The Unexpected Duchess by Valerie Bowman Read Free Book Online Page A

stood Lady Cassandra looking as lovely as one of the flowers at her feet.
    “Lady Cassandra,” he called. “What are you doing up there? I was hoping you would agree to go for a walk with me in the gardens.” He gestured toward the garden path in invitation. The candlelight wasn’t as strong in this part of the garden and while he could make out Lady Cassandra’s form, she was cloaked in shadows for the most part, including her face.
    “Your Grace, I prefer to remain here, and there’s something I wanted to say to you.” Her voice was steady and sure. More steady and sure than he’d ever heard it, actually.
    He nodded. “Yes?”
    “Stop courting me.”
    He furrowed his brow. “Pardon?”
    “You’re wasting your time.”
    Heat rushed to Derek’s face. Wasting his time? Those were Lucy’s words, not Lady Cassandra’s. Now he understood. The waning candlelight, the balcony, the fact that her voice was a bit different. Lady Lucy was behind this. Literally. She was standing behind Lady Cassandra and speaking for her. He might not be able to see her, but he knew without a doubt she was there. He should be furious. Instead he found himself more than a little amused.
    “I am?” he asked, smothering his smile. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “Yes, I want you to go away. For good.”
    Derek twisted his lips. His amusement faded. He’d had just about enough of these antics. He’d made a promise to Swift, damn it. He was a decent catch. He knew that much. And he knew deep down that if Lady Cassandra had a chance to get away from her bossy friend, she might be persuaded to give him a chance. Instead, he found himself in the idiotic position of having to prove to this young lady that a duke was actually someone she might want to consider marrying. Utterly ridiculous. If he hadn’t promised Swift, he might readily walk away from this entire situation, but he had promised Swift. Damn inconvenient, that, and Derek refused to be dissuaded by the likes of Lucy Upton. With that thought riding high in his mind, he called back to Lady Cassandra. “What if I refuse?”
    That should do it. The feisty Lady Lucy didn’t like it when anyone questioned her.
    The voice became a bit more piqued. “Why would you refuse?”
    He folded his hands together behind his back. “Because I intend to change your mind.”
    This time the voice was decidedly disgruntled. “Your Grace. I don’t mean to be rude, but—”
    “Don’t you?” he countered.
    “Of course not. What an utterly stupid question.”
    “Lucy!” This obviously from the real Lady Cassandra.
    “Cass, stop it,” came Lady Lucy’s hushed whisper.
    “I don’t enjoy being rude,” the fake Lady Cassandra’s voice amended. “But you leave me little choice as you’re completely insufferable.”
    “Lucy!” came Lady Cassandra’s half-strangled voice in reply.
    Derek unabashedly grinned up at them. “Let’s stop this, shall we? Lady Lucy, if you have something, rude or otherwise, to say to me, I suggest you say it directly.”
    Lady Cassandra squeaked and fell back into the shadows and Lady Lucy’s defiant, pretty little face appeared. She leaned over the balcony and blinked at him, shooting daggers with her unusual eyes. She braced both hands against the balustrade and leaned down to challenge him head-on. “Fine, Your Grace. Let me be quite clear. Cass isn’t available. Leave her alone.”
    Beside her, Lady Cassandra hung her head.
    Derek glanced at Lady Cassandra. “Is that right, my lady? You’re not available? When I asked you yesterday you said you were not betrothed to another.”
    “I’m … not,” she breathed, tugging on her gloves and looking extremely uncomfortable.
    “Then I don’t understand,” he replied.
    Lady Lucy hunched her shoulders and glared at him. “You don’t have to understand. I’m telling you.”
    Ignoring Lady Lucy’s reddening face, he turned his gaze to the other lady again. “Is this true, Lady