Page 88 of The Good Duke
Simon reached for his glasses but froze mid-movement at her next words.
“You will be happy to know, Your Grace, I have been hard at work these past days searching for your perfect bride.”
Glowering, Simon gave Persephone a harsh once over. “My goodness, what a mercenary creature you are,” he jeered. “You’ll come long and loud for me one minute and in the next measured breath you’re able to take, you discuss my future duchess.”
Fire blazed across her cheeks. Persephone cleared her throat. Gathering up his wire-rimmed spectacles, he waved them in Persephone’s general direction. She waited until he’d collected his. “There is more.”
He tossed his head back and howled with sardonic laughter. When Simon’s caustic-sounding mirth faded, he waved his glasses in Persephone’s general direction. “Very well. Themore, madam?”
Persephone beamed. “I found her.”
His brow furrowed in an endearingly boyish confusion she recognized all too well. “You…”
“Found her.” She finished the rest of that thought for him.
Befuddled, Simon glanced around like he sought the “her” in question.
Persephone suppressed a smile. She gave a nod.
At his protracted silence, she gave a gentle prodding.
“Simon?”
“Hmm?” he murmured absently.
“I am also pleased to say she is here now. If you’ll excuse me while I go fetch her.”
And with a glib Simon at last knocked from his perch, Persephone gave her curls a little toss and headed off to collect the lady of his dreams so they might properly meet.
“P-Persephone!” he stammered, just as she clasped the handle.
When she had her smile firmly in check, Persephone faced Simon once more.
“Let me be sure I have this clear. You found me—”
“The very lady that you were looking for,” Persephone completed. “Yes, we’ve covered all that. You may thank me later.”
He continued to stand there dumbstruck. “And sh-she is heren-now?” His voice skidded up an octave.
She nodded.
Silence fell, and Persephone reveled in his discomfiture, lapping it up like a barberry ice.
She batted her lashes. Then she asked, calling forth all the innocence of a doe-eyed debutante, “Is there aproblem?”
Dumbly, he shook his head.
“Splendid. If you’ll excuse me then, Simon…I will be along with Lady Chl—”
The full name hadn’t even left her lips when he dissolved into a choking fit.
His cheeks grew florid.
For the first time since she’d flipped the tables on him, Persephone grew concerned she’d gone too far. “Simon?” she asked, venturing over. “Are you all—”
He stayed her with a hand. “F-Fine. J-just f-fine,” he managed to rasp out between great, heaving gasps. Simon took several moments to compose himself.
Once he’d regained control of himself, a harsh glint iced over his gaze. “Well, let us get on with it. Let me see the first Diamond you’ve brought me.”
