Page 80 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
Greene spoke of her as if he didn’t realize she was also Smitty. Or else he was an exceptionally good actor.
Andrew narrowed his eyes at Greene. “You don’t know what this is about?”
“I’m unaware of anything to do with Miss Parnell that would be worth exposing, but judging from your behavior, there clearly is.” Greene’s brow furrowed. “I don’t wish to pry, but if there’s any way I can help, I should like to do so. As I said, I hold Miss Parnell in high regard, and I consider you a friend.”
A friend.
The word made Andrew mildly uncomfortable. Yes, he had friends, but he kept them at a distance. And he didn’t ask them for help. This felt too close—too much like something he could look forward to and miss if it were gone.
Like Lucy.
A knot formed in his throat. He swallowed. He coughed. He didn’t know what to say about their friendship, so he addressed Greene’s other comment instead. “You say you hold Miss Parnell in high esteem. Do you wish to…court her?”
Greene blinked. “I, ah, no.” Then Greene laughed, and Andrew was suddenly confused. “Because you are my friend, I’ll tell youmysecret. As I told you and the others, I go to balls and dance with an array of misses to please my parents. Miss Parnell is charming in a way most of those misses are not, and that is why I sought her out last night. I am not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with her. I was,however, interested in Smitty, and I’m disappointed he moved away.”
Andrew felt like an ass for at least the second time that week. “I didn’t realize.”
Not only had Greene not penned the letter, he didn’t even know that Lucy and Smitty were one and the same.
“Of course you didn’t,” Greene said. “I don’t advertise my preference for men.” He tipped his head to the side with a thoughtful expression. “If you thought I’d written the letter, you decided it had to be someone you know. Is it possible they’re from our set?”
Theirset. It was like the word friend. It made Andrew feel connected, and the sensation was odd. It wasn’t, however, distasteful, which was both shocking and frustrating. He liked his isolation. Things were much simpler, and there was less potential for loss.
He forced himself back to the conversation and the fact that Greene had made an excellent point. Andrew had assumed that Greene was the extortionist based on his behavior, but now that he understood Greene’s interest in Smitty, he was fully satisfied that Greene was innocent. Which meant it was another of Andrew’s “friends.” But who? He considered sharing the letter with Greene, but then Lucy’s secret would be out, and he couldn’t do that.
“You’re correct,” Andrew said. “It has to be one of our…set.”
Greene exhaled. “I’ll be honest, Dart. When I think of who might resort to extortion, Charles immediately comes to mind. I don’t know him as well as you, but his gambling seems to be a problem.”
It was, but Andrew didn’t want to think Charles would do that. Beaumont? Andrew didn’t want to think it was him either. Thursby? Again, Andrew would be surprised…and disappointed. Why, because they were friends? Hell, how had he let any of this happen? He didn’t want to care about people. He’d promised himself all those years ago that he’d remain stoic and alone.
Only he wasn’t stoic, and it seemed he wasn’t alone. He had thesefriends. And Lucy. He’d thought he could push her away and guard himself from further heartache. But when he thought of her being hurt by this person who would expose her secrets, he realized it was too late. He already cared far too much.
“Dart?” Greene prompted. “What are you going to do?”
His mind was racing, and at the same time, he was fighting to take a breath. “I won’t be extorted.” But neither could he allow Lucy’s secret to be exposed.
“If I might offer an opinion—and do tell me if I’ve interpreted this wrong. This secret, whatever it is, has to do with Miss Parnell, and you are clearly regarded as someone who can protect her. Given your query about my interest in her, I think I can deduce that youareinterested in courting her. Or perhaps you’re considering the ultimate protection. Perhaps you should ask her to be your wife.”
Andrew’s vision tunneled briefly. “I don’t…I don’t know if that would be an acceptable solution.” For her or for him.
Greene straightened, his gaze direct. “Is there some reason you can’t marry her?”
There were many. Or maybe just one rather large reason: fear. Andrew swallowed, his throat feeling raw. “You’ve given me something to think about. Thank you.”
He turned and made his way from the coffee shop, his mind reeling from what seemed an obvious solution. If he married her, he’d be able to protect her from whatever this Mr. Black might say, and he’d ensure her future—and that of her grandmother—was secure.
A part of him thrilled to the idea. He loved being with her, and the thought of sharing adventures with her, including in the bedchamber, filled him with anticipation. The rest of him was paralyzed with the fear of losing her.
He didn’t know if it was a risk he could take.
Chapter Seventeen
Lucy spent the day in a bit of a haze. She’d slept later than usual, waking to a feeling of utter contentment and languor. Until she’d recalled how Andrew had left. It had been the reverse of what had happened at Darent Hall, but it felt the same.
No, it felt worse because now she knew she loved him.
She pulled on her gloves as she waited for Grandmama to come down. They were going to the park because it was perhaps the nicest day in what had so far been a rather wretched spring.
