Page 16 of The Duke’s Wager

She had seen him at his weakest, and he was humiliated by it. The easiest thing to do was to pretend that it had not meant anything. So, that was what he had done.

He had hoped – and believed – that they had made a connection. During those precious moments in the cemetery, Edward believed that their grief had brought them together, and for him, this was true, and very real. It had changed his life, and he had always hoped that it had changed hers as well.

Edward scoffed at his own thoughts. He was no longer a child, and it would do no good to maul over thoughts of a few tender moments in their youth. Lucy Beaumont, kind as she had been, was the Ice Queen. They were not friends, nor would they ever be. In fact, when she had caught his eye moments earlier he had seen no recognition in them. This led him to believe that she truly had forgotten about the boy she had once comforted.

He, on the other hand, would remember it forever.

“There you are!” It was Alfred’s voice that snapped him out of his musings and Edward forced himself to smile. Alfred, shallow though he was, was a good friend, and he always managed to keep his more melancholic musings in check.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you! I was beginning to believe that Margaret had stolen you away for some… special time.”

Alfred winked furtively and Edward shook his head.

“I do not believe that the lovely young Margaret is in attendance today.”

Alfred looked around curiously.

“So you were alone?”

“Indeed.” Edward did not like the tone of surprise in his friend’s voice. Though he certainly did spend a lot of time with various ladies of the court, he was by no means incapable of being alone. Alfred made it seem as though finding him alone was shocking.

“I was merely thinking, Alfred.”

“Thinking?” Alfred still seemed incredulous, perhaps because Edward had quite the reputation as a social butterfly. “What were you thinking about?”

Edward suppressed a sigh. He could not truly fault his friend for being curious. He knew that allowing himself to muse as deeply as he had was out of the ordinary for him. He would usually be found in the company of a lady or a few gentlemen – making witty conversation, dancing, or laughing.

“I need another drink.”

Alfred looked around quickly. He gestured at a servant holding a tray of drinks, taking two and handing one to Edward.

“There you go. Would you like to tell me what it is you have been thinking about, or do you expect me to guess?”

Edward sighed. As overbearing as Alfred could be at times, he meant well – this much he knew. Still, he could not allow himself to be vulnerable, even in front of his best friend. It was far too humiliating.

“I was thinking about the Ice Queen, actually.”

He decided to settle for a half-truth – a good idea, as Alfred’s eyes immediately lit up when he heard this.

“Oh! She is quite something, isn’t she? My father reckons she looks exactly like her late mother, but according to him, her mother was quite the fun-loving lady. The total opposite of her daughter, it seems.”

Edward had not known this. He lifted a brow and looked at Alfred curiously – trying to hide his desperation for more information.

“Oh?”

Alfred looked at him through narrowed eyes.

“Yes. My father knows them well, the Beaumonts. I thought you knew this.”

Edward nodded distractedly. Yes, he knew that Alfred’s father was friends with the Beaumonts. He did not know, however, that Lucy resembled her mother that much. Nor did he know that her mother was described as ‘fun-loving’.

He could not help but wonder why Lucy was so different. Would it not have made sense for her to emulate her mother’s personality, since she looked so much like her?

He glanced in her direction again.

She no longer stood against the wall. For some reason that he could not understand, the fact he could not see her unsettled him and his eyes quickly flitted across the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

When he finally did, he was surprised to see her on the dance floor with a man who had not attended many events.