Page 80 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“Good.” The practical choice was to hear the bad news first and comfort herself with the good, but she wasn’t feeling practical.
Louisa smiled conspiratorially and slipped her the envelope as if it was a secret missive she’d need to burn after reading. “It’s from a publisher in London. Mr. Peabody.”
Bella frowned and took the letter gingerly. “I’ve already met with him. He rejected me.”
“What does it say?” Louisa sat in one of the chairs near the window and leaned forward eagerly.
The man had been unequivocal and curt the day she’d met with him. He’d made her feel as if she was wasting his time by even visiting his office.
“Perhaps this is just a formal written rejection.” Bella slid her fingernail along the letter’s closure and pulled the note free. She read the formal salutation with a sigh and then gasped.
“Is it good news?” Louisa leaned closer, attempting to peek over the letter’s edge.
“He says he would like to see the full manuscript and invites me to visit next week or at my earliest convenience.” Even as Bella heard her own words and reread the note, she couldn’t quite believe the man’s change of tone. “It makes very little sense.”
“People change their minds, Bella. Did you leave any of your manuscript with him? Perhaps he took a closer look and reconsidered.”
“I didn’t though. He had a cursory glance at a few pages and told me no. Very firmly.”
“Then this truly is good news.” Louisa beamed proudly. “He’s changed his mind and wishes to give you a second chance. You deserve more consideration than a few moments and a few pages.”
Bella had a feeling she knew what had led to Mr. Peabody’s reversal. Only one person other than Meg knew of her plan to meet with the publisher in London. And only Rhys knew the precise address of the man’s office. She was torn between gratitude for his wish to help her and frustration that he didn’t heed her insistence on finding publishing success entirely on her own.
“Do you want to hear the rest?”
“Yes, of course.” She’d almost forgotten there was bad news too.
“I’ve been helping Aunt Gwendoline sort through which clothes she wishes to take to Greece and had one of the footmen bring a traveling trunk from out of storage.”
“Good. I promised I’d help her this afternoon too.”
“She refuses to actually pack the trunk.” Louisa drew in a breath and said, “I believe she’s going to try to convince you to hold the ceremony before they depart.”
Bella shook her head. “That’s not what they agreed. We told them that we wish to wait until next year.” Good heavens, she was speaking as if it was going to happen at all. “If they’d only go, I know they’ll love itand even after I’ve told them the engagement is broken they’ll see out Papa’s term.”
“And what if she insists on a wedding before they’ll depart?”
“Planning a wedding would take too long. Papa is expected next month. The school year begins in late September. They must go now.”
Louisa cast Bella a look that reflected all of her own worry.
“What will you do?”
Bella tapped her fingers against her lap and weighed the very few options she could imagine. Only one seemed both simple and effective. “I’ll have to negotiate with her again. Urge her to go and accept that the wedding won’t even be planned until next year.”
Louisa crossed her arms and pursed her brow in a worried look. “I’m not sure that will work. She’s not content to let it wait. She feels that arrangement still leaves you unsettled.”
“Then I’ll have to give her part of what she wants.”
“How can you?”
Bella lifted her hand to the high-buttoned collar of her day dress, fingers searching for the reassuring feel of the pendant underneath the fabric. “It will require the duke’s help. Now, let’s just hope he agrees.”
“I beg you, Your Grace.”
As Bella approached the ballroom where the housemaid told her she’d find Rhys, she heard Mrs. Chalmers’s voice. The way she petitioned him withsuch earnest desperation made Bella quicken her step. What in heaven’s name was he putting his faithful housekeeper through?
Crossing the threshold, she found Rhys, Mrs. Chalmers, and Meg in the center of the room.
