Page 31 of A Deal with the Broken Duke
“Yes, the two of them have been friends all their lives,” Juliet replied. “I’ve always known Harry.”
“Harry?”
“Oh, I mean to say His Grace,” Juliet said, blushing. “It’s a force of habit. I knew him before he inherited the dukedom, you see. Sometimes I do forget.”
“The two of you really are quite close, then,” Lady Annie observed.
“I wouldn’t say we’re that close,” Juliet said automatically.
But then, she remembered. She was supposed to be in a courtship. She was going to have to find a way to make that work with what she had just said.
“I suppose we’re growing quite a bit closer these days,” she added carefully.
“What do you mean?” Lady Annie asked her.
“Well, I don’t know whether you know this, but he’s been in Paris recently.”
“I had heard something about that, yes. I suppose it’s common for a gentleman of his age and station to run away to another country for a while, for a holiday.”
“But he’s just come back for good,” Juliet said. “And…” She couldn’t think of what was the right way to say this. Would it seem arrogant? “He’s asked to court me.”
“Has he!” Lady Annie’s eyebrows lifted. “I must say, that’s a bit of a shock!”
“Is it?”
“Well, I’m sure none of us ever believed we’d live to see His Grace enter into another courtship, not after the death of his betrothed.”
“Oh,” Juliet said. “I hadn’t realized that you knew him well.”
“Perhaps not as well as you do.” Lady Annie smiled. “After all, I’m not the one who’s courting him!”
“Oh! well, we haven’t been courting for long,” Juliet clarified. “As a matter of fact, this is the first time we’ve been out together.”
“And he doesn’t seem to be paying you all that much attention,” Lady Annie noted.
“I don’t mind.” Juliet shrugged.
She was surprised at this stranger’s seeming indignation on her behalf. It was one thing for her brother to act this way, but what difference did it make to Lady Annie?
“It’s good for us to get to know one another slowly, I feel. And… well, with him down by the water, I can simply observe him without feeling the need to make conversation.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Lady Annie said. “It must make matters easier.”
Juliet nodded. “Considerably easier.”
“I know I would be anxious to be around a duke. To be courting him. I can understand how you must feel.”
Juliet didn’t think so, somehow. None of her anxiety stemmed from the fact that Harry was a duke now. His title meant less than nothing to her. No, it was the fact of their shared lie and the way he had treated her in her youth that was driving her to avoid him the way she was. Even though they had agreed to take on this deception together, she really couldn’t imagine having anything to say to him.
Lady Annie smiled at her. “I wouldn’t worry. I’m sure you’ll grow comfortable with your new role in his life in no time. And as for all the rumors, well, I’m sure they’re only that, just rumors. So I wouldn’t put any stock in them.”
“Rumors?” Juliet asked. “What rumors?”
“Oh.” Lady Annie looked mortified. “I’m sorry, I thought everyone knew. I really shouldn’t say.”
Juliet didn’t press the matter. If there were rumors about Harry, she would have surely heard them. Daniel would know, and he would have told her. Whatever Lady Annie was talking about right now, Juliet wasn’t going to worry about it. Perhaps Lady Annie was thinking about someone else.
Instead, she gave Lady Annie a smile. “I’m pleased you came over to say hello. It was very nice to meet you.”
