention, he happens to be madly in love with you and you with him.”

“Tell her the other part,” Jane prompted.

Cass turned back to face Lucy. “Oh, yes. I also discovered that the duke received a similar summons.”

Lucy frowned. “To see the queen?”

Cass shook her head. “No, the prince regent.”

“Derek detests the prince regent,” Lucy replied.

“It doesn’t matter. If he’s to get his approval, he’ll need to be convincing. Which is why we’re here to help you with your plan.”

Lucy glanced between her two friends. “You keep using that word. What exactly do you expect me to do?”

Jane set her plate aside and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “We expect you to put on a show, of course. It’ll be just like a play.”

Lucy tossed a hand in the air. “A play? What are you talking about?”

Cass took a deep breath. “Lucy, listen to me. You must go to court and be demure and presentable—and most of all, quiet.”