Page 105 of A Duke in the Rough

Perhaps the tides truly had turned in his favor.

“May I suggest we rejoin the assembly?” Lord Montgomery tugged his wife to his side. “Bea and I are eager to see the fireworks display. It will remind us of our wedding trip to Scotland.”

Drake suspected there was more to that story, but from the expression on Montgomery’s face, Drake also suspected the details of such an explanation would be private. Plus, he was too impatient to tell Honoria his news.

Gesturing for them to lead the way, Drake focused ahead of him, ready to search for Honoria and—hopefully his future.

No sooner had he stepped inside the ballroom, Simon pulled him aside, not bothering to apologize to Anne.

Simon’s nostrils flared. “What the devil did you do?!”

Drake recoiled involuntarily, as if Simon had physically struck him. “What are you talking about?”

“Honoria went looking for you on the terrace and when she returned, she was visibly upset.”

Drake pivoted, his body twisting this way and that as he frantically scanned the ballroom for Honoria. Rows of couples assembled for a country line dance, but Honoria wasn’t among them. “Where is she? And why do you think I’m responsible for upsetting her?”

Lord and Lady Montgomery doubled back, their gazes curious.

Simon shrugged. “I’m not certain. She didn’t make a lot of sense, which is most unlike her. Something about being wrong and”—he darted a glance toward the Montgomerys and lowered his voice—“witnessing an embrace on the terrace. She said she needed a quiet place to think.”

Lady Montgomery gave a tiny gasp.

Anne stared wide-eyed.

Drake frowned.Embrace?However, one thing was clear. “The library. I must go to her and find out what’s going on.”

Lady Montgomery laid a gloved hand on his arm. “Please, sir. Allow me. I may be able to resolve this.”

“Thank you, Lady Montgomery. Will you tell her I need to speak with her?” Drake asked.

“Call me Bea. And, of course.”

“Bring her out to the front lawn. We’ll be gathering there as soon as the dance is finished,” Simon said.

Lord Montgomery kissed his wife’s hand. “I’ll wait for you right outside, my darling.”

After Bea left them, Drake continued to puzzle about what had caused Honoria’s sudden departure from the ball before their last dance began. And what did Bea know?

At Drake’s questioning glance, Montgomery jerked his chin, indicating they should step aside.

Montgomery peered around Drake to where Anne remained with Simon. “I’m afraid Lady Honoria might have witnessed my wife and me in . . . a . . . ahem, rather passionate moment. Since both Bea and Miss Weatherby have the same coloring, and you and I are approximately the same height . . . well . . .” He grinned at Drake sheepishly.

Oh? Ooooh. “She thinks I was kissing Anne Weatherby.”

“Indeed. Not to worry, though. Bea will straighten everything out. She has a way about her that is straightforward but kind.”

“Thank you, Lord Montgomery.”

Montgomery slapped Drake good-naturedly on the arm. “To follow my wife’s lead, as I’ve learned to do, call me Laurence. And I’m happy to help out a fellow victim of cupid’s arrow. I wish you the best of luck, sir.”

The list of people Drake felt he could trust continued to grow. But what would happen when he finally finished this farce?

One thing was certain. He could face it all if Honoria was by his side as his duchess.

Once ensconced in the library,Honoria took deep breaths and pondered what she had observed.

No matter which scenario she followed, what she saw didn’t make sense. Drake wouldn’t profess his love for her and then kiss Anne.

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