Devil Disguised (30 page)

“I hardly know the man and from what I do know I find him witless and a complete bore!”

“What?” Duncan ran his hand through his hair. “I thought you knew him well and that he had honorable intentions.”

“His family is hardly known in the ton and I did not spend a great deal of time learning much about him.”

“Then why did you choose him for Lily?”

“Dammit, I never really thought it would go this far! I thought she would dislike him or ignore him.”

“But, why?” Duncan pressed.

Charles finished his second drink and then slammed the glass down. “Because I wanted her to notice someone
else.” He looked pointedly at Duncan. “I wanted her to have even more reason to notice you. There is no one else I would rather see her with than you.”

Duncan gaped and sat down in the chair behind him. “What did you just say?”

Charles ran his hands through his hair. “Dammit, Duncan. You heard me! I am not daft! I had hoped that something would develop between the two of you while she stayed here. I thought you would find her impossible to resist and vice versa.”

“You devil,” Duncan scoffed. “Then why the hell did you look at us the way you did when you arrived after that storm?”

“I know what I had hoped for, but seeing the two of you ride up together as if you had just made love was still a bit of a shock.”

Duncan felt his cheeks flush as he reached for his glass and finished the contents.

Charles sat down and watched Duncan closely. “I see. So my assumption was correct?”

Duncan looked down and said, “Listen, Charles, what happened between Lily and -.”

“Oh, my God,” Charles interrupted as he stood up suddenly. Turning sideways, he exhaled in disbelief before he said, “That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“Lily! It explains, Lily!”

“Charles, what are you talking about?” Duncan asked harshly.

“Duncan, think about it. Why would a woman rush into a marriage with a man she hardly knows?”

Duncan felt the color drain from his face. “What are you saying?”

“You know exactly what I’m saying. Lily was with you just six weeks ago and now she feels obligated to marry someone.”

Duncan sat quietly as all thoughts and words left him.

Charles ordered, “You need to come back to London. You need to see Lily.”

“I can’t do that,” Duncan murmured.

Charles shouted, “Dammit, Duncan! Ignore your damn pride for just once! Lily is going to agree to marry someone for all the wrong reasons! She has not been herself and only tells me she mailed you letters as if that is some sort of explanation for her actions! Since we do not know what those letters indicated, you need to see her!”

Duncan shook his head in silent response.

Charles clutched the top of Duncan’s shoulder and met his gaze. “You will do it. Saturday is a masquerade ball at the Northrups’ home.” He chuckled. “Hell, if you keep that beard growing and do not cut your hair you will not even have to wear a mask to the ball. It is perfect. No one has to even know you are there, but you can see Lily.”

Duncan brushed his friend’s hand off his shoulder and said, “I am not certain my going to London will change anything.”

“Are you serious?” Charles asked harshly.

Duncan nodded. “I am afraid so, but you have given me a lot of information to digest.”

Charles stepped back and glared. “Information to digest! What is this, a dinner party?” He shook his head and said, “You disappoint me, Duncan. I never thought
I would say that after everything we have been through together. What happened to the fearless man who would do the most reckless things in the name of what he wanted or what he believed in? You may think Fiona or even members of the ton ruined you, but you did it to yourself. Even if I am wrong about Lily’s condition and the reason she is planning to marry another man, you are a coward for not seeing her. A damn coward.”

“Get out of my home,” Duncan ordered.

“With pleasure,” Charles replied as he turned and left the room.

The door slammed and Duncan sat down in the chair behind him. He unclenched his fists from their unconscious hold and put his hands on his head. Lily may be pregnant. His heart tightened in his chest as the shock of the idea hit him again. Her letter said nothing about her health and why the hell would she keep it from him? She had called him a coward once, during the night they shared in the cottage. He stood and walked out of the room with a purpose he had not felt before. He needed to go to visit that city where the Queen has a tower.

ILY HEARD THE
knock and said, “Enter.” Charles walked in and said, “Lily, I have a -.” He gaped. “Lily, you look amazing.”

Lily blushed. “Thank you.”

“Move aside, Charles!”

Lily looked behind her uncle as Eleanor came into view.

“Eleanor!” Lily gushed as she stepped forward.

Eleanor glided into the room and hugged her. “Surprise!”

“Goodness, I did not think you were going to be here this weekend!”

“You know Andrew and I wanted to be here. We are so glad he returned early from his business out of town so we were able to be here in time for the ball.”

“I will leave you ladies alone,” Charles said as he stepped back.

“Thank you, Charles,” Eleanor said sweetly.

Lily tilted her head sideways as she observed her uncle and her friend while he closed the bedroom door. There was a connection there she had not noticed before. She said, “If I did not know better I would think the two of you are conspiring together.”

Eleanor grinned before she said, “We are in complete agreement when it comes to you.”

“Really? You and Charles? Hmmm.” Lily looked at Eleanor as if she was examining a puzzle.

Squinting her eyes, Eleanor replied, “Well, yes. We are very good friends, but I must admit I did have quite an infatuation with him when I was younger. He was always stopping by the house to see Duncan and he was quite the catch. For a long time I had hoped he would notice me, but I am Duncan’s little sister. Then I met Andrew and I let go of my attraction towards Charles. Even so, we surprisingly share some similar interests and keep in contact with one another. But, I am not here to talk about me. I am here to see you or what is becoming less of you! Please tell me you have eaten something today?”

“Of course,” Lily replied, lying easily.

Pausing, Eleanor gasped as she looked over the dress Lily wore and said, “Still, Lily, you do look beautiful. The sheer light blue overlay over that white dress is gorgeous. You look like an angel. Is your mask white as well?”

Lily smiled and picked up her mask. “It is a match for the dress in both the white and blue.”

“Perfect!” Eleanor gushed. “Oh! The heart-shaped blue stone of your necklace is lovely.”

Touching her jewelry Lily said, “Yes, it is. Richard gave it to me to wear tonight.”

“Oh.” Eleanor stepped back and her smile faded. “Lily, why are you marrying him?”

Reaching for her gloves, Lily replied, “I have no reason not to.”

“No reason not to, is not a reason,” Eleanor scoffed.

“All right. Richard is nice, understanding, polite, and he is better looking than I expected.”

Eleanor grimaced before she said, “I suppose I cannot argue with that, but is there any other reason or at least an explanation as to why you seem to be pushing this forward?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Lily turned away from her friend. “There may have been another reason, but that has passed.”

Eleanor stepped forward and touched Lily’s elbow. “If the reason has passed then I must ask you, what about Duncan?”

“What about him, Eleanor? I had written to him several times, but now I realize his lack of reply is my only response and that is all I need to know.”

Lily stepped sideways, but Eleanor matched her movement to hold her gaze as she said, “I cannot understand why my brother did not reply, but I know he has been a mess since you left. Please tell me, what did the letters say?”

Closing her eyes, Lily inhaled deeply before she replied, “The first letter was simply to thank him for all he did for me and to mention he was welcome to visit. The next letter was my sincere request to ask him to visit London and then I wrote another to request that he visit again. Then I realized if he wanted to get over his fear of London and
see me; if he missed me at all, then I should not have to ask him to come.”

Pausing to consider her next words, Lily said, “Then I realized if Duncan came to visit me and did not court me, it would cause more scandal for me. I have not told you or Charles the nasty comments I had heard upon my return. I did my best to ignore the ridicule, but if Richard did not court me, the gossips would have had even more food for their feast. See, if Duncan came simply to visit me the gossips would start all over again and wonder about the time I spent with him at his estate. So, I wrote Duncan another letter asking him not to return to London or if he did return to wait until after I was married.”

Eleanor stepped back, her expression glum. She whispered, “Lily, what about love?”

“I am not worried about that now. I am fond of Richard and maybe it is best that I do not care too deeply for him, maybe he will make it to the wedding.”

Eleanor gasped, and then her hands covered her mouth. Recovering she said, “You cannot be serious? Lily, the person who killed your former fiancé is now in the asylum. You cannot still think your new fiancé will somehow be doomed?”

Crossing her arms over her chest Lily replied, “What I think is my own business, Eleanor. I am grateful for your concern, but I am fine and I really need to finish getting ready.”

Shaking her head at the clear dismissal, Eleanor walked to the door. Opening the door she said, “I only want you to be happy. Please do not do something you will regret for the wrong reasons.”

Lily nodded and murmured, “I will not, but thank you.”

The door was shut and Lily reached out to touch the doorknob to steady herself. Inhaling sharply she covered her mouth to stop her sob from escaping. Tears began to form in her eyes and she stepped back from the door. She took a deep breath and brushed the tears away before they could fall. She needed her composure tonight in order to do what she needed to and move forward. Tonight, the ton would know she was engaged to Richard Hastings.

Walking into the ballroom on the arm of her uncle, Lily felt her confidence returning. Everyone wore their masks and it added a certain power and allure to one’s persona, even her own. Her mask firmly in place she smiled as she greeted many members of the ton and she enjoyed guessing at who everyone was or who they were trying to be. Her dance card was filled quickly and before she knew it, she was dancing the first waltz.

Richard said, “You look so beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you. It is a special night.”

He looked at her inquisitively and said, “I hope you truly think so. I think our marriage will be a surprise.”

She smiled. “I think you may be right.”

He leaned forward to whisper, “Do you think we may celebrate a little after the ball? I would like to take you home in my carriage. I think it would be appropriate.”

Lily inhaled and did her best to hide the unexplainable shiver that ran along her spine. She replied, “I appreciate that you have been very patient with me, Richard.”