Page 28 of A Heart Disguised 1

“Ooh, Harold’s the same!” Tessa squealed. “He says there’s nothing better than a handful of—”

“Girls!” Madame Elodie’s sharp voice cut through their tittering. “That is quite enough! This is a lady’s fitting, not a tavern gossip session!”

The twins had the grace to look abashed, though they continued to eye me with undisguised curiosity. I, meanwhile,was left wondering what exactlysucklingentailed and why anyone would want to do such a thing. More pressingly, I worried about how I was going to fake having a bosom worthnuzzling.

As Madame Elodie began to discuss the intricacies of the gown with Meredith, I was fervently hoping that this ordeal would be over quickly. Little did I know, the true chaos was yet to begin…

With a flurry of activity, Madame Elodie ushered us all into the adjacent room. “Come, come!” she trilled, her excitement palpable. “We must begin the fitting at once. The duke will be expecting a progress report, and we mustn’t keep him waiting!”

At the mention of the duke, my stomach performed a series of acrobatics that would have impressed even the most seasoned circus performer. As I stepped into what was apparently my parlor, my jaw dropped in astonishment.

The room adjacent to my bedchamber had been transformed into a veritable atelier. Bolts of fabric, so fine they seemed to shimmer with a life of their own, were strewn across every available surface. The centerpiece, however, was the wedding gown—a confection of silk and lace that any princess or noble lady would envy. It was absurdly opulent, with beadwork that caught the light and delicate embroidery that told tales of wealth and privilege I had never known.

Russet sat in the corner, his head tilted in confusion at the commotion. Starling, perched on the windowsill, seemed to be watching the proceedings with an almost humanlike interest.

I had hoped to escape the ordeal of the fitting with a mere whisper of my measurements to the dressmakers, a quick in-and-out affair that would allow me to maintain some semblance of modesty. But as fate would have it, the duke himself swept into the room just as Tessa and Tilly reached for the ties of my robe.

A shriek—undignified and far too high-pitched—escaped my lips. In a moment of blind panic, I dashed toward the duke, one hand clutching desperately at the front of my robe while the other flailed wildly in the air. I must have looked like a startled chicken, all flapping limbs and ruffled feathers, as I careened across the room.

With a graceless stumble, I skidded to a halt behind the duke, pressing myself against his back and peeking out from behind his arm like a child hiding from monsters. As I used his considerable form as a living shield against the prying eyes of Madam Elodie and Tessa and Tilly, I caught sight of his face. The duke’s golden eyes danced with barely contained mirth, one eyebrow raised in amused inquiry.

Russet, bless his loyal heart, let out a confused whine at the sudden commotion, while Starling chirped in what sounded suspiciously like avian laughter.

The duke’s own laughter soon filled the room, a rich sound that seemed to vibrate through the air and settle in the pit of my stomach. “It appears my bride is a bit shy,” he mused, twisting slightly to cast a glance over his shoulder at me. His lips twitched with suppressed laughter as he added, “Perhaps it would be better if I assisted with the fitting.”

The absurdity of the situation hit me full force. Here I was, a boy masquerading as a bride-to-be, cowering behind a demon duke like he was the last bastion of modesty in a sea of fabric and pins. I could feel a blush creeping up my cheeks, no doubt painting me the color of the pomegranate blooms outside my window. In that moment, I wasn’t sure what was more mortifying: the idea of being fitted for a wedding gown or the realization that I had just used the Duke of Lunaria as a human shield.

Oh, the audacity! My blush deepened, and I huffed in indignation. “I assure you, my lord, that won’t be necessary,” I said, my voice a touch more shrill than I intended.

In a desperate bid for escape, I darted forward, snatching up the wedding gown with all the grace of a thief in the night. However, I had severely underestimated the sheer volume of fabric involved. The gown unfurled like a silken avalanche, threatening to engulf me entirely. I struggled to contain the billowing mass, my arms wrapped around it in a bear hug as layers of lace and tulle spilled over my shoulders and pooled at my feet.

“Meredith!” I called, my voice muffled by the fabric pressed against my face. “I require your assistance!”

My faithful nursemaid rushed to my aid, gathering up armfuls of trailing fabric. Together, we waddled toward my bedchamber, looking for all the world like two people attempting to smuggle an entire bridal shop under one dress. Meredith puffed, her face barely visible behind the mountain of silk and satin she was carrying.

As we made our ungainly retreat, I caught a glimpse of the duke over the frothy peak of my fabric mountain. His eyes twinkled with undisguised amusement, and I could have sworn I saw him stifle a laugh behind his hand.

Cheeks burning, I quickened my pace, eager to reach the sanctuary of my bedchamber. But fate, it seemed, wasn’t done humiliating me. As I hurried forward, my foot caught on a trailing piece of lace. Time seemed to slow as I felt myself pitching forward, the mountain of fabric threatening to become my silken tomb. Just as I braced for impact with the cold, hard floor, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, halting my descent.

I found myself pressed against the duke’s chest, his quick reflexes having saved me from a most undignified fall. For amoment that stretched far too long, I remained there, acutely aware of his warmth and the amused quirk of his lips. The sudden proximity brought a vivid flash of memory—our intense kiss from the night before. Heat stirred within me, a mixture of embarrassment and something far more primal. The firm planes of his chest against mine, the subtle scent of his skin… it was all too much. Mortification and a bewildering heat of need warred within me as I scrambled away, my face burning hotter than a demon’s flame, my body tingling in places it absolutely shouldn’t.

“T-thank you, my lord,” I stammered, clutching the gown tighter to my chest. Without waiting for a response, I all but dove into my bedchamber, Meredith hot on my heels.

With the door firmly closed behind us, Meredith helped me into the gown, which engulfed my frame like an avalanche of lace and satin. As she struggled to lace up the back, the excess fabric billowing around me, I couldn’t help but mutter my frustrations. “Our cover nearly got blown by a dress fitting of all things. And the duke—he’s everywhere! Is it a demon thing to watch their betrothed being wrapped up like a gift?”

Meredith chuckled, tugging at the laces. “Oh, hush. He’s just eager to see his beautiful bride.”

“I’m not his bride, I’m his… his…” I trailed off, struggling to find the right words as I fought to keep my balance in the voluminous gown. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! I’m a boy playing dress-up in a silk nightmare; that’s what I am!” I hissed, careful to keep my voice down. “How am I supposed to go back out there and face Madame Elodie and those gossipy twins? And the duke! He’ll see right through this charade; I just know it. This isn’t just a disaster waiting to happen, Meredith. It’s a catastrophe in the making!”

Meredith clicked her tongue, her eyes sparkling with pride. “Now, now, my dear. You worry far too much. I’ll have you knowthat you look every bit the young lady—a vision of loveliness, if I do say so myself.” She preened, smoothing down the folds of my gown. “Did you not hear those twins fawning over your hair and skin? That’s all thanks to my careful tending, I’ll have you know. Most girls would commit unspeakable acts to have such a complexion and silken locks.”

She stepped back, admiring her handiwork with a self-satisfied smile. “Why, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were born to wear such finery. You’ve nothing to fear. No one will suspect a thing, least of all that handsome duke of yours. Now, chin up! It’s time to show everyone just how radiant you can be.”

Her unwavering confidence was both reassuring and terrifying. As much as I wanted to believe her, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this masquerade was balancing on a knife’s edge. Still, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. If Meredith believed in me this much, the least I could do was try to live up to her expectations.

When we finally emerged, I felt as though I were drowning in a sea of silk and tulle. The duke, lounging on the sofa as if he hadn’t a care in the world, sipped his tea with an infuriatingly relaxed air. I navigated the treacherous terrain of my gown with all the grace of a newborn fawn, each step a precarious balancing act that threatened to send me sprawling.

Russet, bless his loyal heart, attempted to help by grabbing the train of the dress in his mouth. Instead of assisting, he only succeeded in pulling me off-balance, sending me staggering toward the duke. My flailing attempts to regain my footing were in vain, and I found myself tumbling directly into the duke’s waiting arms.

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