Page 96 of If the Duke Dares
“She is angry with me and justifiably so.”
“Make her unangry with you,” Droxford said as if it were that simple.
Acton looked toward the door, worried that Persey might leave before he could speak to her. “I’m not sure that’s possible, but I was about to try when you two dolts intercepted me.”
“Do you need help?” Somerton offered.
“Do you know what Miss Barclay looks like? Can you stand in the entrance hall and stop her if she tries to leave while I look for her upstairs?”
Droxford inclined his head and turned toward the door. “We’ll take care of it.” He and Somerton moved away, and Acton followed them. Though he did not continue to the entrance hall. He went to the hidden servants’ stairs at the back of the house and took them two at a time to the first floor, where he practically bolted to the drawing room in search of Persey.
Again, he was halted in his tracks, this time by his mother. “There you are, Acton. I’m afraid Lucinda and her nieces decided to leave. However, I do believe tonight was a success for Miss Pandora.”
“No, they can’t leave!” Glad that his friends would stop her, Acton still needed to hurry downstairs.
His mother touched his arm, her gaze darkening with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to convince Persey—Persephone—not to leave. Not just the party but Bath. She’s going to leave me, and I don’t know what I will do.”
The dowager steered him to the side of the hall. “What do you want to say to her to get her to stay?”
“I’m not sure. I need her to understand that I’ve changed, that I’m not the reprobate everyone thinks me to be. At least, not anymore. Not since I met her.”
“Is there perhaps something more…compelling you could say?” his mother prompted softly.
Realization dawned on him. “I would tell her that I love her, but I’m not sure she’ll believe me. I told her I wasn’t capable of that emotion.”
“As we both know, you were wrong about that,” she said with a smile. “Is there anything you can say or do to convince her you’ve changed, and that you can, indeed, love? I’d be happy to attest to that fact.”
He thought about what had just transpired downstairs. He truly hadn’t wanted Mrs. Bertram’s attentions. She just hadn’t known that yet because he hadn’t told her. His reputation was that he enjoyed flirtation. Perhaps it was time to disabuse everyone of that notion.
Acton wondered how he’d made it this far in life without his mother’s guidance. “Thank you, truly. However, this is something I need to do on my own.” He knew precisely what he needed to say and how to say it.
For the first time, he didn’t hear his father’s oppositional voice in his head. The domineering duke had gone quiet at last.
Chapter22
Persephone and Pandora located their aunt in the drawing room and informed her they wished to leave. While Aunt Lucinda had hoped they would stay a little longer, she understood and supported their decision.
“I should like to thank the dowager duchess before we go,” Aunt Lucinda said, scanning the drawing room for their hostess. “Alas, I don’t see her. Perhaps we’ll encounter her on the way out.” She gestured for Persephone and Pandora to precede her.
As they made their way downstairs, Persephone glimpsed their parents standing together in the staircase hall on the ground floor. They were off to the side, so she and Pandora would be able to avoid them as they continued to the entrance hall.
Still, Persephone nudged her sister on their descent and subtly inclined her head. Pandora made a face. “We don’t have to speak with them.”
“We most certainly do not. Tonight or ever.”
“I suppose we should forget about our belongings at Radstock Hall,” Pandora said with resignation.
“I’d give it all up to not have to spend another moment with them.” Persephone shuddered. While she’d never felt a particularly close bond with either her mother or father, she’d still loved them, and she’d thought they’d loved her in return.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Aunt Lucinda came abreast of them, her body effectively blocking Persephone’s and Pandora’s lines of sight toward their parents. “Come, girls,” she said briskly, ushering them into the entrance hall.
Persephone’s heart swelled with love and appreciation for their aunt.
Their progress was abruptly blocked by two men. Persephone recognized the Viscount Somerton because he was Tamsin’s cousin, but couldn’t recall the name of the dour-faced gentleman beside him.
Somerton smiled broadly. “Good evening, Mrs. Barclay-Fiennes.” He bowed to Aunt Lucinda. “And the Misses Barclay.” He bowed to Persephone and Pandora in turn.
