“The next step in our plan. I delivered a letter to him while you were dancing. He’s to meet her in the library.”
“He’swhat?”
“I’ve arranged it all with Lady Plymton. She was more than happy to comply.”
Heavens,their plan. They’d planned to push Nicholas into the arms of other women, and their next target had been Lady Plymton. “Oh, no. Penelope, you didn’t.”
Penelope’s face fell. For a woman who never looked sad, she could certainly pout well. “What do you mean, I didn’t? I did. And it wasn’t easy. I had to get my hands all over your duke.”
“He isn’tmyduke.”
“He is going to be Lady Plymton’s duke before long. She seems to be the influential type. One that can convince a man to do... well... anything.”
Mercy took a deep breath. Nicholas could take care of himself, and even if Mercy had disappointed him, he still would never agree to meet Lady Plymton. “He won’t meet her. I misunderstood his relationship with her, so your note should be of no consequence.”
“Oh, she didn’t have me sign her name. She didn’t want anything to be traced back to either one of them. For all he knows, it could be anyone waiting for him in the library. Even you.”
Mercy closed her eyes. He wouldn’t, would he? Not after she’dpushed him past where he was comfortable in the drawing room and then ignored him. When she’d shown up without the necklace, he must have known their courtship was over. Even if he thought it was Mercy waiting in the library, he wouldn’t meet her alone. Not again.
A man and two women strode into the corridor. The women’s heads were pressed together, and they didn’t even notice Penelope and Mercy. She only made out a few words as they passed, but one of those words was unmistakably “library.”
Mercy froze. “What time were they supposed to meet?”
Penelope shrugged “They should’ve met a few minutes ago. Should we see what is happening? This could be the beginning of a great love story. Lady Plymton was extreme—”
Mercy pushed herself off the wall and grabbed Penelope by the shoulders. “Go block the library door.”
“What?”
“Lady Plymton was not the love of Nicholas’s life. She is a viper, and I think the group that just passed us is going to the library. Go tackle those people if you have to, but do not let anyone make it into the library before you do. Do you understand?”
Penelope eyes mapped Mercy’s face. She hadn’t missed the fact that somehow the Duke of Harrington had become Nicholas. But she didn’t ask any questions. Instead, she spun her head to look down the corridor, and nodded seriously. “I’ll do it.” Penelope picked up her silk skirt and ran.
If there were ever a time for Nicholas to be late for a meeting, this was it. Or to miss a meeting, that would be even better. If Lady Plymton was willing to manipulate a seventeen-year-old boy, there was no telling what she would be willing to do in order to secure Nicholas and his title now.
Mercy dashed down the corridor in the opposite direction of Penelope. She turned into one of the morning rooms that had a door leading outside and into the back garden. She couldn’tbreak Nicholas’s heart and involve him in a public scandal all in one day. She tore open the door and ignored the blast of cold air. The library had windows opening to the outside. They would be locked, but she could knock and distract Nicholas and Lady Plymton from... whatever it was they would be doing. Talking, hopefully. But even talking alone in a room could lead to someone calling for a marriage proposal, especially if Lady Plymton asked some of her friends to do exactly that.
Her slippers were soaked through almost immediately from the damp grass. She would have no possible explanation to give Mama, but she would deal with that after she saved Nicholas from the two things he despised most in this world: Lady Plymton and dishonor on the title of Harrington.
She reached the window, her breath ragged and gasping. The library was dimly lit, with only a few candles, and thank the heavens, the door to the well-lit corridor was still closed. Penelope must have found a way to stop the group of people from entering.
Mercy would find a way to thank her later.
She banged her fist against the glass. “Nicholas!” she shouted, not caring who heard her. She pounded again. “Nicholas!” This time, she hissed the name. Because she had no right to call him that, and Nicholas wouldn’t want a scandal with Mercy either. She grabbed the window frame and shook it, knowing it was locked, but to her surprise, it creaked open. She stuck her head inside. “Your Grace?” She repented of shouting out his Christian name where anyone could hear her. “Are you in here?”
“He left,” a voice, low, feminine, and jaded, replied in the darkness.
Mercy’s head whipped to her left. There, practically reclining on a sofa, sat Lady Plymton. In the dim light, her eyes were catlike and vicious. How had Mercy ever thought it would be a good idea for Nicholas to be alone with this woman? MissMorgan might be conniving, but Lady Plymton was a predator who’d gone without prey for much too long.
Mercy narrowed her eyes. “Where did he go?”
Lady Plymton flicked some imaginary dust from the sofa. “Why? Have you finally wizened up?” Her pretty mouth curled into something dangerous. “Do you know how many women would give their toes to be in your position? And what do you do? Try to throw the man in anyone else’s direction? How idiotic can you be?”
A bump sounded near the door that led to the corridor, and muffled voices rose in some kind of shock or surprise. Whatever Penelope was doing was starting to cause a commotion. Mercy pulled up her skirt and climbed over the two-foot masonry work and into the library.
“They’re too late,” Lady Plymton said flatly.
“Who are?”
