Page 7 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
She would appreciate that a great deal, actually, but clearly he wasn’t going to dothat. Instead, she asked, “What gave me away?”
He looked a bit surprised by her question. Then his gaze dipped over her. The perusal was slow, purposeful, as if he were collecting his thoughts. When he looked at her again, heat suffused her body, and she regretted her query.
“It wasn’t just one thing.” Had his voice dropped a bit? Or was her hearing impaired by the blood suddenly roaring in her ears? “But I suppose it was the feel of you when I took your arm. I could tell you were padded. That alone wouldn’t have been enough. It was just something…different. Perhaps the way you moved or the gracefulness of your hands.”
She considered how she might improve her disguise. Perhaps her maid, Judith, would have some ideas. She’d been instrumental thus far, obtaining the faux sideburns from a friend who knew someone who worked in a theater.
She looked up at him. “Thank you. I’m leaving now.”
“I still wish you’d tell me your name.”
She felt a bit like Cinderella then, except she was leaving her prince with nothing, not even a glass slipper. Which was as it should be. He wasn’t her prince, and she was never going to be a princess.
She turned and dashed away, slipping between her grandmother’s house and the neighbor’s, knowing he might yet discover who she really was. Even if he did, she doubted he’d expose her. If he was that sort of gentleman, he likely would’ve insisted on dragging her to her house and pounding on the front door until Grandmama was jolted from her bed. No, the Duke of Daring would keep her secret. Of that, she felt surprisingly certain.
After waiting several minutes, she went back to the street, moving slowly and peering around the corner to make sure he’d gone. Satisfied that he’d departed, she sprinted to the stairwell leading down to the servants’ entry, where Judith was waiting to let her in.
She rapped lightly on the frame, and her maid opened the door. Lucy pushed inside, and Judith closed the door behind her.
“Fruitful evening?” Judith asked.
Lucy pulled off her hat. “Not as much as the other night.” Because she’d been foiled by Dartford from going to one more hell.
Judith took the accessory from Lucy. “Sorry to hear.”
“Someone saw through my disguise.” Lucy tried not to think of the way she’d reacted when Dartford had recounted how he’d detected her secret. He’d made her feel…attractive. And that probably hadn’t even been his intent.
Judith sucked in a breath. “What happened?”
Lucy preceded her up the servants’ stairs. “Nothing untoward. I need to ensure no one gets too close.”
“Let me talk to my friend again. Mayhap he has another idea.”
Her friend worked in the household across the street and had provided them with the men’s clothing Lucy was wearing, as well as the facial hair from his friend at the theater. He’d also suggested the padding they’d used. It made for some discomfort, but Lucy had to admit she felt somewhat protected by the extra layers. Even so, she’d endeavor to keep everyone at arm’s length from now on. Perhaps she could develop a nasty cough that would discourage people from moving too close to her.
Lucy looked over her shoulder at Judith. “Be sure he doesn’t know why you want to know.”
“Don’t worry. I’m very discreet.” Judith flashed her a smile.
Lucy trusted Judith—she’d been with her for a decade. They’d practically grown up together. Lucy confided in and relied on her more than she ought, given her station, but Lucy didn’t care. She had so few people of substance in her life. She’d take what she could.
“Thank you.”
They went to her chamber, where Judith helped unwrap her from the disguise. Removing the facial hair was her least favorite part, and when they were finished, Lucy’s skin was red and a bit raw.
As Lucy pulled on her night rail, Judith asked when she planned to go out in her disguise again.
Lucy hadn’t thought to go out on subsequent nights—she seemed to need to recuperate after each foray—however, she wanted to go again tomorrow since tonight had been cut short. “Tomorrow night. I’m disappointed that I didn’t earn more tonight.”
Judith nodded. “I understand. The sooner you reach your goal, the better.”
“And the sooner you can settle your future as well.” Lucy wanted to take Judith with them, and Judith was keen to go.
Lucy hadn’t undertaken this endeavor lightly. Grandmama was out of money. She planned to retire to a small cottage near Bath as soon as the Season concluded. She could no longer, however, afford to support Lucy. It was her fondest hope that Lucy would finally attain a marriage proposal this Season. Lucy saw that as an impossibility, which had led her to come up with this scheme. She’d make a terrible wife, but she was an excellent card player and gambler. If only she could find a game of whist, which required strategy instead of dumb luck as with faro.
And she’d been quite lucky so far. Until tonight. Dartford made her question her plans, but she couldn’t afford to do that. If she kept her wits about her, and her pistol at the ready, she’d be fine. Still, she’d be relieved when she was finished. “No one wants everything settled more than I do.”
Settled.
