Page 38 of The Duke’s Wager

“I envy you.”

The words left his lips before he realized it, and Lucy looked at him with her brows raised in surprise.

“You… envy me?”

Lucy laughed in disbelief, and he quickly nodded – eager to have her understand.

“You might have a rather… frosty reputation,” Lucy simply stared at him, and he shook his head quickly. “But Lucy, people are taken with you. People like you, despite the reputation you carry. No matter what they might whisper or sneer behind your back, everyone hopes that you will notice them – that you will like them, that you will attend their gatherings, spend some time with them.”

He looked at her desperately, hoping that he could make her understand the effect she had on people. “In my case… they are kind to my face, but I know what they say behind my back. There goes Lockhart – will he become a drunk like his father? Oh, he’s a brute. They don’t hope that I will spare them a glance, write articles about me, or fawn about me. People adore you, Lucy, out of tenderness and curiosity. Even if they do call you the Ice Queen.”

He paused, out of breath, and looked at her earnestly. Lucy shook her head with a derisive laugh.

“You don’t know me at all, do you?” she said.

Edward let out a frustrated sigh at her words. “I mean… I just went on about how widely loved and beautiful you are, but please, do tell me how I have insulted you this time. I never seem to tire of it.”

“You don’t understand, Edward.” Lucy leaned forward in her chair, her eyes pinning him down. “I do not care for such things, people’s adoration or opinions. Fame… beauty… do you honestly believe that these things last? Because I will tell you right now, they don’t.” She looked away, her hands fluttering about before she rested them on her lap. She lowered her voice and sighed. “I should know.”

He was certain that he misheard. Edward leaned forward a little, his eyes narrowed.

“What was that?”

Lucy shook her head quickly. “Nothing. It was nothing, I was just thinking out loud. It’s not important.”

Edward narrowed his eyes a bit and lowered his voice to a sultry tone.

“I am certain your thoughts are not nothing. You’re more than welcome to share them with me.”

Despite his obvious attempt at making her feel good, she stared at him blankly.

“Are you quite done with your tea, my lord?”

Fantastic. He was ‘my lord’ again. He took another small sip of his tea. “I’m sorry about the roses. Are there any other flowers you prefer?”

Lucy shook her head slightly and crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”

Her tone was flat and emotionless, and he sighed in frustration. This was new to him. He was truly not used to women being so unaffected.

Lucy, it would seem, was immune – no matter what he did to attempt to please or flatter her, she remained completely impervious to him.

He had no idea how to handle this. He was beginning to fear that Pembroke might win their bet after all… but it was far more than that.

He was certain that his ego would never survive his attempt at melting the Ice Queen.

Lucy watched him like a hawk until he drank the last drop of tea. Then, she rose to her feet quickly, her arms once again folded around her chest protectively.

“Is there anything else, my lord? If not, I will save the maid the trouble and tell her to remain downstairs.”

Though her voice remained flat, there was something in her eyes. She was eager to get rid of him, Edward realized, and a glimmer of hope sprung in his chest.

Perhaps she was not as completely unaffected by him as she pretended to be.

“No, my lady. I am quite done.”

He said this with an impish wink, and Lucy nodded. “In that case… thank you again, Lord Edward, for stopping by.” She gestured to the flowers. “I am quite certain there is someone who will appreciate them more.”

He had been planning on returning the cursed roses to his grandmother, but not anymore. Not if Lucy thought he wanted to give them to someone else.