Page 28 of A Duke in the Rough


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“Nothing! That’s what you did. Absolutely, nothing!”

“You pushed me into her! What would you have had me do? Propose on the spot?”

Simon had the gall to grin. “That would have been nice.”

“And you call me mad?” Drake ran a hand through his wet hair. “Her parents were in plain sight. They hate me, Simon. Turned her against me. How do you think they felt seeing me falling on top of her?” He summoned his most menacing glare. “You’re not helping my cause.”

Simon’s brows hitched. “Your cause? So you’ve finally come to your senses and admit you still love her? Plan to win her back?”

Drake’s mouth moved, but no sound emerged.Damnation!How quickly hisfriendtook advantage of the crack in his armor. Finally gathering his wits, he said, “I didn’t say that. But my cause is to find a bride, and Lord Stratford is a powerful man. He could sway other fathers or brothers against me.”

Simon studied his perfectly manicured nails. “Not more powerfulthan a duke.”

“Theydon’t know that. To them, I’m a simple man of business.”

Anger flared in Simon’s eyes. “Watch who you’re calling simple. And need I remind you, this was your brilliant idea.” He raised his voice to an annoying falsetto, the opposite of Drake’s baritone. “‘I want a woman who wants me for me. I don’t want them blinded by a title,’ you said.”

Thosewerehis words. Drat the man and his unwavering memory. Drake called forth the lie that he no longer cared for Honoria, but it froze on his tongue. Instead, he threw what Simon said back at him. “Exactly. Which history has shown is not the Lady Honoria. Under the pressure from her family, she rejected me because I wasn’t good enough. Said it wasfor the best.” He snorted aharrumph. “Best forher.”

“What could a girl of ten-and-seven have done? She hadn’t reached her majority, and her father refused his permission. Did you really think she would go with you all the way to Gretna Green? From Somerset? Her father’s men would have found you within two days at the most.”

Drake clenched his fists, wishing he could pound on something. Simon’s face tempted him. “She’s not a girl any longer, and yet she still rejects me. Sheknewit was me, Simon. I could see it in her eyes when she removed the blindfold. Yet she refused to admit it.”

“She may have had her reasons.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“The side of love.”

Drake snorted a laugh and turned his back on his friend. “What do you know of love?” he mumbled.

“Enough to know two people who should be together are apart because of pride and stubbornness.” He stomped to the door, throwing it open, startling Frampton.

“Your Grace, a letter.” The butler held out the silver salver, his eyes darting between Simon and Drake.

“It’s all yours,” Simon said and slid around Frampton to make his escape.

Drake frowned at the sender’s name above the seal.Who?

My Lord Duke,

Imagine my surprise when, only last week, I received word of your arrival at Hartridge House. Then, to my greater astonishment, I had to read in The Muckraker, of all places, you were hosting a house party. Did your solicitor not inform you of my existence?

My invitation must have been misplaced, for surely you would not be so remiss as to exclude one of your few remaining relatives on your father’s side.

But allowances must be made as you, no doubt, are still becoming accustomed to proper etiquette among the ton. I am sending this letter ahead as a courtesy. Expect me to follow shortly.

Katherine Dickens, the Countess Gryffin (your great aunt).

Great aunt?

Drake searched his memory. The solicitor’s letter announcing his inheritance had been brief. And although his mother’s explanation of the events preceding his birth and life as Drake Merrick had filled in some gaps, there were still enormous holes in the knowledge of his paternal line.

Had the solicitor mentioned a great aunt? Drake had been in a state of numbed shock during his meeting with the man, stunned into silence at the outrageous wealth left at his disposal.

Wait. There wassomething. Or should he saysomeone? An Aunt Kitty. Mentioned in passing, her name became lost in the jumble of details about the estate. But Drake recalled descriptors such as sharp-witted, eccentric, and tenacious associated withdear Aunt Kitty.

He would have to prepare Simon with the little knowledge he did possess. Hopefully, given her age, Aunt Kitty’s mind wasn’t so sharp as to see through their ruse.