Page 6 of The One With the Duke's Curvy Bride

“Stop.” Pauline tugged on her sister’s arm. “In a minute or less, we’re going to find Henry in the garden waiting for a prearranged visit with me, and you will be acting as the chaperone. Tell me you don’t want that to happen.”

Philomena dared not look into her sister’s eyes. Instead, she focused on her sister’s skirts skimming the ground. She was so close to having what she had always wanted. What was holding her back?

What if last night meant nothing to him? What if it was all in her head? If they never addressed it, she could keep the fantasy alive. If they addressed it, and he admitted it was a mistake, all her dreams would float away on a cloud. It would be far too unreasonable to cling to any hope in the face of such blatant rejection.

And if anything, Philomena was reasonable. Which meant…she needed to face Henry.

Staring straight ahead at a row of bushes, which Henry was likely standing behind, Philomena lowered her voice. “Tell him you’ve turned your ankle.”

“That’s the spirit!”

“Keep your voice down.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened?”

Philomena finally glanced at Paulina. Given the situation, Philomena should have been the one bearing the glittering grin, but it was Paulina.

“I might.”

“You might later or never?”

“I might tell you. I haven’t decided.”

“Oh, Mina. You think too much. I hope he ravished you like we’ve read inThe Way of a Wanton Woman.” Paulina poked her shoulder, and, as if it were a button, redness crept into Philomena’s cheeks.

“Oh he did, didn’t he?” Paulina clapped her hands over her mouth.I’m so excited for youwas what Philomena interpreted through the muffled sounds.

She grunted in reply.

“It was that good, was it?”

“Paulina, please.”

“Don’t worry, if there’s a scandal, we’ll get cousin Quinn involved.” Paulina shook her head in reproof. “Oh, there are just too many people missing from this party.”

“What will Quinn do? He’s just a colonel.”

“He’d shoot someone for you, I’m sure. Or at least threaten to.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Philomena chided. “Besides, it’s not like he’s a duke. He can’t just get away with murder.”

“You’re right. But he would make a good duke, wouldn’t he?”

“Paulina, what are you talking about?”

“Well, I thought you wanted to avoid our other topic.” She paused. “The one about you being ravished.”

And just when Philomena thought her cheeks had returned to their normal shade and temperature, they were right back to flaming hot.

“We can’t walk up to Henry if I’m as red as an apple.” Before Paulina could interrupt with a placating reassurance that Philomena did indeed not look like the tempting fruit, she plodded on. “And you know I look like one. Don’t deny it. I can feel it, you know? That’s the worst part. I don’t want it to be there. I’m not embarrassed, per se…Yet still, this ridiculous physical reaction occurs.”

“You look beautiful,” Paulina whispered with a smile.

“Thank you.” Philomena returned the grin. “All right, it’s safe to forge ahead. Let’s go.”

So it was that Philomena and Paulina rounded the shrubs to find Henry standing there with the largest grin on his face.

“Paulina, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve turned your ankle.”

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