Page 102 of The Good Duke
The pull was broken.
Rather, Simon’s hold on theleashwas.
His mostobedientdog bolted. With her large, pink tongue lolling out of her mouth, she dashed through the shop, weaving under tables and between aisles and around guests.
Persephone, her cheeks red with merriment, gaily laughed. As if that phantasmic moment had belonged only to Simon, Persephone hopped to her feet and took off after the dog.
Simon, staring bemusedly after her, came slowly to his feet. He stood, unable to look away from the sight she made, a fae fairy flitting among fields of flowers. The peal of her laughter proved infectious amongst all the patrons present, who smiled as she dashed past them, making her apologies.
Somewhere around two rows from where he stood, Persephone must have registered that she alone sought to catch hisobedientdog.
“Well?” she called breathlessly from across the shop. “Do you intend to help me, Your Grace?”
Simon cupped his hands around his mouth. “I believed you had it under control, Miss Forsyth. Given you do not, I am all too happy to lend my services.”
From the five paces between them, Persephone’s gasp reached him as did the wicked glimmer in her eyes. “We shall see which of us proves the victor.”
With that, Persephone spun on her heel and raced after the tireless, still-running pup.
And even as he was to go give his own dog chase, he found himself forcibly fighting the urge to follow after Persephone.
Chapter 19
Running gaily through the flower shop in pursuit of Simon’s pup, Persephone strove to recall a time when she’d had as much fun as this.
For so long, her days had run into years. She’d lived to work, and though she’d not disliked the work she performed, neither had it occurred to her how very much she’d hungered for the levity life had once been.
There’d been charges and lessons to design and meetings with employers. It had all filled up every moment of every day, so she’d not had a chance to breathe…or even to realize all she’d lost when her father died. The need to survive and support herself had taken precedence.
When her father passed, so too did Persephone’s ability to be a carefree young woman. And it only made sense that Simon, the boy who’d been her best friend—and only friend in the world—should happen to be the man to open her eyes to everything she missed most.
Perhaps that is why your lives have converged? Perhaps all along, you were destined to be together.
Persephone came up so quickly, she nearly tumbled head over feet. Her fingers found purchase on a nearby table filled with various stalks of greenery.
All around her, the world continued at a dizzying pace, with people passing by. As if she were underwater, the voices around her—their laughter, their murmured exchanges—all moved in and out of focus.
Destined to be together? Her and Simon?
It was preposterous. Implausible. Impossible. She did not tolerate, let alone care for, jaded men with sardonic humor. And yet…
Simon wasn’t just any man. He was…Simon.
And I…I…love him.
Against Persephone’s ribcage, her heart thudded at a sickening beat.
She gripped the edge of the pine table harder, so hard her fingernails sank into the soft wood.
It was impossible. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t ever do something as foolish as to fall in love with a grown-up Simon—not the hard, guarded man he’d become.
But…he’d proven to still possess the big heart and generosity and humor he’d always possessed.
Her breath came in noisy little spurts. She squeezed her eyes shut.No good comes from loving Simon Broadbent, Duke of Greystoke. This is a disaster…
Need it be?a voice whispered around her mind.
Yes, he’d sworn he had no interest or wish in anything but a marriage of convenience. That cold decision, however, had been reached after years of heartbreak and rejection. He’d only transformed into a cynical, guarded man to protect himself from further pain.
