Page 56 of The Duke’s Wager

“Yes,” the older woman interjected. “The first time you may have happened upon each other, but since then…”

She left the rest of her words unsaid, and Lucy sighed. “It is true, we have been meeting there. It is just that Ed— His lordship… He understands me.”

The tomfoolery had stopped, and they looked at her with something far worse than the teasing glances they had sent her. Lucy recognized this look – she’d grown up with it and she despised it. They pitied her.

She forced herself to smile, a lighthearted grin, that allowed relief to settle on their faces. “Besides, when he is not being an absolute arrogant fool, he is not awful company at all. In fact, he is rather kind and…”

A sneaky grin appeared on Maria’s face. “And rather easy to look at, is he not, my lady?”

Once again, the words set Lucy’s cheeks aflame and she shook her head with a laugh.

“You both are relentless. At most, Lord Edward and I are… reluctant friends.”

Nicolas nodded at this, attempting to be serious, but she could see the laughter building in his chest. It spilled over when she turned to see Maria pretending to kiss the broom.

“I am rather certain you belong in bedlam, Maria!”

She said this with a laugh and made a grab for the broom, but Maria moved out of her reach quickly, still overcome by fits of giggles.

“Give me that broom at once!”

“Oh, Edward…” Maria continued as though Lucy was not present, still dancing with the broom playfully. “You understand me like no one else, my love. Kiss me!”

“Stop!” Lucy made another grab for the broom, but again she was too late. Maria rather easily moved away, and she started following her with determination, her hands barely grazing the broom as they ran through the kitchen.

“Ladies!” It was the serious tone in Nicolas’s voice that gave them pause, and both women turned to face him quite sheepishly.

“My kitchen is no place for such silliness,” he exclaimed, as though he were not part of the teasing and giggling mere minutes ago. “Besides, my lady…” He winked at Lucy with a gentle smile. “I believe it is time for you to ready yourself for tonight’s opera.”

Lucy groaned audibly and shook her head. “Must I go?” It was not as though she disliked the opera in itself. In truth, she rather enjoyed it. Unfortunately, it was also an opportunity for her father to show her off like his newest brooding mare, and she truly did not care for this in the slightest.

“You must go, yes.” It was Maria who answered, and Lucy conceded, though not before grabbing the plate of biscuits.

“Fine, I shall get ready. But I am taking these biscuits with me!”

She blatantly ignored the protests that followed her from the kitchen, making her way upstairs with an elated smile.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The breakfast spread on the table was a simple one. Rolls, an assortment of bread, butter, preserves, and a steaming pot of hot chocolate.

Though everything was rather delightful, Edward had no appetite. He watched moodily as his grandparents feasted.

His day had been simply awful. He’d wanted to go the cemetery – of course, he had. He wanted to see Lucy. It was only that after their last visit he had started to feel terribly guilty for involving her in all of this.

Seeing her would not be a good idea, he had decided, though his entire being yearned for the opportunity to do just that. She’d felt so right in his arms when he comforted her. Someone who made him feel strong and vulnerable all at once – it was rather confusing in itself, but what was even worse was that he enjoyed it.

Lucy had managed to break down the walls he had erected around his heart effortlessly, without even trying. She was merely her kind, gentle, sweet self.

Their meetings had started clouding his judgment. With each one that passed, the bet with Julian felt all the more distant. He could not forget, however, how truly important it was.

It was not the hundred pounds that he cared for. It was the choice of engagements. He knew that, should Julian win, he’d be stuck in the slums for every party of the season in his near future. That was not something he could bare, to have Pembroke be allowed his first choice at every engagement and woman in the city. His social status would cease to exist if that happened!

He knew that he had seen parts of Lucy no one had ever seen. He had managed to come closer to her heart than he believed she had ever allowed another man. He’d seen her vulnerability, he’d seen her heart and her true self…

But she had seen his true self too, and he was not entirely certain that he was quite comfortable with that. This was meant to be a wager – nothing more. Yet, Lucy Beaumont had managed to creep her way close to his heart, if not into it entirely.

He could not allow her – he could not allow anyone – to have this power over him, least of all a woman. Especially a woman like her. He would not go the way of his father.