Page 66 of The Love Potion
“Hush,” Kynthea said firmly. “We’re going back to your room now. His Grace has had enough for one night.”
“But—”
“Zoe!” The word was sharp, and Ras was relieved to see that there was an end to Kynthea’s well of sympathy for the spoiled girl. “We will talk in your room.” Then she steered the girl firmly out of his bedroom.
Kynthea closed his door behind her which left him to stare at it with an angry glower. So much for his hopes of a conversation tonight. Not to mention anything else. It was childish of him, but he needed to talk to Kynthea, and now he’d have to find another way to get her alone. That wouldn’t be easy in the middle of the Season with prying eyes and plotting mamas everywhere. But he would find a way because, damn it, he was determined to make Miss Petrelli his bride.
Chapter Twenty-One
Kynthea was notone to shy away from hard talks. That didn’t mean she relished them. But it was past time to explain things to her cousin.
Zoe shuffled into her bedroom and plopped down on her bed with a dispirited grunt. “I thought it would work. I really thought it would.”
“Did you?” Kynthea challenged. “Or did you close your eyes, cross your fingers, and hope.”
The girl’s head jerked up. “Mama’s friend’s daughter says—”
“Nothing you can trust.”
Zoe pushed out her lower lip in a sulk. “You helped me, you know. You helped me get the potion.”
“I did,” she said softly. “And I hoped it would work out for you.”
“Then why did you…” Her words trailed away but the meaning was clear. Especially when her gaze slid to the door and the duke’s bedroom beyond it. “You’re doing something with him!”
How to answer that? She sat down on the bed beside her cousin. “Let’s talk about you first. Are you truly heartbroken? Or just embarrassed? And maybe a little bit relieved.”
Zoe crossed her arms across her chest. “You know the answer to that. I’m mortified.”
“And relieved.”
“Yes! Yes, I’m relieved. I don’t really want to get married. I wouldn’t mind the dress and the party and all. Everyone likes being a bride. But—”
“Yes,” Kynthea interrupted. “I know it’s all about the stable for you.”
“And having everyone say ‘Your Grace’ to me would be nice.”
“You’re already Lady Zoe. ‘Your Grace’ carries a lot more responsibilities than you realize.”
Zoe sighed. “The Crown approved. I didn’t think he’d say no.”
Kynthea winced. He might still be forced to say yes. When royalty decided upon a thing, even a duke had to comply. “It doesn’t matter what the Crown says. It’s a terrible idea to start a marriage with a lie.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t supposed to be a lie. He was supposed to be enamored of me. Head over heels in love. Instead, he fancies you.” She tilted her head and gave Kynthea a sidelong glance. “Do you think it was because you were the one to spill the potion on him the first time?” She gave a slight nod. “That must be it. The potion worked, just on you, not me.”
Kynthea had no response to that. Whatever the cause, the duke was not enamored of Zoe. But then the girl finally got around to thinking of someone other than herself. Truthfully, given the magnitude of her embarrassment, she’d made good time. Many sixteen-year-olds never thought beyond their own embarrassment. Instead, Zoe’s eyes held sympathy as she looked at Kynthea. And her words were gentle though they cut deeply.
“You don’t think he’s going to marry you, do you? I mean, I wouldn’t be bothered, but the rules of society are very clear. You aren’t even Lady Kynthea. You’re just Miss Petrelli, and he’s a duke. And the things that Mr. Pickleherring has printed about you make it worse. He might look past it if you were rich, but—”
Kynthea squeezed Zoe’s hands to make her stop. If things were different, if she had been born to Zoe’s parents instead ofher own, if a thousand things were changed, then this next stage of her life could be very different.
But things weren’t as she’d like. So she shook her head.
“I know he won’t marry me.”
“Well,” Zoe said slowly, clearly trying to be gentle. “He mightwantto. He might say nice things to you—”
“But he won’t marry me. I know.”
