Page 27 of It's In The Duke's Kiss
Adelia shook her head. “He still believes foolish flirting on my part led to his father fighting and losing a duel to protect my honor.”
Danby scowled. “Why don’t you tell him the truth?”
“He worshiped David. I refuse to destroy his belief that his father was less than perfect.”
She twisted her wedding ring on her hand. After all these years, she’d never taken it off. Some nights, she would lie in the bed she’d shared with her husband, and she could still feel him beside her. His heat. His large body covering most of the mattress. It was true that she’d been the impetuous one and he the serious one, but together, they had perfectly balanced each other. She’d worked all their marriage to get David to release some of the stringent beliefs his father had hammered into him about how dukes should behave, and she’d succeeded somewhat. David had relaxed with her, of course, and with his closest friends, but never with his children. And the belief that his children should think of him as the infallible duke had been what had killed him.
Danby took another long sip of his drink. “Perhaps if you tell Lucian the truth, that one night his father drank too much and made a foolish wager that he was the best shot in England, then Lucian would be able to allow himself to be less than perfect. He tries to save Nathaniel because it makes Lucian think he’s failed David. You realize that, yes?”
She heaved a shuddering sigh. “I do, though it took many years for me to realize it. Perhaps I’ll tell him. Let’s see how things proceed with Lady Emmaline. I plan to stage numerous activities to throw them together.”
“I’ll help. It’s been too long since I have had a scavenger hunt at my house. My grandchildren used to love my hunts. It’s the perfect opportunity for a gentleman to get a lady alone.”
Adelia grinned. “You speak as if from experience.”
Danby winked at her. “I wasn’t always this old, Adelia.”
“Neither was I, Danby.”
It wasn’t hard to rise before his brother since Nathaniel rarely roused himself before noon. Lucian was out of the house by ten and admitted to the Albersey drawing room by half past the hour. Before he could even decide where to sit, the door swung open and the Earl of Albersey strolled in, shirt untucked, hair disheveled, and a book in hand.
He looked up from his book and smiled. “Mary will be down shortly.”
Lucian blinked.Mary?He’d specifically told the butler he was here to call on Lady Emmaline. “I believe your butler may be confused, Albersey. I’m here to see if I can drive Lady Emmaline to the race today. There’ll be a picnic beforehand. You’re all welcome, of course, as my mother indicated last night.”
Albersey chuckled. “The butler isn’t confused. You are, Your Grace, if you don’t mind my saying.”
“I do mind it,” Lucian growled, “but I’ll allow it, of course. I’m in your home, after all. How do you draw the conclusion that I’m the one whose thoughts are muddled?”
Albersey sunk into a chair and crossed his legs. “I’ve no doubt your thoughts are well ordered, but you’ve failed to realize you’re up against a formidable opponent.”
What in the world was the man talking about? Lucian lowered himself into the chair opposite the earl. “I’m afraid I’ve no notion of who my opponent is, nor why we are opponents.”
“It’s Lady Albersey, of course.” The earl opened his book and began flipping pages. Lucian cleared his throat several times until the man finally looked up. “Yes?”
Lucian leaned his elbows on his knees. “Why is your wife my opponent?”
“Well, don’t you mean to court Emma?”
The man’s blunt words shocked Lucian, but they were oddly pleasing. Yet he couldn’t purposely mislead Albersey. “I hadn’t considered courting Lady Emmaline.”
“Oh?” The man cocked up an eyebrow. “Then youarehere for Mary?”
Lucian shifted in his seat. “Well, no.”
Albersey set down his book.
“I’m here,” Lucian began, “as I said, to see if I can drive Lady Emmaline to the race and the picnic.”
“But not because you want to court her?” Albersey asked, amusement lacing his tone.
“No, because I, er, that is, my brother has an interest in Lady Emmaline, and I don’t believe they’d suit.”
“So you’re here to save my daughter?” The words dripped humor. “I can do that.”
“You could, but I believe I’m better equipped to thwart my brother than you are.”
The man nodded. “And why do you think they’d not suit?”
“They are both impetuous.”
“Emma’s not impetuous, Your Grace. She’s simply full of life.”
“Nathaniel hasn’t even learned to take care of himself yet. He’s certainly not ready to care for a wife.”
“You should have started with that,” Albersey said as he stood. “We’ve been wasting time dancing around the truth. Wait here. I’ll be back momentarily. But you should understand that Lady Albersey has her mind set that you’ll be Mary’s husband, and I do believe she intends Emma for your brother. But I can impede her plan.”
Before Lucian could reply, the man departed the room, and moments later, Lady Emmaline entered. “My father said you wanted me.”
Truer words had never been spoken. Desire for the vision in lilac strummed through his veins. He’d never struggled a day in his life to gain control of himself, but he did so now. Lady Emmaline was doing something to him. Whether it was dangerous or extraordinary was the question.
