Page 37 of The Duke’s Wager

Lucy pursed her lips and thought for a second, then nodded. “Good. Edward. I believe you were apologizing to me.”

She was certainly not going to make it easy, and Edward suddenly regretted the entire arrangement he had made with Julian. It certainly would have been easier to take his leave at once rather than keep bothering with this stubborn girl.

Yet, something told him that even if he had not made the bet, he would not have left. Though she was stubborn, there was something incredibly alluring about her. And it wasn’t just her beauty.

She was vulnerable.

She tried to hide it behind stubbornness and anger, tried to pretend to be levelheaded and collected, but there, hidden in the depths of her eyes, was something he knew all too well.

He knew it because he too was hiding.

She was still waiting for him to speak – her eyes fixed on him, her arms crossed.

“I was apologizing.”

Lucy merely lifted a brow, and Edward sighed. “I am truly sorry for what I said last night, Lucy. I never meant to hurt you in any way, and…”

“You didn’t hurt me.”

She said it quickly – too quickly – and he lifted a brow. Could it be that beneath the icy demeanor, there was a heart? Had he truly hurt her feelings?

“God, Lucy. I was… am… an imbecile. I tend to say the wrong thing, and far too often, I speak before I think. I truly am sorry for that horrible joke. You were right. It wasn’t humorous at all.”

Lucy nodded at this, and he sighed.

“I beg your forgiveness. There’s not really much more I can say.”

Edward sighed gratefully when the tea arrived. Not that he was truly certain he could stomach a cup of tea, but at least it gave him a break from all… this.

He looked at Lucy pleadingly. Before speaking, she sighed deeply and took a delicate sip of her tea, the maid having rushed off to remove the caddy, no doubt soon to return.

“You didn’t have to come all this way for an apology, Edward.”

“Perhaps not, but I was unbelievably rude, and whatever else I may be… I am a Lockhart, and I have good manners. My grandmother – who thinks rather highly of you – would probably hit me over the head with her cane if she knew what I had said to you.”

At least she smiled at this.

“Am I forgiven, my lady?”

Lucy lifted her chin and took another sip of her tea. When she finally looked at him, her eyes were cool – as though nothing could disrupt her peace of mind.

“You are forgiven, Edward. In fact, the apology was wholly unnecessary.”

“Lucy, I…”

She held her hand up at his attempt to interrupt. “I do not expect – or want – you to fret about what was said, Edward. In fact, it is already forgotten.”

Edward blinked dumbly at this, unable to understand her cool demeanor.

“Forgotten?”

Lucy put her cup down rather loudly and sat back in the chair, folding her arms.

“Yes. This may come as a surprise to you, but I am rather aware of the things that are said about me behind my back. It’s been happening for quite some time, and one gets used to it. So… it doesn’t matter.”

Edward could only stare at her. The way she said it made it seem as though she did not truly care about all that was said, but this could not be true. For all her words, Edward knew that the cruelty of people must have bothered her at least a little.

She would not have been as upset with him were she truly unbothered.