Page 2 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
Her mother raised her arms. She always meant the best for them but sometimes she came off too intensely. Melanie could not be financially supported by her family to come out into Society. She needed Daphne’s family. Throwing her out there in this manner meant her mother was at the end of the rope.
“Percy has been looking for you, Daphne.”
Daphne groaned; her eyes kept flicking in the duke’s direction. Her palms had become a sweaty mess. “Percy does not want to dance with me, Mama.”
“Yes, he does!”
Daphne sighed, “Mama, you do not understand Percy more than I do. We have played together since we were children. If he wanted to marry me, I would be the first to know.”
“He does not because you keep rejecting him and every other man in the city! Now go before I lose what is left of my temper. He is from a good family, well-behaved, and has a heavy pocket to ensure you are cared for. What could possibly be your objection? I do not want to hear it, go.”
“I did try to court him once and he proved to me he was the exact kind of man I should avoid.”
Those words died on Daphne’s lips before she could utter them. Percy was like a son to her parents. They held him in the highest regard, but they did not know that side of Percy. The side that showed him to be an unreliable rake who had a woman up in his bedchambers when Daphne, his supposed betrothed, visited.
“Fine.”
Melanie opened her mouth to speak but Daphne shook her head. It had been four years. If the duke wanted anything to do with her, he would have contacted her. She could not let her family hoist the hopes of her marriage on such a man.
Not unless she confirmed it.
She slipped past her mother and Melanie. The left part of her body prickled with her effort not to look in that direction. Victor was there and he had been talking with a widow who was wearing a flamboyant tiara.
It was easy to spot Percy. He wore the flashiest red coat. On his tall stature, it should have been an eyesore, but he managed to make it elegant. He caught her eye as she approached and gave a wide smile. He opened his arms.
Daphne allowed him to lead her to the dance floor.
“Relax, Daph, I do not bite.”
“Well…”
“I was eight. That does not count.”
“Ah, I would still beat you at horse riding any day. No matter how much you wail and scream about the unfairness.”
“Spare me some pride, our parents were watching. You would not shed a single tear.”
“Terrible. You have always been terrible.”
He paled, imperceptibly, “Daphne, I am sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you.”
Daphne was pirouetted in his arms, when she faced him again. “I understand and I forgave you a long time ago, Percy.”
Daphne’s eyes darted about the hall. She found the duke talking with a man. The duke gave a soundless laugh, before lifting a glass to his lips. Daphne felt her insides quiver at the sight.
“What do you say? Daphne?”
“What?”
“I want to try again, with you. There is no better partner that I can think of. We know each other so well. It would be a wonderful union.”
Daphne stumbled onto Percy’s boots and their legs tangled. Quickly, he righted her. “Where is your mind?”
“I am not the best dancer, you know that.” Daphne forced herself not to snap at him.
“Yes, but you were never this bad. I guarantee you have something else on your mind.”
“The naked woman I found in your bed, yes,” Daphne said.
