Page 53 of If the Duke Dares
“I’m surprised you would even think to look here,” Lucinda mused.
“Er, my mother suggested it,” he lied.
There was a long pause before Lucinda gave a single nod. It was as if she’d considered his fabrications and was trying to decide if she believed him. “That makes sense.”
It might make some small modicum of sense, but he wasn’t convinced she was persuaded.
Before he had to conjure more lies, Persey appeared in the doorway. She wore a pink morning gown that was a couple of years out of style. Still, she looked lovely, her dark golden hair swept back from her face but not pinned. Wearing the waves of her hair loose made her look more carefree. Or perhaps she had simply relaxed since arriving here. That would make sense.
“Aunt Lucinda?” Persey said, moving slowly into the room.
Lucinda smiled. “There you are, Persey. You’ve a guest this morning. This is the Duke of Wellesbourne. The man you were to meet before you became ill.”
Her aunt was privy to that tale, then. Had she been part of concocting it? No, it seemed she was not of the same mind as Persey’s parents.
“What a surprise to see you here this morning,” Persey said, her eyes communicating far more than her words. It was as if little fires were shooting sparks at him from the depths of her blue gaze.
Acton bowed to her. “After you were unable to come to Loxley Court, I decided to visit you at Radstock Hall, but then I learned you were here in Bath. So I came to stay at my mother’s house. That way, I would be closer for when you were feeling better. I must say, you look well.”
“I am, thank you. My aunt has helped me regain my full health.”
How long were they going to stand there and openly lie? He had to resist the urge to laugh. Lucinda didn’t seem to know anything about him other than the potential match between him and Persey. Presumably, Persey hadn’t revealed anything about meeting him when she’d left her parents in Cirencester.
“Well, I suppose I should let you two get to know one another,” Lucinda said. “I’ll just sit out in the hall, leaving the door open, of course.” She turned and inclined her head at Persey before leaving.
As soon as Lucinda was gone, Persey motioned from him to join her on the opposite side of the room. There was a settee angled in the corner. She perched on the edge, and he sat down beside her—not too close—facing his body toward her as best he could.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, the fires in her eyes growing brighter.
“I came to help,” he said in a low but urgent tone. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth about what happened with Bane?”
Her jaw clenched. “You heard about that?”
“From my sisters—they are also staying at our mother’s. It took everything I could do not to return and speak with you. Ihadto come this morning.”
“You didn’t have to, actually. What can you hope to do?”
“Bane needs to fix this.” He had to work to keep his voice low. “I’m going to find him and demand he do what’s right.” Even if it bothered Acton to do so. The thought of her wedded to his best friend was unsettling.
She folded her arms over her chest, reminding him of the Persey he’d first met. “How can he do that if he’s betrothed to someone else?”
“I’m not certain he is. At least,I’mnot at all aware of it, and I just saw him a fortnight or so ago. He didn’t mention a thing about marriage.” And Acton would expect him to say something. If any of their set were headed for the parson’s trap, there would likely be some sort of celebration—even if it was somewhat funerary in nature.
“You think Bane would tell you his plans?” she scoffed. “He seems to give little thought to others.”
“I think he would tell his friends if he planned to marry. I’ve mentioned that I’m considering it.”
“You’ve established you are different from Bane,” she said quietly, glancing down at her lap.
Acton wanted to thrash his friend. And hug Persey. “I am so sorry he hurt you.”
Her gaze snapped up. “He didn’t hurtme.”
Perplexed by that response, Acton wondered if he’d misheard her. “But he compromised you.”
Her jaw dropped briefly before she put her hand to her mouth. A moment later, she dropped her hand to her lap and gave him a stern look. “Not me, my sister. Why did you think it was me?”
Relief poured through him, but his anger with Bane didn’t dissipate. He was still outraged for Persey’s sister. He was just damn glad it hadn’t been Persey, that she hadn’t been involved with Bane in any romantic way. That had bothered him more than he cared to acknowledge.
