Page 52 of The Duke’s Wager

Edward looked at Alfred tiredly. His friend had been asking about Lucy incessantly, and for some reason, Edward was reluctant to share too much information.

Even now, when they were supposed to enjoy some pints with the men at the local gentlemen’s club, the conversation inevitably turned to the ill-thought-out bet he had made with Julian.

Edward took a swig of his beer and shrugged. “I don’t know, Alfred. What is there to say?”

In truth, there was quite a bit to say.

He had seen Lucy a couple of times again – always in the graveyard – and somehow they gravitated towards each other before thinking. Sometimes, Edward had to admit, the bet was the furthest thing from his mind when they were together.

He enjoyed her company. And it was clear that she had suffered more than most.

“We’ve talked a few times.” This was what he was ready to admit to Alfred. His friend, however, was not pleased with this tidbit at all.

“You’ve talked? You and I talk, Edward. This woman is not your friend, you are supposed to seduce her.”

Edward sighed deeply and shook his head. It sometimes surprised him that Alfred received any attention from women at all – he clearly did not understand in the slightest what women expected – what they needed.

“I’m winning her trust, Alfred. She’s not some harlot who will throw herself at me when I say the right thing. She needs to open up to me, be vulnerable… she needs to know that she can depend on me before anything can happen between us.”

He explained it slowly, as though Alfred were a mere child. His friend simply shook his head with a smirk. “And? Has she opened up to you at all?”

She had indeed. Lucy had spoken to him about her friendship with Nicolas and Maria, about her longing for her mother, about her fear for her father.

“Well…” Edward hesitated. As much as he did not want to betray Lucy’s trust, he was rather curious about Henry Beaumont. “Evidently, her father is not the kindest man.”

Alfred grimaced at this and after some painful silent seconds, his friend nodded. “There are rumors about Henry, I admit.”

“Rumors?”

Lucy had admitted to him that her father was cruel and violent. “What rumors, Alfred?”

He had to focus to keep his voice even, as he was afraid that the slightest bit of excitement would alert Alfred to the fact that he had grown to… be concerned about her.

“Well…” Alfred leaned a bit closer and lowered his voice. “Henry Beaumont is known to be a cruel, cold man. In fact, there are those who believe that his late wife, Lucy’s mother, took her own life to escape from him. That she wanted nothing more than to be free, even if that meant ending her life.”

Edward could feel the blood leaving his face at the admission. His entire body grew cold.

Poor Lucy.

Here he was, thinking that growing up with a drunken father was bad when she had to face far worse. If the rumors were true and Henrietta had been that desperate to escape, what was it that Lucy faced?

“That’s a selfish thing to do,” Edward declared now. “Especially since she had a child.”

“I mean…” Alfred shrugged. “These are only rumors, Edward. No one knows for sure. But if the rumors are true… Can you imagine what a monster the man must be behind closed doors to elicit that? No wonder Lucy grew up to be so cold and distant. It’s probably all she’s ever known.”

This was not true, and Edward shook his head quickly. “She’s not. She’s not cold or distant. Lucy is just… she’s misunderstood, Alfred. She’s not the Ice Queen people make her out to be. She is smart, and kind, and beautiful. Not to mention that smile. When she smiles…”

Edward drifted off with a lopsided grin. Her smile truly made him feel weak at the knees.

Alfred shook his head and slapped Edward on the back sternly. “Get your head in the game, my friend! It’s good that she’s spoken to you about her father. Keep it up and you’ll have her in your bed in no time, and we’ll be out spending Pembroke’s money!”

Alfred’s claim was followed by loud laughter – all of which grated on Edward’s nerves. This, he realized, was a problem. He was not supposed to be irritated when his friend reminded him of the bet.

Alfred was right. Edward had to get his head back in the game. The aim was to bed Lucy – not befriend her or feel for her. He was doing this to prove a point, he had no intention of caring about Lucy Beaumont.

Even when her life was tragic.

Even when her smile was dazzling.