Page 20 of The Duplicate Duke
“No!” gasped Lady Gwendolyn.“My chest was bound to hide my?—”
“Enough!”Miles took a deep breath.What would his sister have done in their place?Alice had been a strong, independent woman.She might have tried a similar ruse in a desperate situation.Yet the betrayal was like a dagger to his heart.
He stared at the female who had fast become one of his closestmalefriends.“You are nothing I thought you were.Our entire friendship is based on fraud.I need time to come to terms with this.”
Lady Gwendolyn nodded, then wiped her cheeks with the palms of her hands.“We’ll leave you alone.Shall we see you at dinner?”
“No.”Miles wanted to scream, clear the muddle in his brain.“If you would both excuse me, I need some time alone.I may return to my estate.I’ve neglected it of late.”
* * *
Gwen collapsedon the tester bed, unwrapping the cravat, throwing it to the floor, and sinking into the feather mattress.“Mama, did you see the disgust in his eyes?”She still clutched Graham’s letter, tears brimming in her eyes again.
“It was betrayal, not disgust.What did you expect?”asked her mother.“I told you this would happen.”
“Thank you for your support, Mama.”Gwen slammed her fist on the mattress.“Crying will not help.We need a plan.”
“To win him back?”
“To win him.Obviously, I neverhadhim.”She handed her mother the letter from Graham and reread it over her shoulder.
Dear Gwen and Mama,
You devious little devils.I’m proud of your sense of adventure, but I would have appreciated it if you left more of my clothes behind.Then again, I can afford a new wardrobe.While I am thrilled about this inheritance, I’m not sure if acting the duke and being stranded in some dusty old mansion is quite my style.I’ve been bitten by a wanderlust bug and would like to travel.I’m sure we can find a competent man to take care of the estate while I am seeing the world.
But first, I will visit my new property and give kisses and hugs to my favorite ladies.I’ve missed you more than bees on honey.I have so much to tell you when we meet again.
Until then,
Your loving son and brother,
Graham
Soon to be a plump in the pocket duke!
Mama blinkedand dabbed at her eyes again.“I will soon have both my children with me.My prayers are answered.”
“Could you say one for me?No one seems to be listening to mine.”Gwen laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.“Mama, what should I do?I love him to distraction.”
“The viscount needs time.Then we need to show him you’re a woman.”Her mother stroked her hair and kissed the top of head.“He liked Graham.He will fall in love with Gwendolyn.”
“He won’t even talk to me,” she mumbled.
“Not in those clothes.It’s time to bring out your other trunk.”She stood and pulled Gwen off the bed.“We have work to do.”
“Simply putting on a dress won’t change his mind.”She’d wear a horse head if she thought it would help.Her heart squeezed in her chest.“He must feel absolutely terrible.I must make this right.He’s been through so much, and then his own family lies to him.”
“Nonsense.He’s a grown man who will see reason just as Mr.Garner said.”Mama entered her own chamber and went to the foot of the bed and opened the second trunk they’d brought for Gwen.“We need to bring out your best dresses.”
“And find a modiste.”The weight in Gwen’s chest was easing a little as her mother took charge.“You really think I can woo him?”
“You are still the same person he grew to care for, plus more.We need to show Miles that the ‘more’ is the best part.”
CHAPTER10
Two days later
“Do not include me in your machinations, my ladies,” said Mr.Garner.“I’ve dealt with the staff, but I cannot engage in shenanigans.”
