Page 82 of A Duke in the Rough

Honoria’s name had him taking a step forward, landing on a dried leaf.

Crunch.

“What was that?” Anne spun around, her line of sight directed right toward him.

He slinked back into the shadows of the trees and held his breath.

“It was nothing. Probably an orange dropping from a tree. They do that sometimes. I know I’m not a man, but focus on me, Anne.”

Drake stifled a chuckle. What was Simon’s problem with the lady? She had a delightful wit.

Anne huffed. “You don’t have to be rude.”

“Do you care about Honoria?”

“Of course I care about her. She’s certainly nicer to me than you are.”

“Good grief, Anne. Everyone’s nicer to you than I am. That’s not the point. I need to talk to you about Mr. Merrick.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you serious about him?”

“Well, he did save me, and he’s been so sweet since my fall. But . . .”

“But, what?”

Drake heard Anne’s sigh even from his position several yards away.

“Well, the duke has also been most attentive. I’m so confused. Icould be a duchess, Charlotte. A duchess! But how can I break Mr. Merrick’s poor heart?”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

“Well, of course I do. I’m not a monster, Charlotte. Unlike you, I care about men’s feelings.”

To her credit, Lady Charlotte didn’t even flinch at the slight. “What I mean is, I think Mr. Merrick’s heart belongs to another.”

“Noooo.” The incredulity in Anne’s voice was almost comical. “Who? It’s Lydia, isn’t it? That scheming?—”

“It’s not Lydia. I want you to do something, Anne. I want you to pay very close attention to Mr. Merrick when he’s around Honoria. Watch their faces.”

“Honoria? Does Honoria have feelings for Mr. Merrick? Is he in love with Honoria? What did she tell you?” The questions poured from Anne’s mouth faster than a galloping stallion.

“I promised I wouldn’t say anything. Just watch them. I think you’ll have your answer. And don’t you dare tell Honoria or Miranda we had this talk.”

Anne propped her hands on her hips. “Or you’ll what?”

“You don’t want to find out.” With that, Charlotte trounced from the orangery.

Anne stood motionless for a moment, then shook her head. “Honoria and Mr. Merrick. It’s unthinkable.”

For a moment, he worried she might venture farther inside toward him, but the door opened and Simon popped his head around it. “There you are. We need another for whist. Would you care to join me, Miss Weatherby?”

“Oh, yes, Your Grace. I’d be delighted.”

Tightness in Drake’s chest eased as he was once again alone in the solitude he’d sought, the orange still clutched in his hand. Hope fluttered in his chest. Did Honoria truly still have feelings for him? It wasn’t just Stratford’s overactive imagination? He would wait a few more moments and then step outside. Possibly go for a ride to ponder the scene he witnessed.

It would appear, although at odds with each other, Simon and Lady Charlotte were his and Honoria’s greatest advocates. He would tellSimon later that they made a great pair—no doubt causing a string of curses to fly from Simon’s lips.

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