Page 31 of The Duke of Deceit

Jess slid her an aggravated glance.

He chuckled and returned the necklace to his pocket. “My reputation is safe, Miss St Clair.”

“Is it?”

Auntie elbowed her again.

Jess winced. At this rate, she’d be so black and blue that her corset could never be tied tightly again.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and Simms carried in the refreshments tray.

“Oh, the tea!” Matilda let out a long sigh of relief and deflated against the back of the settee. “Thank goodness.”

The tea had come so quickly that Jess doubted the leaves had steeped at all. No matter. She didn’t care if Lucien was given proper refreshments or not. It would give her something on which to focus her attention instead of staring at him and something to do with her hands so she wouldn’t slap him.

“Thank you, Simms.” Jess directed the butler to set the tray down on the low table. She sat forward and reached for a cup and saucer. “Shall I pour?” Not awaiting an answer, she filled a cup and handed it to Matilda. “Auntie?”

Matilda received it, careful not to spill a drop on the settee. Like the house, the furniture was also rented and only theirs until the end of the year, when they would have to decide whether to extend their stay or move into new accommodations. The decision rested firmly on Amanda’s situation, on whether she returned to live with them again or not…and on the callousblackguard smiling at her from across the tea table who didn’t seem to have a scrap of honor anywhere in his tall, broad body.

She reached for a second cup and saucer. “Tea, Your Grace?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

She splashed in barely a drop and held it out unceremoniously toward him with a dismissive sniff.

He took it and glanced down into the almost empty cup. The corners of his lips curled.

“Oh no!” Matilda suddenly gasped and sat forward to reach for the little sugar bowl. She removed the lid and stared into it with a fierce scowl, shaking her head and tsking her tongue. “Oh, this isn’t good,” she muttered. “Not good at all!”

“What’s the matter, Auntie?” Jess asked, concerned. It was only a tea tray, after all, not the second coming of Napoleon.

“There isn’t nearly enough sugar for us,” Matilda quickly explained. “Not nearly enough at all! What a disgrace.”

Jess leaned over. The little bowl was filled to the rim with enough sugar to bake two cakes and a batch of biscuits. “That’s more than—”

“How embarrassing! I’ll take care of it right away.” Auntie shot to her feet, which brought Lucien politely to his. “Please—stay seated, Your Grace. I’ll pop right down to the kitchen and be back before you’ve realized I’ve gone.”

She retreated toward the door and past a befuddled Simms, who didn’t know why she hadn’t simply given him the task. But Jess knew. Auntie was scheming again, and Jess would have bet her life’s savings that she would be gone for far longer than a mere pop into the kitchen.

“While I’m gone, why don’t you two have a lovely chat?” Matilda slipped into the hall, waving the sugar bowl in the doorway before she disappeared. “I’m certain you have much to discuss. Simms, come with me!”

Then the sugar bowl was gone, and Simms, looking more perplexed than Jess had ever seen the distinguished butler, followed reluctantly after.

“She’s mad, you know.” Jess let out a patient sigh as she stared out the open door after her aunt. “Mad as a March Hare.” She cocked her head and slid a glance across the table at Lucien. “But I love her anyway, most likely because of it.”

Lucien laughed softly and sank down onto the chair, then rakishly kicked out his long legs in a posture far too casual for a social call.

She couldn’t help but stare. Relaxed so leisurely like that, with his hair still slightly messed and his jacket and waistcoat a bit askew, he looked…delicious.

She cleared her throat and reached to pour herself a cup of tea. “What brings you here?” she half-demanded, wanting this farce of a social call over as soon as possible. “Therealreason.”

“You wound me.” He gave a look of exaggerated anguish and placed his hand over his heart. “You think I’m here for ulterior reasons?”

“Yes.”

His eyes gleamed with amusement. “Perhaps I simply wanted to see you again.”

She laughed at the ridiculousness of that claim and lifted the teacup to her lips. “And perhaps you’ve come here because you’ve changed your mind and decided to do the honorable thing by marrying my sister?”