Page 24 of A Lord in Want of a Wife (Daring Debutantes #2)

T he Season began in earnest with Grace going to parties every night. Lucy was stuck waiting, learning, passing the time as best she could while her sister tried to decide on a husband.

Lucy didn’t hear from Cedric. She didn’t expect she would. She knew he was still pursuing Grace. He showed up at her coming out ball. He asked to escort her to balls and musicals. Lucy tried to stay upstairs, but always, at the last second, she would descend to the parlor to see if he noticed her.

He did. Their eyes would meet, and she would see the hollow-eyed look of a drowning man. And she would freeze.

She wanted to help him. She wanted to wrap him in her arms and fix whatever problem he had.

But she did not know how to fix anyone. And her first instinct was always to hide, to protect herself.

And so she stayed back from him and he turned back to her sister.

He smiled too brightly and exuded such charm that everyone else seemed fooled.

But she saw through it, and she worried. Even as she ran back to her bedroom to hide. It was during these nights that she discovered a love of reading. Not the awful sermons her chaperone handed her, but journals about adventures by very strong-willed men.

She began with her father’s. Indeed, he was the one who first offered it to her.

And after she sorted through his cramped handwriting, she went on to read other stories that he procured for her.

Some of them factual, at least so the writers claimed.

Others that were complete fantasy. She loved them all.

And they helped the hours pass as Grace went off to dance with handsome gentlemen.

Until the day Grace came home. She was white-faced but determined. She was done with England and the ridiculousness of the ton . But before she left for good, she wanted to do something for Lucy and her new friend Phoebe.

They were to go to Almack’s for a night of dancing. It was the most hallowed place in English society where ladies met gentlemen interested in marriage. Lucy didn’t care if it was the most wretched place in London. She was getting out of the house, and she couldn’t be more excited.

Not to mention her dress was the most beautiful thing she’d ever worn. It was a soft butter yellow that matched a ribbon in her hair. And her father gifted her with a slender golden chain to hang about her neck. He declared her beautiful, and she felt it all the way down to her toes.

Phoebe was, too, with her bouncy blond hair and her bright blue eyes.

As a cit, the girl would never have been able to get a voucher to Almack’s, but Grace had arranged it.

She wore pale blue, but nothing could match the sunny brightness of her optimism.

She was sure all three of them would find their true love tonight.

And so they set off, with their father serving as their chaperone. And if her sister was exceedingly quiet, Lucy and Phoebe made up for it in sheer excitement.

When they disembarked from the carriage, Lucy was shocked to see the line of beautiful English girls in front. All of them were decked out in fine clothing, most with jewelry that put Lucy’s slender chain to shame. And each one whispered and pointed at them.

She ought to be used to the startled looks. Whenever she’d gone anywhere in London, people had stared. But no one had beat her or spit at her, so it was an improvement from how she’d grown up. Or so she’d consoled herself.

But these ladies did want to hurt them. These ladies were angry enough to radiate hostility. Normally Lucy would run from such people. They were too dangerous. But Grace did not flinch. She lifted her chin and continued for the front door. Phoebe as well, with her bright smile and excited chatter.

It was an act. Lucy could see the fear in both girls’ eyes, but they covered it well. Which meant Lucy could do the same.

They made it to the front of the line, and Lucy finally got to meet Cedric’s mother.

The countess stood as one of the official greeters into the hallowed dance hall.

She was dressed simply, but in exquisite fabric.

Her hair was pulled upwards, as most every older woman’s was, and she wore a single large emerald at her neck.

It wasn’t real. She knew that much from Cedric, but the illusion was good.

All in all, the countess appeared a handsome woman except for the pinched way she held her mouth and the fact that her smile never reached her eyes. Indeed, it never reached the fullness of a smile, falling far short of anything resembling a true emotion.

Nevertheless, the woman greeted them warmly, exclaimed loudly about their dresses and hair, and then gestured towards a line of gentlemen. That was the bargain Grace had struck, and the Countess was fulfilling her side of the bargain.

So the three of them went where they were bid, and suddenly Lucy was meeting gentleman after gentleman, all in a blur. Grace had memorised their names, knew how to curtsy and introduce them to Lucy, and generally acted as if she belonged exactly where they were.

It was shocking to see. Grace fit in whereas Lucy felt like a clumsy oaf.

She didn’t know exactly how to move, what to say or even where she should look.

So many people and none of them matched anything that felt familiar.

Indeed, as the men wrote their names one by one on her dance card, she suddenly lost the ability to read English.

Such strange names in unsteady handwriting. Who were these men?

It got better when the dancing began. She had practiced the steps of the dances with Grace.

And, of course, so long ago with Cedric.

She remembered, for the most part, where to set her feet.

It was rote memorization, not pleasure. Dancing was not her favourite pastime, but she managed it.

And there were several men who were helpful in that.

So she relaxed, at least a little. And then he walked in.

She saw Cedric enter when she was changing partners between sets. His clothes might have been dashing, though they did not fit well, which told her it was borrowed attire. Or maybe not, since the man had lost weight.

His skin looked paler than she’d ever seen it, almost sallow.

And his shoulders hunched beneath his dark brown jacket.

But it was his eyes that shocked her. They glittered with desperation.

His mother rose to greet him. She cut through the crowd quickly, but he gave her only the most cursory glance.

She tried to force the issue. She was clearly not a woman who appreciated being ignored.

But when she touched his arm, he rounded on her with a dark look.

Fortunately, he wasn’t a violent man. His mother did not cringe away from him, but the two clearly had words. And though Lucy wanted to watch the exchange, her next partner was drawing her onto the dance floor.

The set began as usual. Lucy was distracted, trying to both smile at her partner and keep an eye on Cedric. That’s why she didn’t realise when another figure strode through the room.

The Duke! Striding straight through the dancers like a ship cutting through the ocean.

People scattered before him. And when she looked up, she saw exactly what she’d expect from the man who was stiffly proper in all the English ways.

Personally, she preferred Cedric’s easy ways.

Which was all to the good because the Duke was headed straight for Grace.

Chatter erupted immediately. Everyone seemed shocked to see the man. His mother, the Dowager Duchess, rushed to his side, trying to pull him away. The Duke didn’t even spare her a glance.

He stopped directly in front of Grace, took hold of her hands, and spoke words that shocked everyone.

‘Marry me.’

If there were startled chatter before, it was nothing compared to the shocked gasps at the Duke’s command. Especially when he followed it up with the most romantic words Lucy had ever heard.

‘I love you,’ he said. ‘I am the best that England has to offer. I am clever, educated and titled. I want more than the best of England at my side. I want the best of China.’

Grace stared at the Duke while Lucy silently willed her sister to say yes. Take the man who so obviously loved her. Instead, her dazed sister shook her head.

‘But I am not the best of anything.’

‘You are beautiful and clever,’ the Duke said.

And then he sank down to one knee before her as he continued listing things about Grace that Lucy thought no one but her understood.

But clearly, he did. And still her sister did not react.

The woman was stunned into silence and Lucy was ready to shake the silly woman into saying yes!

But then a commotion caught her attention. It was Cedric, of course, pushing his mother aside as he burst into the conversation.

‘Have you lost your mind?’ Cedric roared. ‘You can’t marry her any more than I can!’

Lucy flinched at the roar. The awful thing was that she wasn’t even surprised. She’d seen that Cedric was drowning. And she knew that he thought Grace was his last hope. But the Duke was taking Grace away, so Cedric had to fight. He had to clutch at her in any way possible.

But that didn’t mean she was going to allow it. Cedric was not going to take away her sister’s chance at happiness.

Fortunately, she didn’t need to interfere. The Duke didn’t even glance at his cousin. His attention was focused completely on Grace. ‘Cousin, you are a boor.’

‘She’s a liar and a thief.’

That was too much for Lucy. Damn it, why had she stood quiet these past weeks? She should have stopped him ages ago. She shoved past the onlookers, her blood hot. Of course, Grace was a liar and a thief. They were orphans who had done whatever they could to survive.

‘Not here,’ Lucy cried. ‘Not in England,’ but no one was listening to her. Certainly not Cedric who was saying everything and anything to end his cousin’s proposal.

‘She’s not really Lord Wenshire’s daughter. She is not his child!’

How dare he say that! He’d sworn to never reveal it and now he’d just bellowed it out to the world. The one secret that could destroy everything for her and Grace.

Lucy slapped him as hard as she could. She didn’t even remember crossing the room to his side, but the pain in her hand and the bright red on his cheek told the tale.

‘I didn’t think you could stoop any lower,’ she hissed.

‘And to think I once thought you clever. Safe, clever and kind.’ She shook her head.

‘You have fooled me just as your father fooled your mother.’ She saw it all so clearly now.

Hadn’t he said that his mother had the large dowry?

That his father swept her off her feet only to squander away the money on gambling?

Any woman who married Cedric would end up as bitter as the countess and living off the charity of the nearest relation. ‘You are a villain!’

She didn’t know which of her words broke him out of his bitterness. She saw his eyes widen as he pressed a hand to his cheek. And then—just like in Hyde Park—he looked around, saw the audience and realised the disaster he had created.

‘Lucy,’ he gasped. ‘I didn’t mean—’

The Duke didn’t let him finish. ‘Step away, Cedric. Or I swear to God I will put you into the ground!’

The two men squared off, exchanging words that echoed in the room. Lucy didn’t care. Let him be beaten to a bloody pulp. Her gaze went to her sister, but Grace’s eyes had shifted somewhere else. She was looking at her father, an apology in her eyes.

And what was their father doing? He was barreling forwards, leading with his cane. Everyone jumped away or received a hard blow. And that included the two cousins. ‘Stop it!’ he bellowed. ‘Good God, I am ashamed to be English!’

Lucy watched him, her heart in her throat. She knew he was taking his anger out on Cedric and the Duke, but what would he do with them? Would he still care for the daughters who were liars? Who weren’t actually the blood kin they claimed to be?

Cedric and the Duke both fell back. And then, Mr. Richards turned to his daughters. Unable to wait for his reaction, Grace stepped forwards, her expression stricken.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said.

Lucy was on her heels. ‘We didn’t mean to lie.’

‘I didn’t speak English. I didn’t realise why you had chosen me. I didn’t know what you believed,’ Grace continued with Lucy agreeing with every word.

‘Hush…hush, child,’ their father said as he set his cane on the floor. ‘Girls, I knew the truth from the beginning. The woman I loved and our child died years before. I knew that long before I sent word to the temple.’

Lucy’s hands clasped tight before her. ‘You knew?’ she whispered.

‘I did.’ He stroked her cheek. ‘I could not save my child, but I could save you. I could bring you here and give you a life such as I would have given my own flesh and blood.’ His gaze included both of them, and for the first time in a long time, Lucy did not feel like an afterthought.

‘But I can see now that my own people are as ignorant and as cruel as yours.’ He turned to Grace.

‘If you wish, we can leave now for Italy, or Morocco or any other land.’

Lucy gasped, her head spinning. Could she do it again? Leave a place where she’d become comfortable, if not exactly happy? Go out in search of another home? It was too much to think about. And looking at her sister, she could see Grace thought the same.

But the Duke was not finished. He moved in front of Grace, drawing her attention as he sank back down on one knee. And while he spoke words from his heart, Lucy looked to Cedric. It burned that she wanted to hear such words from him. After everything he’d done, it hurt that she still ached for him.

He didn’t speak; he didn’t try to interrupt. If he had, she would have cut him down with her bare hands. But he didn’t say a word to stop the love flowing between Grace and his cousin. And a moment later, Grace accepted the Duke’s proposal.

They were in love. And Cedric’s hope for a dowry worth a fortune was destroyed. She saw the bleak realization hit him. Saw, too, that he was a defeated man, and she feared for what that might lead him to next.

He caught her gaze, an apology burning there. She wanted none of it. He had betrayed her in every way. Or near enough. He had not whispered about what they had done together, but he had tried to destroy her relationship with her father. That was the one thing upon which she depended for everything.

And so she shook her head. And she deliberately turned her back on him. How many times could she cut him from her heart? How many times could she turn away from him and swear to never think of him again? How long would it take for the love she had for him to shrivel away to nothing?

Too many. And too long.

But she would find a way to do it anyway.