“Wh-who is that?” Her head jerked toward him, her eyes questioning.
“A relative of the duke’s. Now hurry.” He grasped her arm and tugged. “Hurry.”
With her head still craned toward the portrait of his father, she followed.
At the door, he gave her one quick kiss. “I’ll speak to your father first thing after breakfast.”
He watched as she hurried down the hall, only releasing his breath when she slipped inside her room.
Moments later, Simon raced back down the hall toward him.
“Is she gone?”
Drake nodded, too exhausted to find the words to answer.
Simon grinned wickedly. “I hope congratulations are in order.”
“Shut it.” Drake turned to go back inside and get dressed.
Simon laughed. “I meant for your upcoming nuptials.”
Drake slammed the door in his friend’s face. He had no doubt that Honoria’s father would give his blessing for their marriage. Once he learned the true identity of the Duke of Burwood, that was.
Honoria would be another matter.
And that was Drake’s greater worry.
In her room,Honoria raced over to the bed, rumpling the smooth linens and counterpane.
Her hands flew to the hair swinging down and curtaining her face.Where was her ribbon? In her haste, she must have left it in Drake’s room where she’d unfastened her plait.
Think, Honoria. Think.
The clock on her mantle marked the quarter hour. Susan would arrive soon to lay out Honoria’s clothing for the day.
Honoria scrambled to the dressing table and searched for another ribbon. If she could braid her hair quickly and get back into bed, Susan would be none the wiser.
With a creak, the door opened. “My lady. I didn’t expect you up so early. Not after the ball last night.” Susan breezed into the room and threw open the curtains. “Looks to be a sunny day,” she said, as if the bright yellow streams of light didn’t already give evidence to that fact.
Honoria fumbled in the dressing table drawer, latching upon a hairbrush.Thank goodness.She managed to get it through her hair as Susan turned and faced her.
“Oh, my lady. Let me do that.” Susan snatched the brush from Honoria and began pulling it through her hair. “Was the ball wonderful? We could see the fireworks from the windows.” She sighed.
“It was lovely, Susan.”
Susan paused her brushing and met Honoria’s gaze in the mirror. “You have a glow about you this morning. Especially for as little sleep as I expect you had.”
If only she knew how little sleep Honoria actually did get. On second thought . . . Fire burned her cheeks at the memories.
Susan’s eyes widened. “Oh, did a gentleman show particular interest? Perhaps the duke? The other maids say he’s looking for a bride.”
Susan prattled on about other gossip, but Honoria only caught snippets. Something about that portrait in Drake’s room gave her pause. The man in it looked incredibly like Drake. But Drake said it was a relative of the duke’s.
“What’s wrong?” Susan asked.
Wrong? Sure enough, when Honoria peered at her reflection, a deep frown covered her face. “I’m sorry. Nothing. What were you saying?”
“I was telling you about Mr. Merrick.The Muckrakerarrived, and it says he’s to marry Miss Anne Weatherby.”
