Page 14 of Duke of Chaos

“No.”

Lydia whispered the word so softly that even he did not hear it, but he did not have to. He saw those plump, round lips form the word of despair so clearly on her suddenly pale face that she might as well have shouted it.

“What joyous news! I did not realize that you had become engaged, Your Grace,” Poppy said in a rush as she attempted to recover from her shock. “Pray, do tell us who the lovely lady is!”

“Is it not obvious?” Ezra asked, clasping Lydia’s hand and holding it up.

“It is the lovely Lady Lydia Knight.”

Slap him.

The command rang in Lydia’s mind so loudly that she nearly raised her hand to obey it. Her name. Ezra had saidhername, not Juliet’s. A breath rushed out of her chest, one she had not even realized she had been holding as she forced herself to smile happily. Her hand tightened like a vice around Ezra’s as she nodded politely toward Poppy and said as sweetly as possible, “Yes, it is true.”

“Oh, you naughty girl!” Poppy exclaimed before laughing loudly and swatting Lydia’s arm with her fan. “That is why you were buttering me up to talk to him, hmm? So that our husbands could do business together and we could rekindle our formerfriendship! Well, why would you not? I have missed you! And what lady does not love jewels and gems?”

“I can think of none,” Ezra said from Lydia’s side.

If he was bothered or hurt by her tight grip he did not show it and softly drew his thumb over the back of her hand.Like an adder’s tongue,she thought, then shivered, but not with the disgust, she had intended.

“Do forgive me for not telling you sooner, Poppy” Lydia pled in her most apologetic voice, “I was just not sure when the duke would be comfortable sharing the news. And though I do hope our husbands can find common ground I most certainly hope you and I may speak together again soon, as I so enjoy your company.”

“Consider it settled,” Poppy said enthusiastically to them both. “We shall have dinner next week. Tell me, to what address should we send the invitation? The Frampton Estate in Mayfair?”

“You may send it to this address,” Ezra stated as he pulled a crisp white card from his pocket. “The Frampton Estate is…occupied by another family member and would not do me the kindness of passing on the invitation.”

“Hmmm, sour family, I do understand,” Poppy said pityingly as she plucked the card from his hand.

Lydia watched the woman who had been so opposed to meeting Ezra just a few moments earlier, now practically making eyes at him. Annoyance flashed through her, and she had to look away. To her relief, she saw Juliet back with Helena, Barbara, and Alice, all of whom were smiling widely. Suddenly she realized that her friends must have gotten Poppy to notice Ezra and her dancing and had turned the tides in her favor. Gratitude soared in her heart, and she smiled back at them before returning her attention to Poppy and Ezra.

“Might I have a quick moment with Lydia?” Poppy asked, just as Lydia regained focus.

“But of course,” Ezra agreed happily, releasing Lydia’s hand.

Lydia immediately felt the loss of his heat but pushed the thought away as she and Poppy stepped to one side.

“Lydia, my dear, I thought you were settled in your life as a spinster?” Poppy asked in hushed tones. “Now you are engaged to the Duke of Darkness? I know I jested a moment ago, but honestly, this is quite shocking news.”

Knowing Lydia needed to prove herself now more than ever, she took Poppy’s hands in her own and replied, “My darling friend, I am grateful for your concern, but truly, he is not the dark and twisted man they make him out to be! You have known me since I was a girl, have you not?”

“Yes, and fondly,” Poppy replied quickly.

“Then you know I would not entertain a man who was truly as dastardly as the tonmakes him seem,” Lydia said in a kind but slightly chastising tone. The tone that reminded all young women of their mothers and stirred them toward obedience.

“Yes, of course,” Poppy agreed, nodding her head, then added, “You know I only stopped speaking to you because my husband does not approve of friendships between married women and spinsters.”

“Precisely,” Lydia replied, grateful that Poppy was playing right into her hand. “Now we can be friends again, as you said. There is no need to worry, I assure you.”

With that, what little doubt remained in Poppy’s eyes instantly disappeared, and she let out a little giggle before congratulating Lydia on her engagement again.

“I shall keep silent on your news until your announcement,” Poppy whispered as her husband came to sweep her into a dance.

Lydia sighed in relief as she heard Poppy’s parting words, reassured that she would be able to deliver the news to Juliet and the others personally.

“That was a spectacular performance,” Ezra praised as he appeared by her side.

Silently, as if they shared the same thought, they began to make their way toward the open balcony door. Lydia caught her friends looking at her questioningly as they walked by, but she raised a staying hand toward them, willing them not to come to her rescue as they likely wanted. To her relief, they swayed on their feet, eyes still full of worry, but remained where they were.

“I believe it was you that had the most surprising play of all, Your Grace,” Lydia retorted dryly, refusing to look at him as they walked, “Tell me, do you enjoy these little games you play with me? You must, though I do not understand why.”

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