Page 99 of Second Duke's the Charm

“He received a good beating, too,” Daisy said, then snapped her mouth shut as she realized her error. Theyhadn’t told the queen the particulars of the evening at Vauxhall.

The queen’s brows rose in interest. “From yourself?”

“Sadly not,” Daisy said. “Although it would have been a pleasure. Our man had an altercation with the Duke of Wansford, just after we’d made the exchange.”

Amusement lit the queen’s face. “How delightful! As a rule, I generally advise against violence, but in this case, I can only say I hope the duke gave him a sound thrashing.”

Tess managed a faint smile. “He did indeed, ma’am.”

The queen nodded and rose, and the princess did the same. “In that case, justice seems to have been served. Come, Charlotte.”

Tess, Daisy, and Ellie all rose, too, and as the queen bustled into the hallway, Charlotte glanced at the needlepoint sampler that hung on the wall above Daisy’s desk.

“A badly stuffed sausage?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Idohope that’s not the case with Leopold!”

Sheltered she might have been, but it was clear the princess possessed a bawdy sense of humor.

Tess laughed. “We wish you all the best, Your Highness.”

The queen turned to Tess as she reached the front door. “Oh, I almost forgot! I have instructed my secretaries to look for proof of that loan your father made to the king. I shall let you know if they meet with any success.”

Tess bobbed a curtsey. “Thank you, ma’am.”

When the two women had left, Tess returned to the study and eyed the ruby necklace with dislike.

“I’ve always been of the opinion that rubies bring bad luck.”

Ellie nodded. “Me, too. I can’t imagine any of us ever wearing it.”

“We should have it remade. Let’s ask Rundell and Bridge to sell the rubies, and turn the diamonds into earrings for us all.”

“Excellent idea,” Daisy said. She brushed her hands together. “Well, that’s another happy customer. But you don’t look too pleased, Tess.”

Tess forced a smile. In truth, she was feeling rather deflated, despite the success of the case. She hadn’t seen Justin for almost a week, and she missed him. Regret at the way she’d dismissed him so curtly had been gnawing at her for days.

Ellie and Daisy had been too far away to hear what had passed between herself, Stockdale, and Justin at Vauxhall, but they’d been outraged and incredulous on her behalf when she’d told them of Justin’s unfair accusations.

Daisy, however, had seen a ray of hope. “I know his behavior was appalling, but it really does sound as if he was following his heart and not his head. Which is extremely out of character. Perhaps he reallyhasfallen in love with you? Love does make perfectly rational people do the most irrational things.”

Tess let out a sigh. “I know. But where does this leave us? He sent me a note saying he would call at Wansford House tomorrow to discuss ending our agreement. If he really loved me, he wouldn’t be so eager to let me go.”

Ellie sent her a sympathetic look. “If he really loved you, and thought you wanted to end the contract, then he’d do anything to make you happy. Even at his own expense.”

Tess put her head in her hands. “Lord, what a mess.”

Chapter Forty

“Before you say anything, I would like to apologize. Again.”

Tess sank back into her chair behind the desk as Justin strode into the study, and her heart galloped in precisely the same way it had done when she’d seen him standing there the first time.

He took the vacant seat opposite her and ran his fingers through his hair, and she drank in the sight of him. The bruise on his cheek had faded in the week they’d been apart, and his lip had healed.

She’d kissed those lips.

She tore her eyes away from the temptation.

“Apologize for what?”