Page 61 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

“Your Grace? To what do I owe the honor? Is Miss Merrick in good health?”

“My sister is in perfect health. I’ve come regarding your upcoming nuptials.”

Victor’s stomach tumbled to his feet.She’s cried off.Rejected twice. With his luck, the only woman who would have him would be Lydia. And didn’t that thought make his stomach churn?

The man Victor had come to know as Drake glared at him, appearing extremely ducal as he barked his next question. “Well? What do you say?”

“I . . . I’m not sure what I’m supposed?—”

Mr. Beckham broke out in uproarious laughter, bending over as he held his midsection.

What the deuce?

Wiping his eyes, Mr. Beckham straightened. “Oh, well done, Drake. The man looks positively ghastly.”

As the duke himself broke out into a huge smile, Victor shook his head. “What is going on?”

“We’ve come to take you out for a night enjoyment. Simon has been going on about the new gambling den,The Knave of Hearts, and we thought it would be a good chance to get to know you better without women hovering.” Looking decidedly less ducal, Burwood cocked his head. “But I did have you going for a minute, didn’t I?”

Relieved, but still rather confused, Victor placed a hand on his chest, pleased to find his heart still beating. “You did, sir. I thought you’d come to tell me Miss Merrick has cried off.”

“Ye of little faith, Simon. I told you I could pull it off. It was you who almost showed our hand. This was his idea, by the way.” Burwood pointed to Mr. Beckham. “But I must say, I’m rather pleased that your distress came from thinking my sister cried off, rather than something I might have discovered about you.”

Victor’s confusion continued. “You are?”

“Well, of course,” Burwood said. “It pleases me that the thought ofnotmarrying my sister would cause you heartache.” He turned toward Mr. Beckham. “That sounds awful, doesn’t it?”

Mr. Beckham slapped the duke on the back. “Yes, but I think Pratt is smart enough to understand your meaning.”

Such a strange conversation. Victor braved the question lingering in the back of his mind. “Are you two...foxed?”

Mr. Beckham grinned. “Not nearly enough. Now, let’s remedy that and be off! On toThe Knave!”

They ushered Victor out the door and into the duke’s waiting carriage.

CHAPTER 18

Later that evening, after Drake and Simon left, chuckling like nodcocks over some prank they planned to play on Victor, Juliana listened politely as Charlotte explained to Nash and Adalyn everything that led up to her marriage to Simon.

When everyone else seemed preoccupied with Charlotte’s recounting—and Nash barked a riotous laugh at the part where Simon vomited on their brother—Honoria leaned close and whispered, “Drake had no idea of Victor and Adalyn’s history, but I advised him before they left this evening. I asked him to refrain from mentioning Nash and Adalyn’s arrival to Victor. If you’re uncomfortable having Adalyn and Nash here in the house, I will do my utmost to find a delicate solution. Perhaps I should speak to Adalyn.”

Juliana squeezed Honoria’s hand. “There is no need for that. They’re Charlotte’s family, and this is her home now, too. Drake did what any good man should do.” Juliana dearly loved her sister-in-law and understood what an uncomfortable position Nash and Adalyn’s arrival had placed her in.

Honoria gave her a wan smile. “Have faith in Victor. In his affection for you.”

If only she could. But Honoria didn’t know about Victor’s slip. Ever since the fateful kiss when Victor uttered Adalyn’s name, Juliana’s faith in capturing Victor’s heart had withered. And with Adalyn’s arrival, Juliana suspected that when faced again with the woman he loved, Victor would not only allow her to cry off from the wedding—he would welcome it. Juliana would only pale in the comparison.

In moments of weakness, she longed to share her heartache with her mother or Honoria, to unburden her heart and seek their wise counsel. But how could she explain Victor’s blunder and not reveal their courtship was a sham? She had promised him to keep their pretense a secret, and she would not betray him.

She would hold her tongue and hope for the best while she prepared for the worst. The ball would decide much. In a little more than a day, she would no doubt have her answer.

Adalyn had taken Benjamin and Mena upstairs for bed, leaving Nash with the ladies. Juliana’s mother had a myriad of questions about America, which Nash answered happily. He seemed so very different from Victor. Not only in coloring, with his dark hair and almost black eyes compared to Victor’s blond hair and blue eyes, but where Victor practically wore his heart on his sleeve, Nash seemed guarded, as if he were holding in all his emotions.

He had much in common with his sister, Charlotte. And yet, Juliana sensed the man didn’t miss a thing, and she especially felt as if he were taking her apart bit by bit and examining her.

The sensation was disconcerting.

Covering her mouth, she yawned. “If you would excuse me, tomorrow is going to be an eventful day. I think I’ll retire to my room and continue reading my book.”

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