Page 36 of A Duke in the Rough

The locket still in Drake’s hand heated, as if it, too, accused him of denying his feelings.

With Anne preoccupiedwith Lord and Lady Montgomery, Charlotte and Miranda ushered Honoria from the room and into the hallway.

Surprised at both the strength and urgency her friends exhibited, Honoria was too taken off guard to resist.

“How didn’t I see it before?” Miranda shook her head. Several locks of her chestnut hair broke free from their pins and fell loosely against her neck.

“To be fair, she’s spent little time in his presence for us to notice. But now . . .” Charlotte turned her probing brown eyes on Honoria. “Honoria, either tell us the truth or we will join Anne in calling you Honny.”

Honoria did hate that ridiculous sobriquet. However, before assuming the worst and confessing, she opted for bewilderment. “Truth about what? You both already know I have an aversion to performing publicly.”

Miranda made apfftsound. “You know perfectly well we’re referring to Mr. Merrick. At supper last evening, he mentioned his father served as steward at your father’s estate. And you almost slipped and called him by his Christian name in front of your father. He’s the man in the gossip reports. The one who broke your heart.”

Strange that Miranda should phrase it like that rather than focusing on the scandal insinuating Drake had taken her innocence.

“It has to be,” Charlotte added. “The way you looked at him when you were both singing. It’s obvious you still have feelings for him.”

“My feelings don’t signify.”

Her friends exchanged an ominous look.

Charlotte, being the less subtle of the two, took the helm in the interrogation. “Of course they signify. You must tell Anne so she will cease her nonsense. In her mind, she’s already dragged the poor man to the altar and produced several children.”

Miranda softened the attack. “What my dear friend is trying to say is don’t allow Anne to get her hopes up for an attachment with Mr. Merrick if his heart lies elsewhere. As your friend, she would want to know you hope to rekindle your relationship with him.”

Did she hope to rekindle things? Of course she did. But did Drake? Wouldn’t he say something if he still loved her? “I have no idea where Mr. Merrick’s heart lies. Perhaps he does seek an attachment with Anne.” The thought alone pressed on her like a crushing weight.

The softpfftcame from Miranda again.

Charlotte raised a dark brow. “Whatmydear friend is not saying is that is hogwash. And if my brother Nash were here, he’d use a much stronger term.” She glanced over her shoulder, no doubt confirming Anne would not appear at an inopportune moment. “For all her faults, I like Anne. But Mr. Merrick is much too serious for her. Why, atsupper last evening, he only talked about books. I would say that he is the perfect man for you.”

That much was true. No one since had measured up, much to her parents’ dismay. Even if they hadn’t been enamored with other women, as kind and agreeable as Dr. Marbry and Lord Nash had been, they simply weren’t Drake.

Honoria sighed. The need to confide in her friends overwhelmed her. “Very well. Yes. Mr. Merrick—Drake—was the groom at my father’s estate, and we pledged ourselves to each other. But my mother convinced me it would be a mistake to marry him, and the next thing I knew, Drake had signed up for the military and was gone. I never expected to see him here, of all places.”

The hopeful expressions on her friends’ faces broke her heart. Even Charlotte emitted an uncharacteristic sigh.

“Then you absolutely must tell him you still care,” Miranda said.

Charlotte agreed. “Let us help arrange a meeting between the two of you. Somewhere quiet where you can talk alone and uninterrupted.”

Honoria blinked at her friend’s suggestion. “You of all people, Charlotte? Do I even know you?”

A sly grin crossed Charlotte’s lips. “Perhaps not.”

“It would be for naught. I’ve already spoken to Drake alone. Last evening I encountered him when I slipped into the library for a moment’s peace. He also came in seeking refuge.”

Miranda stepped closer. “And?”

“Mine wasn’t the only heart broken. I fear he still hasn’t forgiven me for rejecting him. He made it clear that he’s put the past behind him.”

“But you haven’t,” Miranda said.

“No,” Honoria admitted. “But I should. If he has a chance at happiness with someone else, whether it be Anne or another, who am I to stand in his way?”

Once more, her friends exchanged a glance, and Honoria feared they did not believe her.

But to be honest, she didn’t believe herself.

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