Page 52 of If the Duke Dares
It was early, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t wait any longer. “I need to check on my horse first, and I’ll probably take a walk before paying my call. See you both later.”
Acton fetched his hat and gloves and hastened from the house. But he did not go to the mews. He walked briskly to the Crescent. A compact butler with graying dark brown hair and spectacles greeted Acton.
“Good morning,” Acton said. “I’m here to see Miss Persephone Barclay.”
“I am sorry, but she is not receiving.” The butler glanced toward a tall clock in the hall, as if to ask whether Acton knew the hour.
Yes, it was bloody early for calls. He didn’t care. He smiled with all the charm he could muster through his worry. “I am the Duke of Wellesbourne.”
“Be that as it may, Your Grace, Miss Barclay is not receiving.” The butler spoke plainly, but with a grave authority that was impressive given his slight stature.
“Allow me to speak more clearly. Ineedto see Miss Barclay. It’s a matter of urgency.”
The butler’s lips flattened into a thin line. He appeared utterly unmoved. However, before he could refuse Acton a third time, a woman came into the entry hall behind him.
“Who is calling at such a ghastly hour?” she asked.
“His Grace, the Duke of Wellesbourne, ma’am.” the butler replied.
The woman, who had to be Persey’s aunt, was elegantly outfitted from the sleek style of her light brown hair to the velvet-trimmed morning gown. Her green eyes swept over him with assessing precision. When her gaze met his, she arched a brow with open curiosity.
Hell.Acton hadn’t considered seeing anyone but Persey. What was he going to say was the reason for his urgent call?
“I see,” she murmured to no one in particular. “Duke, while it is a pleasure to see you, I must wonder why you are here and at this time.”
“He has an urgent matter to discuss with Miss Barclay,” the butler said.
Her finely shaped brow remained in its elevated position. “Oh? Why don’t you come in for a short visit,” Lucinda invited.
The butler opened the door wider, and Acton stepped inside.
“Give Harding your things,” she directed before pivoting toward the stair hall.
Acton pulled off his gloves and gave them, along with his hat, to the butler. “Thank you, Harding.”
Harding’s expression was unreadable, and Acton was nearly certain the butler found him lacking somehow.
Following Lucinda into the stair hall, Acton scrambled to think of what he could say if Persey’s aunt was going to be present for their conversation. Presumably, she would be. Their days of being alone together were behind them.
He would have to pretend he was there to see if he could negotiate something on Bane’s behalf. Except, he didn’t even know what Bane had done or what Bane was doing now. Acton could very well cock things up even more.
Lucinda led him into the drawing room, a sumptuously decorated chamber that revealed the woman’s exceptionally fine taste as well as her wealth. The large chandelier in the center of the room was breathtaking.
She turned to face him. “You find the chandelier attractive?”
“It’s stunning.”
“William Parker designed it. He also designed the ones hanging in the Upper Rooms. Perhaps you’ve seen those?”
He had not. “I haven’t been to the Upper Rooms.”
“How is that possible? A man of your stature? There are two balls each week when the Season starts in October. You should attend one or two.” She gave him an assessing look. “I would think you ought to be married by now. You ought to broaden your search to Bath. But mayhap that is why you are here.” Her lips curved into a charming smile.
Of course! He and Persephone were supposed to see if they would suit. “That is precisely why I’ve come.”
Lucinda tapped her finger to her lip before holding it up briefly. “I must wonder how you even know Persephone is here?”
Well, fuck. How would he know indeed? If anything, he would think she was at home because she was ill and that was where her parents had left her. That was the answer, then. “Her parents arrived at Loxley Court without her and explained she was ill. I decided to call on her at Radstock Hall. However, she wasn’t there, so I thought I would see if she was here.” This all sounded completely preposterous. And it could very well conflict with whatever Persey had told her. What had he been thinking coming here?
