Page 30 of No Duke of Mine

She caught Sims’ eye. “Rest assured, I have no real designs on becoming a duchess.”

The man’s eyes widened. “I should be the one apologizing to you for the deception I forced him into. After all, it is my fault the proprietor believes you are a married couple.”

Maggie stared at the valet for a long moment, and then shook her head. “His Grace said nothing of your part in this madness. It is just like him to take the blame, though.”

The valet mumbled another apology, and Maggie nodded, accepting it.

“Well, nothing can be done to rectify the situation until I leave him tomorrow, I suppose.”

Sims sidled closer. “I would not wish anyone to think the worst of you or my employer.”

“Neither would I.” She glanced around and sighed. The duke’s game had to end, or he risked a scandal at the worst possible time.

“But I’ve never seen him like this,” the valet confessed. “Not even with his brothers have I seen him so happy.”

“His brothers were vexing as children,” she noted. “I had hoped they’d be less so as adults.”

“He’s different with you. He’s fascinated,” the man warned. “He told the coachman to go easy on the horses each day to slow our journey, so he could spend more time with you.”

Maggie straightened her spine, horrified by the confession. “I never asked him to do that.”

“You didn’t have to. He does as he pleases. The woman he intends to marry is nothing like you, either,” the valet whispered.

“What is she like? Accomplished and elegant, I suppose.”

“She’s spoiled and ill-tempered toward servants. None of his brothers like her very much, but she’s the money he needs in a wife.”

Maggie frowned. “Surely money could not be his only reason to offer for her.”

“I’m not sure His Grace even likes her,” the valet whispered morosely.

Maggie was astonished by the valet’s confession but attempted to keep the shock off her face. There were many reasons to marry without affection, but none she agreed with.

From the beginning, Algernon’s words and behavior suggested he lived a carefree life. He’d been flirtatious, teasing, generous with her, and she’d responded in the same vein, imagining such foolishness that she could never repeat with anyone else.

Maggie’s heart hurt, for him, and for herself mostly. She had become a distraction for Algernon again, but hadn’t that been all she’d ever been to anyone? When he was married, he would forget her, but she would never forget him.

And she couldn’t stand to watch him make a grave mistake.

She glanced at the bookshop window and realized what she must do. She asked Sims to wait outside before entering the bookshop again. The proprietor was only too pleased to see her return and answer her questions.

“Sir, have you a book of maps of the area between here and London I could consult?”

“I do indeed, Your Grace.”

The shopkeeper was only too happy to oblige, and Maggie found the information she needed almost immediately. She stepped back outside and joined Sims on the pavement, pulling her hood back over her head.

Algernon reappeared a moment later, walking toward them with his hands behind his back and looking far too serious.

She squared her shoulders as he stopped before her and produced a posy of flowers from behind his back. “I recall you picked flowers from the garden at home as a girl. Did I remember the right ones?”

She took the flowers he offered and buried her nose in them, overcome by such a sweet, kind gesture…and the futility of it. “You have.”

“I found some still in the pages of my books last month, when I reordered the library shelves. They made me smile, and perhaps it was an omen that we would meet again.”

Maggie met his gaze, and her heart started to hammer against her ribs at the softer look in his eyes. He liked her, and perhaps too much. She gulped and looked away, lest she become lost in his gaze and make a greater fool of herself than she already had done.

Algernon’s pretense was too much, too intense. Even as a faux husband, he was so easy to be around. He should be giving flowers to his future wife. Making his future duchess begin to love him, instead of Maggie.