Page 35 of The Duke’s Wager

“On special occasions, yes. That one.”

Maria nodded and grabbed the dress, silently helping her into it. Once the dress was tied, Lucy turned to look at her reflection. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair a mess.

“Will you braid my hair? Please?”

Maria nodded and Lucy sat down, watching as the woman’s fingers quickly turned the curly mess into a beautiful braid.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on, Lucy?”

Lucy shook her head no and glanced at the clock. Half an hour had passed already – she could not believe it. “Could you fetch my rouge and add a little color to my face, please?”

She watched quietly as Maria followed her every request. Let him wait. She would show him that she was no one’s prize or challenge. He couldn’t just arrive at her house and expect her to be there without so much as a warning.

Only once her lips and cheeks were stained with a little color – subtly of course – did she stand and turn. “How do I look?”

Maria clapped her hands together and looked at her with wide eyes. “Oh, Lucy, my dear… you look absolutely wonderful. Like a princess. No, like… like your mother. You look just like her.”

Though she was eager to find out what it was that Edward wanted from her, she took the time to study her reflection.

“Do I really look like her, Maria?”

Maria swallowed visibly and nodded. “You… you do. It’s like she is standing right in front of me.”

Lucy looked at her with glassy eyes.

“Thank you, Maria. It means a lot… Shall we?”

She looped an arm through hers, practically dragging Maria to the drawing room.

Edward’s tall figure was visible from the outside, and Maria began to laugh softly.

“Oh, now I see.”

Lucy hesitated and looked at Maria confusedly. “Now you see what?”

“I see that Lord Edward has come calling. Is this why you wanted the blue dress, darling girl?”

“Maria…” Lucy could feel her face flushing, turning a deep shade of crimson. “Stop!”

Maria, however, merely laughed. “Nicolas told me that the young Lord Edward had insulted your honor at the banquet.”

Lucy sighed. “Nicolas needs to know when to keep quiet.”

Maria laughed good-naturedly once more. She pushed Lucy forward slightly and lowered her voice. “He’s quite the handsome suitor but do not forget what he said to you, dear. Enjoy his company and show him that you are a force to be reckoned with. No one treats my girl like a challenge and gets away with it. Let him grovel for your good graces!”

Lucy laughed as Maria disappeared back to the kitchen. She quickly gathered herself and lifted her chin as she entered the drawing room.

The second Lucy stepped inside the drawing room and Edward turned, all her thoughts of showing him who was in charge dissipated immediately when their eyes met.

Under his gaze, she could feel her knees go weak.

There was no denying it: she was most certainly in trouble.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

She was breathtaking. Absolutely stunning. He had been irritated with her – thought that making him wait was a silly game, played by a foolish girl but the second their eyes met, the rest of the world vanished to oblivion for all he could see was her.

It felt as though Aphrodite had risen from the waters to grace mere mortals with her presence. She was gorgeous. From her golden hair to her aquamarine eyes sparkling in the sunlight.