Page 37 of A Fake Courtship with the Duke
Seemingly noticing Richard's contemplative mood, Thomas arched an eyebrow and leaned in.
"Pray, where do you wander Richard?” he inquired.
Richard sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“It seems that I am growing rather fond of Miss Huxley,
He said, feeling the words for the very first time as they left his lips. “It was all supposed to be a façade. But the more time I spend in her company, the more I discern that I may freelyexpress my true self and need not constantly bear the weight of impeccable conduct.”
Thomas looked at him thoughtfully for a moment as he sipped his drink.
“If there are genuine feelings between you two, perhaps, the courtship doesn’t have to remain a charade,” he said.
Richard stared at Thomas, ready to object. But he thought about what his friend had just said. Was Thomas right? Was there a chance that he could cease the charade with Miss Huxley and pursue a real courtship?
Chapter Nineteen
“You’re going where?” Charlotte burst into Anne’s room the next afternoon as she was mulling over her dresses.
Anne turned around, laughing as she turned just in time for Charlotte to leap into her arms. She had spent the previous evening with a friend of hers who was married and preparing for the arrival of her first child. She hadn’t been home when Anne had told her parents of her plans to attend the opera with the duke. But clearly, they had informed her as soon as she returned home.
“The Duke has invited me to attend the opera with him tonight,” she said.
Charlotte squealed with delight, clapping her hands excitedly as her curls bounced.
“This is so exciting,” she said, taking Anne’s hands and swinging them. “I just know that you will soon be the duchess of Calder.”
Anne’s smile wilted, and she guided her sister away from the open wardrobe and over to the bed. She sat her down, giving her a wan look.
“Charlotte,” she said, keeping her voice low. “I’m not truly courting the Duke. It’s just pretend. But I need you to not speak a word of it to anyone.”
Charlotte frowned, clearly confused.
“I won’t, Sister,” she said. “But why would you two pretend to be courting?”
Anne took a deep breath and quietly explained the situation. When she was finished, however, Charlotte was grinning impishly.
“That is a clever idea,” she said. “However, I do not believe that what is happening between the two of you is pretend.”
It was Anne’s turn to frown. She looked at her sister with confusion.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Charlotte winked at her sister.
“How many gentlemen do you know would invite a lady to the opera for their second official outing if he wasn’t interested in her?” she asked.
Anne opened her mouth to answer before realizing that she could not. She stared at her sister, who shrugged, patting her hands gently.
“Just allow whatever happens to happen,” she said. “It is a brilliant idea to keep everyone from forcing you into horrible marriages. Verily, I declare to you, the gaze of his eyes when they rest upon you do not resemble that of a gentleman engaged in mere fiction.”
Anne nodded, her cheeks warming. She was aware that he was warm, kind and delightful, and that there was definitely a great deal of common ground between them. But she could never allow herself to believe that he would ever truly take a romantic interest in her. It felt good to tell Charlotte her secret, though, and she embraced her sister.
“Perhaps,” she said, despite her rising doubt. “For now, however, I need help choosing a dress for tonight. I want to look my best.”
Charlotte giggled, covering her mouth as she rose and walked over to the wardrobe.
“You didn’t say that you needed to,” she said. “That is quite revealing, indeed, Sister.”
