Page 97 of If the Duke Dares
Persephone curtsied, as did Pandora. “Good evening, Lord Somerton.” She glanced toward the other man, who was rather intimidating.
Elbowing the other man, Somerton coughed. “This is my friend, Lord Droxford. I promise he’s not as terrifying as he looks.”
He did indeed look slightly frightening, as if he could command a storm cloud to park over the entrance hall and drown them all. But his bow was most elegant as he bid them good evening.
“If you’ll excuse us, we were on our way out,” Aunt Lucinda said. “Lovely to see you, gentlemen.”
Droxford seemed to grow an inch or two as he took a step toward them. “Before you depart, we simply must speak with you.” He sounded rather dire.
“Youmust?” Pandora asked. “But we’ve only just met.”
“That isn’t true,” Somerton said smoothly. He was far more affable than his gloomy friend. “I’m sure you’ve met Droxford before.”
Persephone realized the baron had been in Weston for a few days when they’d first arrived at the beginning of August. She was not going to bring that up, however, since it would summon Bane to mind.
“You really must excuse us,” Persephone said quickly before Somerton could say anything to spark conversation that was best left unsaid. “I am feeling unwell.”
“Pers—Miss Barclay!”
The loud voice came from behind Persephone. From the staircase hall. She turned her head, knowing who’d called her name, but not believing he would do such a thing.
Acton was barreling down the staircase. He nearly knocked a gentleman over when he reached the bottom. Grasping the man securely, he murmured something before carrying on. The act reminded Persephone of when she’d run into him on the street in Gloucester.
That seemed so long ago now, and yet the memory was still fresh. Bold and searing. Thinking of it made her throat ache.
“Wait, please,” Acton called as he rushed into the entrance hall. There were fewer people here than in the staircase hall, but everyone had turned to face them. Indeed, the doorways to the rooms bordering the hall became clogged with people.
Persephone turned as did her sister and Aunt Lucinda on either side of her.
“What are youdoing?” Persephone whispered frantically. They’d made such wonderful progress tonight with putting scandal behind them. Now he was creating a new one.
“I’ve an announcement to make,” he said in his normal voice, his gaze fixed only on her. “One that I wanted to make sure you heard before you go. My apologies for calling out your name like that.”
She pursed her lips at him, but said nothing.
He looked about the hall then, his expression registering that he had a large audience. And it was completely silent, waiting, no doubt breathlessly, for whatever he planned to say.
Persephone had to admit she was a bit breathless too. What was he about?
Addressing the room—or rooms—at large, Acton raised his voice. “You all know me as a lustful libertine, a scandalous scoundrel, a rampant reprobate.”
Had he practiced all that ridiculous alliteration? Persephone pressed her lips together so as not to smile. She did not want to find him amusing!
There were nods and murmurs in response to his pronouncement.
“Tonight, I renounce that reputation. I’ve reinvented myself, turned over a new leaf, changed for the better—I hope.” He flicked a glance toward Persephone who stared at him in shock. “I am no longer the rogue I have been. I am, from this moment forward—actually from several days ago, if I’m honest—areformedrake.”
Somerton was gaping at Acton as if he’d suddenly sprouted a second head while Droxford had resumed his scowl. Acton, however, was smiling.
Did he think this was somehow going to make up for what he’d been doing in the library with that hussy? “How nice for you,” she said, desperate to leave. Why was he doing this here, now?
Acton’s face fell. He spoke more quietly now, so that only those nearest them could hear. “I need you to know that I’ve changed. I am not the man I was before I met you. I don’t want to be that man.”
Persephone’s heart twisted. She loved this man so much, and yet she would be foolish to trust him. “That is most admirable. I wish you great success.”
She started to turn, but he grabbed her arm. Someone gasped, and he let go immediately. “I love you, Persephone.” He appeared almost…desperate. “This is not the place, but I don’t want you to go. Not now, not ever. My life will be empty without you. Meaningless. I had no interest in Mrs. Bertram in the library. She latched on to me, and I was about to disentangle her when you arrived.”
“You should believe him,” a feminine voice said from somewhere to Persephone’s right. “I tried to flirt with him tonight, and he didn’t even notice.”
