Chapter 1 #2
While Lucy was surprised Victoria would suggest a rendezvous with a male escort, she was shocked Daphne would consider it at all. The Duchess of Wolfcrest was more demure and more likely to follow the rules of society.
“You will be provided with an unmarked carriage. Victoria and Richard’s most loyal coachman will be driving you there, and you’ll pass through a private servants’ entrance.
Then, you will stay there in the company of a man who will see you for who you are and for what Joshua wants people to see.
You decide what happens. You are in control.
Valentine St. Clair won’t do anything you don’t want him to do.
Joshua won’t know. The carriage will return you to your bed before sunrise. ”
“It’s a way to have some control of your life, even for a few hours, Lucy,” Victoria urged.
She took Lucy’s hand into both of hers. “It will be a secret to carry, a means to make your life more thrilling than it has become as of late. Your brother seems intent on making you as stiff as the wooden furniture in your home.”
Lucy almost chuckled at that, if not for the awareness that her brother was not too far from her at the moment. Joshua was standing with three other lords, but his gaze kept flicking back to her, as if she were a toddler who might suddenly disappear.
She let her gaze scan the rest of the ballroom.
Men weren’t even looking her way. It seemed that men now felt it was a waste of their time to court her when her brother would more likely find a way to steer her away.
Rumors were already circling around that she was a bluestocking who might prefer to become a spinster.
Loneliness suddenly washed over her.
When she looked back to where her friends stood waiting for her response, their duke husbands, Richard and Adrian, appeared.
Their eyes were focused on their wives, and their smiles had softened.
Earlier, they were merely giving the rest of the ton the face they expected: charming but commanding, but their wives saw their gentlest sides.
Devotion.
Would she ever experience that? Perhaps Valentine St. Clair could make her feel it, even though she would have to pay for it. As she saw Adrian kissing Daphne’s hand, she wondered just how far she would go to experience those feelings.
Perhaps she should just settle for the physical. She had missed several opportunities that could have evolved into romance. Still, she wished she could have experienced the same love her friends had.
“The ball is a success,” Adrian murmured to Daphne.
Meanwhile, Richard was concerned about Victoria, with good reason. “Are you tired? We can leave whenever you feel like it. You need rest.”
It was certainly inspiring to see two powerful men doting on their wives and treating them as equals. A small spark of anger burned through her as she thought of how Joshua treated her, as if she were not wise enough to distinguish between a rake and a good man.
“Have you seen Daniel?” Victoria craned her neck, asking her twin’s husband. “I was hoping he’d come, so I can finally introduce him to Lucy.”
“He left an hour ago,” Adrian replied, shaking his head. “He seems to have a pressing matter, as is becoming the norm of late. He’d become a hermit after he’d inherited the Stonewynn duchy. He barely attends these kinds of events, hosted by family or not.”
“‘Tis a pity,” Victoria said, with a sigh. “Truly, it is. He needs to know that being a duke does not mean the end of his life.”
Daniel, her friends’ half-brother, had reportedly become a duke. Lucy did not really know much about him, and he rarely made appearances. He was more of a phantom now than ever. Her mind was more focused on what the twins had proposed. She needed to take control of her life and decisions.
She pulled Victoria slightly away from the Dukes and whispered, “I will go. Just tell me what to do and when.”
Victoria grinned.
Lucy loved how her friend had not lost her childish mischief. Victoria handed her a piece of paper, which she quickly hid in her reticule.
“That’s St. Clair’s address,” Victoria whispered conspiratorially.
“Thank you,” Lucy breathed, even though she wasn’t certain she was not about to commit the greatest mistake of her life.
“Everything alright here?” Joshua interrupted, startling her.
How could he be that stealthy?
“Perfectly fine, My Lord,” Victoria said smoothly. “We were merely talking about a new seamstress she may want to try. Her work is certainly transformative.”
Lucy knew what Victoria was alluding to as she emphasized the last word.
“Oh? Is that so?” Joshua asked, narrowing his eyes at his sister. “I’m glad. For now, though, Lucy has enough dresses to last her for the Season and the next.”
And the next.
Those words made Lucy’s heart sink.
Was that what her brother thought? She would simply move from one Season to another, unmarried and unattached.
“I believe Lucy needs to go home now,” he added.
Lucy was about to protest, but she met Victoria’s eyes.
Her friend gave her a wink, and when Joshua’s back was already turned, she only mouthed a single word.
“Soon.”