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Chapter One
The afternoon sun receded as bloated gray clouds scuttled across the sky. The scent of wild earth permeated the air, and a cool gust of wind flapped the golden drapes by the open windows. It was unusual to have such dreary weather in spring, Sebastian Crawford, the Duke of Hartford idly noted, quietly thankful for the mercurial nature of the weather. The unexpected shift from bright and merry to an overcast sky perfectly suited his quiet contemplation as he stood in his office facing his sister, who had just returned from her excursion.
Three little lies.
Separately they might be considered unimportant, such small fibs they were not worthy of any attention. However, once combined, they were the sum of many older brother’s fears, especially for one who had permitted his younger sister to do one of the most dangerous things required of them at this tender age—debut into the marriage mart of London's society.
In the marriage mart, the true underbelly of theton, if a debutante was not properly chaperoned, she might encounter a rake…a libertine who might encourage her into a ruinous scandal with seductive whispers and touches.
Except his sister, Lady Perdita, should have been safe. For she was already engaged to a young gentleman whom she loved with her entire heart and soul. Or so she had prettily assured him when she had begged him to allow their engagement.
Those three little lies—a headache to escape early from a ball but not returning home until hours after, an afternoon trek to the milliner but going elsewhere, and now this…
"So, you had a lovely walk in the park," Sebastian said in a smooth, unconcerned tone, not at all liking the hard knot in his gut.
He turned to face her, noting the rising rosy pink in her softly rounded cheeks. He had truly thought her safe from unwanted advances, given her close attachment to the young viscount. The flush on her cheeks and that quick, unfathomable glitter in her expressive grey-blue eyes made her an enigma to Sebastian, for why else would she need to lie?
“Yes, the walk in Hyde Park was perfectly wonderful,” Perdie said, tugging at the strings to her bonnet, flashing him her warmest smile. “I had a most relaxing time.”
Sebastian did a credible job in masking the alarm darting through his heart upon once again hearing his sister and apple of his eyes lie to him so smoothly. Grown men, powerful lords, and those with whom he had business dealing wouldn't dare. Or if they attempted it, surely they would not manage that level of composure. His sister didn't shift uncomfortably, nor did her eyes skitter away with guilt. This informed him Perdie was becoming practiced and very much at ease in the art of deflection. Why it was necessary befuddled him, and with a small jolt, Sebastian admitted it hurt.
“Perdie,” he began gruffly. “You do know you can speak with me about anything?”
A soft breath shuddered through his sister, and she was careful in not meeting his eyes.
“Of course, how odd that you would say so, brother.”
As if to reassure him all was well, she hurried toward him, rose onto her toes, and placed an affectionate kiss on his cheek. “If you do not mind, Seb, I will skip our afternoon tea and chat. Will you please let mama know I am going to take a nap in preparation for tonight's ball. The walk tired me more than I imagined it would.”
A whisper of warning sizzled along his nape. “Lord Owen called earlier.”
While turning away from him, Perdie froze. “Oh?”
“Yes. It seemed there had been plans for him to take you out in his new barouche. The weather was delightful, and there was much to talk about.”
Without facing him, his sister replied, "Oh dear, I must have forgotten! How clumsy of me. I shall send him a note of apology and save two dances for him tonight at Lady Edgecombe's ball."
Sebastian considered the stiffness of her posture. "When I told Lord Owen you were not here, he made his way to Hyde Park. I was surprised when he returned a couple hours later saying he did not see you there, and he had made a round of the park."
A fine tremor went through her elegant frame, and Sebastian took a few steps closer to her, not liking the odd feeling twisting deep in his insides.
“Perdie?”
She turned to him, lifting her chin high, her expression carefully composed. Her lips flattened, and an emotion he could not identify flashed across her eyes. “The park must have been too crowded. As a gentleman, he should have simply arranged for another outing, not stalk me to the park. How positively medieval of him.”
"He was not stalking you," Sebastian said mildly, masking his surprise at that acerbic reply. "Lord Owen is your fiancé. Even I thought it proper for him to head to Hyde Park in the hopes of seeing you."
"And because he is my fiancé, I am not allowed the freedom to walk with my companion alone?"
"Of course not, Perdie." Sebastian casually sat on the edge of his desk. "Did you and Lord Owen have a falling out? You seem very out of sorts with the viscount."
Lord Owen had acted like a fool earlier, ranting that he had lost her love and attention. Sebastian had given him a stern lecture and sent him home.
"We did not quarrel," Perdie said softly, heading toward the door. "I just recalled I have some correspondence to deal with. I shall attend to it and then take my rest."
"You can confide in me about anything," he said. The discomfort in his gut grew until it spread through his entire body. Sebastian couldn't pinpoint exactly when his sister had started to change. The change was infinitesimal, but it was there. They had not lied to each other,ever, and yet she had done so with such ease. "Perdie, were you at Hyde Park?"
Her gloved hand tightened on the doorknob. "Where else would I have been?"
