The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(88)

“I have one more question for you, Lady Lucy,” the queen said.

Lucy gulped. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Why do you wish to marry the Duke of Claringdon?”

Lucy took a deep breath. “The truth is, Your Majesty, I regret that he is a duke. I want to marry him because he is the best man I’ve ever known. More loyal and loving and kind than anyone knows. I love him, Your Majesty, and I would do anything for him. Including coming here today and wearing this ridiculous gown with the equivalent of a bird in my hair and stays that may end my life, and simper and scrape and act proper for the chance to spend the rest of my life with him.”

That had done it. She’d rendered the poor princesses speechless. Their royal mouths had all dropped open simultaneously.

Lucy glanced about the chamber. Cass’s mother was practically rubbing her hands together with glee. And Cass had gone so pale, Lucy was certain she would faint—which might be just the distraction Lucy needed to back out of the room without as many people watching. Faint, Cass. Faint.

The queen narrowed her eyes on Lucy and drummed her fingers along the arms of her ornate chair. “I remember you, Lady Lucy. You told me you didn’t enjoy being forced into uncomfortable clothing for the sake of propriety and you kicked off your shoes after declaring that they pinched your feet hideously.”

Lucy closed her eyes. Oh, yes, that had been her, all right. She bowed her head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then you pulled the feathers out of your hair and asked your mother if the ‘blasted thing’ was over yet.”

Lucy pressed two fingertips to the throbbing pain in her skull. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The queen leaned forward just a bit. “You are your parents’ only child, are you not?”

That was a surprising question. “Yes, Your Majesty. My brother Ralph died at the age of nine.”

The queen glanced around at the princesses. “Can you imagine, girls, not having any sisters?”

The princesses’ sympathetic murmurs filled the state room. With such a robust family, no indeed, they could not imagine any such thing.

The queen looked down her nose at Lucy once again. “I shall leave it to you to inform Claringdon that you’re to be his bride.”

Lucy’s heart stopped. If anyone was going to faint now, it just might be her. “Did I hear you correctly, Your Majesty? I thought you said—”

The queen nodded. “You’re of good family. I see no reason to object. Seems to me you’re both a bit unconventional and will be the perfect match for each other. Not to mention there is hardly enough true love in this world.”

The princesses collectively sighed.

The squeal Lucy heard next must have been her own but she didn’t stop to examine its origin. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you very much.” She began to back away. Oh, it was taking far too long. About halfway across the room, she turned, picked up her skirts, and ran full tilt.

Lady Moreland’s vehement protests echoed through the chamber. Lucy’s eyes briefly met Cass’s. Cass’s mouth was as wide as an O.

“Lucy, you’re running,” Cass called, an undercurrent of disapproval and warning in her voice.

“I know,” she called back.

“Why?” Cass’s voice was filled with nerves. Then, “Where are you going?”

Without breaking her stride, Lucy yanked off her feathered headdress and tossed it in the air. “I’m going to be bold!”





CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE


It took more than a bit of cajoling on Lucy’s part to convince Hughes to inform her of his master’s whereabouts that evening. Apparently, Derek had been at the club all afternoon and had only returned home briefly to change his clothing and leave again for a dinner party.

The prince regent’s dinner party.

Lucy sighed. Two royal visits in one day. What she wouldn’t do for that man.

When Garrett’s coach pulled up in front of Carlton House, Lucy was shaking with nerves.

“Are you quite certain you don’t want me to come with you?” Garrett asked. Her cousin was such a dear. He’d insisted upon accompanying her.

“I must do this myself.”

“Very well, but I shall wait here for you.”

Lucy nodded. A backup plan. Yes. Good.

The royal butler eyed her up and down but appeared to take her word for the fact that she was indeed named Lady Lucy Upton and had urgent business to discuss with the Duke of Claringdon. She was soon ushered into the dinner party.

Lucy had heard tales of the prince regent’s infamous dinner parties, but of course she’d never been invited to one. The reality was beyond her imagination.

An enormous table had been set with the finest of china, linens, and crystals. The table was lined with huge platters of meats and cheeses, sweets and puddings, vegetables and birds, and roasts, and gravies. All sorts of wines and chocolates. Everywhere she looked there was something more delectable than the last. The prince himself was perched in the center of the ostentatious display; two gorgeous ladies sat on either side of him. Next to one of them was Derek.

Without taking her eyes from him, Lucy slowly made her way into the center of the room. She knew the moment Derek spotted her. His gaze focused on her and he stopped talking to his dinner companions.