The Unexpected Duchess (Playful Brides #1)(92)

“Yes. Your eyes are unique and your curly hair is beautiful and you do not blow your nose like a goose and even if you did, I wouldn’t mind. Being demure is highly overrated.”

She smiled at that. “It is?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Will you please tell my mother that?”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Absolutely.”

“I never met anyone like you before, either, Derek. All the men I’d known were so easily scared off when I opened my mouth. They never stood up to me like you did.”

He half laughed, half snorted. “I know. You’d been waiting for someone to challenge you for a long time.”

She sighed. “I suppose this means we’re perfect for each other.”

He grinned at her. “My thoughts exactly.”

They lay snuggled together for a few minutes before Lucy ventured, “Derek?”

“Yes, my love?”

She traced a fingertip down his bare chest. “There is one bad thing about our wedding.”

He frowned. “What’s that?”

She sighed. “You won’t be able to call me Miss Upton any longer.”

He pulled her into his arms. “No, but I’ll be able to call you Her Grace, the Duchess of Claringdon. My wife.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I like that last one the very best.”





CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE


It was the day of their wedding. With the prince’s help, they’d got a special license from the archbishop. Derek jested that it seemed being a duke was good for something after all. And while the ceremony had been short and fast, Cass, Garrett, and Jane had all been there. Along with Derek’s mother, who was perfectly lovely, and Aunt Mary and Mrs. and Mr. Lowndes. Derek’s brothers came, too. They were both as handsome as their older brother. But even though they’d been invited for Cass’s sake, the Monroes had decided not to attend. Duchess or no, Lucy would be persona non grata with Cass’s parents for quite a while to come. That much was clear. Apparently, they couldn’t bring themselves to watch as a duke slipped through their fingers, especially since Cass had no other impending offers of marriage. “Mother said if I end up an unmarried spinster, it will not be her fault,” Cass reported.

Lucy had even invited—

“There’s my daughter, the Duchess of Claringdon!”

Lucy glanced up. Her mother stood in the foyer of Derek’s town house.

As soon as they’d received Lucy’s hastily written letter, her parents had rushed to town to wish the new couple well. Their blessing was more than granted. In fact, they were absolutely delighted with the prospect of their daughter, the duchess. They’d stood in the church this morning and beamed at Lucy.

Lucy’s mother held out both gloved hands to her. Lucy made her way over and allowed her to pull her into a hug but not without a sharp pulling together of her brows.

“Mother?” Was this truly the same woman who’d essentially washed her hands of Lucy? Now she was here, in London, dressed as if she were about to take dinner with the queen, and acting as if they’d always had the best of relationships.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new husband?” her mother asked.

Lucy nodded. “Where’s Father?”

“He’s out dealing with the man who’s taking care of the coach. I’m not entirely certain what he’s up to.”

Derek strolled over to them.

“Mother, I’d like you to meet Derek Hunt, the Duke of Claringdon.”

Her mother executed a perfect curtsy. “Your Grace.”

Derek bowed over his mother-in-law’s hand. “Lady Upbridge, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Believe me, the pleasure is entirely mine, Your Grace,” her mother replied.

Lucy’s father came bustling in just then, the same uncharacteristically happy look on his face. “My darling,” he said, hurrying up to Lucy and hugging her as if they’d ever been the hugging sorts.

“Good morning, Father,” Lucy said, still baffled by her parents’ new demeanors.

Garrett strolled up. “Uncle Theodore. Aunt Frederica.” The two gave him blank stares as if he didn’t exist. But, Lucy noted, when they realized that the duke was narrowing his eyes on them for their behavior, they both reluctantly greeted their detested nephew. “Garrett. Uh, g … good to see you,” her father managed to choke out.

Her mother merely said, “Garrett,” in her most perfectly condescending tone.

Garrett was obviously attempting to hide his smile. “Always a pleasure,” he said in a voice that implied it was, in fact, never a pleasure.

Garrett shook Derek’s hand then turned to Lucy while Derek spoke with Lucy’s parents. “The ceremony was lovely,” Garrett said.

Lucy had tears in her eyes. She hugged her cousin. “Thank you, Garrett.”

“For what?”

“For being willing to take care of me even when you thought I would be an old spinster.”

Garrett threw back his head and laughed. “How do you know I didn’t just pay Claringdon here to take you off my hands?” He bowed to Lucy. “Well, Your Grace, you truly are a duchess now. The first Duchess of Claringdon. Berkeley’s heartbroken of course, but I’m certain he’ll survive. He’s already back in Northumbria.”