Page 73 of The Duke’s Wager

“Yes, it was. Though it was rather clear that your attention was not with the opera, my darling grandson.”

Edward sighed. He had never kept secrets from his grandmother. As a boy, she knew all about him; and as a man, even when she did not want to know his secrets, she had a way of finding them out.

“I quite like… a woman, grandmother.”

In response, she merely nodded and gestured for him to continue.

“I never wanted to find someone. I still do not believe that I want to.”

“Why is that?”

Her question was quick, and Edward sighed deeply. He opened his mouth to answer, but then closed it again with a shake of his head. Evelyn moved a hand to cover his, and when she looked at him her eyes were filled with love – and concern.

“Is it because of what happened to your father, Edward?”

Edward nodded and his grandmother sighed deeply. “Oh, my dear… I understand. After your dear mother and father departed, I too wanted to close myself off from the world. It is not natural… losing a child. It goes against the very laws of nature. Had your grandfather allowed it, I would have locked myself in my room and not come out again.”

“But…” Edward looked at her, desperately. For what, he did not know. Did he want advice or approval? “You managed to get through it. You managed to find a way to live your life after all.”

“Yes.” The hand that covered his own moved slightly – a tremble. “I miss my child, Edward. Not a day goes by that I do not think of him, that I do not think of your lovely mother either, but there are happy memories too.”

Edward nodded with a smile, and Evelyn sighed.

“Life is not worth living if you are alone, my child. It is the people we choose to allow into our hearts that make everything worth it. I look at the way you live your life, and often I fear that you will reach the end of it and be alone without these special memories. I cannot bear the thought.”

Edward stood at this and pressed a quick kiss on his grandmother’s hair. She looked at him, surprised, and he winked.

“You are right, grandmother. Making memories. That’s what life is about, is it not? Making memories with the right people.”

A slow smile spread across her face, and she nodded. Edward crossed his arms, his own smile reflecting hers.

“Well then, that is what I intend to do, grandmother. Make memories with the right people.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Lucy could hardly believe what she was about to do, yet she knew full well that she would not have it any other way.

The minutes were ticking by slowly, agonizingly so. She wanted time to pass faster, wanted to be with Edward, and once she was there, she wanted for time to freeze again.

Her hands moved slowly over the simple white satin dress that covered her form. With Maria’s encouragement, she had decided to forego a corset and settle for a simple, form-fitting dress – one that would certainly make her curves more accessible if he wished to discover them. Lucy blushed at the thought.

Did she want her curves, her body, to be more accessible to him? The blush intensified. Her answer was yes. She wanted him to be able to touch her.

Over the dress she would wear a dark cloak – one that would make it easier for her to disappear into the dark of the night when she had to sneak out of the house.

The door to her chamber creaked and she shot up in her bed. It was Maria who entered, and the older woman’s voice was a low whisper when she spoke.

“I am here. Ready to take my place as Lady Lucy.”

Though Maria’s voice was light, the weight of what she was willing to do for her was not lost on her. It was dangerous indeed.

“Maria… are you certain about this?”

“Oh, Lucy!” Maria’s voice was calm and certain. “I am more than certain about it. You, go and meet that strapping young Lord. Your father will not find out, I swear it on your mama’s memory!”

Lucy was still apprehensive, but it was far too late to back out now. She had made her decision, and Maria would not let her forget it if she decided to stay.

Besides, she did not want to stay. She wished to see Edward, and she would do it.