AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When the door opened, Cynthia regretted the pique that had sent her stomping across the room. Now she was separated from Nick, alone and adrift in terrifying waters as a footman bowed an elegant couple into the room. The woman was rather…normal looking. Not six feet tall. Not adorned in a white-powdered wig. On first glance, she was very young and almost plain. But she carried beauty with her in the confidence she wore like a gown.
“Emma!” Nick called, striding forward to bend low over her hand. The woman smiled and pulled him into a hug. The man at her side scowled.
Cynthia had thought the woman lovely enough, but the man—the duke, surely—was as beautiful as Lucifer himself. His black hair might have made her think of the devil, but when his pale blue gaze fell on her, Cynthia decided it was the eyes. So cool and measuring. She realized she’d taken a step back when her shoulder touched the mantel.
In that moment, she’d have given anything to find herself somewhere else. Even facing Richmond, she’d at least known where she stood. He was her enemy. He was evil. But the Duke of Somerhart…this was shaky ground indeed. This man was, at best, a dangerous ally.
Past the rushing in her ears, Cynthia heard the word “introduce” and watched all three of them turn toward her. She waited in vain for the ground to swallow her up—perhaps there was an underworld of plaster roots and hollows where she could hide for days—but the floor stayed solid beneath her.
Nick winked in support, and Cynthia forced herself to step forward and meet the trio in the middle of the room.
“Your Graces, may I present Miss Cynthia Merrithorpe of Oak Hall? Miss Merrithorpe, Her Grace, the Duchess of Somerhart, and His Grace, the Duke of Somerhart.”
Trying in vain to remember how deeply she was to curtsy, Cynthia sank as low as possible, as low as she would if presented to the queen. Her ugly boots stuck out beneath her skirts.
“Don’t fall over,” the duchess said. “Though I daresay that would make a story to laugh over in future meetings. Regardless, up you go.” A hand wrapped around her elbow and tugged her up.
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Merrithorpe,” she said, linking her arm through Cynthia’s. She turned them both to face the duke. “Smile at the girl, Hart. Then you can go back to scowling at Lancaster.”
“Charmed,” he offered, flashing a smile that showed the enchanting side of the devil.
“A pleasure, Your Grace,” she managed to say.
His smile fell away when the duke looked to Nick. “Well, Lancaster, lovely traveling companion aside, what brings you so unexpectedly to Somerhart?”
Nick offered his wide London grin. “I think the lady could use a refreshment before we delve into deeper subjects. Care to offer one?”
“Nick!” Cynthia gasped, horrified by his rudeness. He couldn’t quite smother a choked laugh, and when she glanced toward their hosts, she realized why. Both of them stared at her with raised eyebrows.
So much time had passed since she’d been in polite company. Months. There were rules to be observed. Important ones. Nick was Lord Lancaster to her here.
“I…”
Nick didn’t look horrified at least, but he took everything with such ease. “Miss Merrithorpe and I have known each other since she was in pantaloons. We are very nearly cousins.”
“Cousins, hm?” the duchess replied. “Then as Lancaster is very nearly family, we must treat you as a cousin, too, Miss Merrithorpe. How lovely.”
“When,” the duke snapped, “has he been anything even close to family?”
“Well, not your family, perhaps. Stiff stodges the whole lot of them. Excepting your sister, of course. And Aunt Augusta.”
“Why, thank you.” Despite his grumbling, the duke moved to the sideboard and poured four glasses of red wine. “All right then,” he murmured as he handed them out. “Civilized enough for you, Lancaster?”
“Nearly.”
“Sit then.”
They all took a seat near the low fire. The duke could not possibly have been expecting visitors. Cynthia could hardly fathom a household where fires burned in empty rooms.
“I’ve come to collect on my debt,” Nick announced without preamble.
Somerhart snorted. “You are the one who specializes in debt, not I.”
“You know what I mean.”
Somerhart inclined his head. The duchess murmured something about posturing, but both men ignored her.
“Miss Merrithorpe requires a discreet home for a few days.”
