Page 40 of It's In The Duke's Kiss
Twelve
Lucian stood on the terrace for the space of three measured breaths after Emma fled, hoping if he didn’t immediately race after her the couples who were gawking at him wouldn’t hurry into the ballroom and spread gossip. But on the fourth breath, he couldn’t make himself wait any longer. He had to make her understand he’d not courted her simply to thwart Nathaniel.
Damn his brother. Lucian knew Nathaniel was angry with him, but he’d underestimated just how upset his brother was. He searched the ballroom for Emma, and when he could not locate her, he began looking for her sister and parents. He was on the verge of checking outside in the torch-lit gardens when he spotted his mother and the Duke of Danby standing by the refreshment table. Lady Peabody faced them and she was rapidly waving her hands in the air.
Unease filled him. Surely gossip had not already spread in such a short time? But as his mother’s jaw dropped open and a look of horror crossed her face, Lucian knew it had. He strode quickly through the crowd to do what he could to dispel the rumors.
“Mother. Uncle. Lady Peabody,” he said easily, offering what he hoped was a nonchalant smile. “What are the three of you discussing?”
Lady Peabody flushed, and a distinctly guilty look crossed her face. “Oh, this and that,” she tittered. “I need to find my daughters, if you’ll excuse me?” She didn’t wait for him to do so. She rushed off as if her skirts were on fire.
His mother stared at him for a long moment before grasping him by the arm. “Come with me, please,” she requested.
He nodded and followed her and his great-uncle to an empty corner by the terrace. After looking around as if to ensure no one would overhear her, his mother faced him. “Blackbourne, I just heard the most astonishing gossip,” his mother said in a hushed tone that sounded oddly pleased.
He frowned. “What did you hear, Mother?”
“Allow me,” Danby said to his mother, who inclined her head. “Lady Peabody’s daughter heard from Lady Whitby’s daughter who heard from Lord—” Danby paused and looked to Lucian’s mother.
“Grayson,” his mother supplied.
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome,” she replied in a cheery tone.
“That his sister was on the balcony with her friend not long ago and Lady Emmaline made the most atrocious scene. Lady Grayson’s sister said Lady Emmaline disgraced herself and that you were the epitome of all that is ducally dandy.”
His mother laughed. “No, Danby, you’ve mixed it up. Blackbourne is the epitome of all that is ducallyproper.”
Lucian groaned. This gossip was the exact sort of chaos he’d intended to avoid with the choice of a proper wife. He ground his teeth.
“Oh dear,” his mother murmured. “Is it true?”
“We had a row,” he offered, “and Lady Emmaline refused to keep her voice down.”
His mother cocked an eyebrow and gave him a dark look. “Yes, how silly of her to become passionate over…?”
Lucian moved his shoulders in a shrug of anger. “It seems Nathaniel told her I was only courting her to thwart him. She wishes for me to leave her alone.”
“You’re not going to, are you, darling?” His mother sounded concerned.
“I don’t know.” He could feel a tick start in his jaw.
His mother glanced at his great-uncle. “Would you give us a moment?”
“Certainly,” Danby replied and quickly walked away.
“Darling, I need to tell you something.”
“Please tell me I’m going to like it. I’m in a rather foul mood.”
His mother patted him on the arm. “I’m afraid you won’t. Let us go to the terrace and see if we can find privacy.”
Needing privacy didn’t bode well, Lucian nodded and they strolled onto the terrace, which was now empty.
Mother turned to him and took a deep breath. “As much as you want to blame me, I did not cause your father’s death. His pride did.”
Lucian stilled and stared at his mother. “What do you mean?”
