Page 114 of The Good Duke
“So, youareangry.”
“I’m notmiffed. I’m notangry. I amannoyedthat you don’t understand the work it entails to organize such an undertaking with this little bit of time,” she said tersely. “There is a list of guests to draft and invitations to be drawn up and sent out. There is the matter of a dinner menu, and that is only half of it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Your Grace.”
With that, Persephone went tramping off, leaving Simon staring bemusedly after her.
Chapter 21
She’d prayed for rain.
Nay, not just rain. Rather, a deluge, one so powerful it would have flooded the streets to the point of impassable and muddied gardens and grounds all over London.
It hadn’t even been a huge ask on Persephone’s part. Nor outside the realm of reasonable possibility or expectation. After all, this was England, land of rain, fog, and tea.
Instead, she’d gotten sunlight.Dazzling, fierce, glaring sunlight.
Seated on the carriage bench across from Simon on their way to Hyde Park, Persephone’s eyes actually hurt from the blinding rays that radiated through gleaming crystal windows.
She scowled.
Of course. Aperfectlate spring day.
It was decided—God hated Persephone.
Nay, Persephone was hardly important enough to merit the Lord’s attention—she’d learned that enough since her father’s death and the subsequent tumult her life became in the wake of his passing.
Simon. It was definitely Simon who hated her.
After all, only a perverse man bent on torment would have forced Persephone along on an outing with both the young lady he was courting and also Persephone’s former lover.
Though, in fairness, he doesn’t know about Silas, the voice of reason whispered in her head.
He didn’t. Did he?
He couldn’t.
Only…
Her stomach clenched.
What if he did?
She angled her head a hair and snuck a look at him.
He didn’t wear the taunting grin or cocksure arrogance that had greeted her upon their reunion. Rather, his attention remained outward at the opposite window, fixed on the streets out there.
Sighing softly, she returned her gaze toherwindow.
Of course, Simon wouldn’t have ever been so deliberately cruel to Persephone. For all the ways life and time had changed him, he’d retained the good, honorable parts of his heart and soul. It’d been disloyal of her to evenconsiderhe was forcing Persephone along on a walk to meet the man who’d betrayed her.
Simon wouldn’t force her to face her former lover like this. That she could say with absolute confidence.
The carriage hit a slight dip in the road and sent the conveyance jostling. A little whine split the quiet of her troubled thoughts and pulled Persephone’s self-preoccupied musings to an inordinately quiet Astrid.
“Forgive me,” she murmured. Reaching down, Persephone scooped her off the floor and placed the beautiful white pup upon her lap.
Astrid burrowed and nuzzled against Persephone’s belly before ultimately settling into a comfortable rest. Absently, Persephone stroked her back, and that motion proved soothing to both of them. One more than the other.
No, Simon wouldn’tdeliberatelyhurt her.
