Page 109 of A Duke in the Rough

“Thank you, dear. Come, Stratford.” Her mother threaded her arm through her father’s.

As she watched her parents enter the house, her heart grew heavy. She prayed that she could persuade her father to understand. Could she enlist Colin’s help? Although he’d been opposed to the match all those years ago, she wasn’t a child any longer. Between her mother and brother, could they get her father to see reason? Or would she lose her family?

“All alone?” She practically jumped at Burwood’s appearance.

His simple question gave voice to her fear.

Filledwith both elation and nervous energy, Drake paced the floor of his room. Free! No longer bound by his hasty promise to Anne, he could finally breathe. Stopping by the open window, he pulled a great lungful in, then coughed, the air still smoky from gunpowder.

So racked with his coughing, he didn’t hear the knock at his door—if there even was one.

“There you are.” Simon entered, then closed the door behind him.

Even Simon’s lack of respect for Drake’s privacy couldn’t sour his mood. Still, he had no qualms about needling his friend. “Who let you in here? Can’t a man have a moment of peace to himself without you barging in uninvited? And what if I weren’t alone?”

Simon snorted a laugh. “Shall I look under the bed for your hidden paramour? You’re about as likely to have a woman in your room as I am to entertain thepleasureof Lady Charlotte.” He snorted another laugh to prove his point. “And”—he pointed a finger at Drake—“the only woman who’s not your relation you would want in your room would be Honoria. And we both know that’s even more unlikely.”

Drake propped his hands on his hips. “What’s unlikely? That I would want her in my room, or she’d be here?”

Simon pursed his lips and rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

Drake wanted to hit the fool. “Well?”

“Can’t you see I’m thinking?”

“Ha! Don’t strain yourself.”

“The point is, if you even have to ask me that, I worry seriously about your future with Honoria. I wouldhopeyou would want her in your room—maybe even dreamed about it. Youdoknow what to do when the time comes, I hope?”

Drake bristled. “Of course I know what to do. In theory,” he mumbled the last. “Remember, I was a groom on an estate.”

Simon barked a laugh. “I hope you don’t treat Honoria like some prized mare to be bred. Each woman is different, and you have to know what pleases her in particular. Some require tenderness and some prefer, shall we say, a more vigorous approach. You must attune to her needs.”

Drake’s face heated. “Why are we having this conversation?”

“Because with luck—and as long as you don’t muck things up—you will find yourself married to Honoria, and I don’t want you fumbling about on your wedding night like some green school boy. Not only is it my duty as your friend, but I like Honoria far too much to have you bungling things with her in the marriage bed. From your red face, it’s clear you need my instruction.”

“Go away, Simon.”

Rather than graciously heeding Drake’s request, Simon helped himself to the chair by the window, settling down like he expected to be there for quite some time. “Did Lady Montgomery straighten things out with Honoria? And what happened with Anne? You were gone for some time before the last set.”

Knowing full well Simon wouldn’t leave until he received a satisfactory answer, Drake took a seat on the bed. “It’s over with Anne. She’s released me.”

A devilish grin spread across Simon’s face. “I knew my plan would work.”

Drake wanted to wipe off the smug look. “I don’t think it was just your attention toward her. Anne admitted to being blinded by her own hopes. But when she took care to notice, it was clear to her how I feel about Honoria.” He shook his head. “I hated hurting her, but I’m grateful for her understanding.”

“And Honoria?”

Drake drew a hand down his face, exhaustion from the day finally manifesting. “She promises she won’t let anything stand in our way again. I want to believe her. Really, I do.” Simon had no idea how much. But the demons of doubt had a stranglehold on him.

“Then believe her. I spoke with her this evening before you left with Anne. She’s ready to do what she must to prove she still loves you, even defy her father.”

“I pray you’re right. But I don’t want Honoria to feel like she has to choose between me and her family. When I was young and foolish I did. But no longer. Family is important. My own parents’ history taught me that lesson. I don’t want Stratford to disown her like my grandfather did to my father.”

“That’s all very noble, but Stratford won’t object when you tell him who you really are.”

Drake bolted from the bed. “Don’t you understand? It’s not only Honoria’s acceptance I want. It’s Stratford’s. You weren’t there when I asked for Honoria’s hand. He looked at me like I was muck from the stables he wanted to wipe from his boots. I want to be worthy of her in his eyes for who I am as a man—not because of a title. And this struggle is pulling me apart.”

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