“Because Lucy prides herself on matchmaking the old-fashioned way. No doubt she’d scoff at this sort of thing. And I promised Cousin Danielle I wouldn’t tell, which means you must keep the secret too.”
He shook his head. “Feeling guilty, eh?”
Yes, that was it. Delilah hadn’t been able to put her feelings into words yet, but guilt was the exact emotion she was experiencing. Once again, Thomas knew her best. Merely having the elixir in her possession made her feel as if she were cheating. She wasn’t convinced her plan was fair to Branville.
“I only intend to use it if I have to.” She repeated the words she’d mentally told herself a hundred times in the last day to Thomas.
“That makes it all right?”
“No, but… oh, I’m at my wits’ end. I’ve done everything I can think of to attract Branville’s attention, and none of it appears to be working.”
Thomas barked a laugh. “I’d say your wits left around the time you thought buying a love potion from a Roma woman was a good idea. Do you really want a man whom you have to drug to fall in love with you?”
Tears sprang to Delilah’s eyes. When he put it likethat, it sounded so… awful. “I haven’t even decided if I’m going to use it yet,” she replied primly, “but please promise me you won’t say anything.”
Thomas glanced at her and arched a brow. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything. No one would believe me. In the meantime, I am going to hope you make the right decision and pour it out.”
She straightened her shoulders as if trying to shrug off the guilt. It didn’t work. “I may pour it out.”
Thomas’s eyes narrowed. “When did you plan to use this magic elixir, at any rate?”
She pulled a handkerchief from her reticule and dabbed at her sweating brow. “During the house party, of course. When else would I find Branville sleeping?”
“Ah, yes, the performance at Claringdon’s estate. What’s your plan? To sneak into the duke’s bedchamber in the middle of the night?”
Delilah gulped. Thomas knew her too well. “That’s precisely my plan.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“My lady?”
Delilah tore her gaze from the vial of elixir that sat on her dressing table to find Amandine blinking at her from the door to her bedchamber, an impish smile on her face. Delilah had been warring with her guilt all afternoon. Ever since her ride in the park yesterday with Thomas, she’d told herself a hundred times to pour out the elixir. And yet. There it sat. Sparkling and pink in its heart-shaped vial. She hadn’t told Amandine about it. She hadn’t told anyone else. After Thomas’s reaction, she doubted she’d be tempted to tell anyone else ever again.
She grabbed the vial and set it carefully in the dressing table drawer. “Yes?” she called to Amandine.
“I just came from downstairs, and it seems you have a visitor.” The smile remained firmly in place on the maid’s lips.
“Who?” Delilah suspected it was Lucy or CousinDaphne. But she’d already seen Lucy earlier today, and Cousin Daphne usually called on Thursdays.
Amandine’s eyes sparkled, and her smile widened. “The Duke of Branville.”
“What?” Delilah nearly fell from her stool. If Amandine had just told her the king was waiting downstairs, she couldn’t have been more surprised.
She wanted to jump up, rush out the door, and scurry down the steps immediately, but Lucy’s voice sounded in her ear.You must keep a man waiting, dear. You mustn’t seem overly eager to see him.
Lucy had a point. Besides, if Delilah rushed down to him, no doubt she’d trip and rip his shirt again. Or perhaps something worse. Like his breeches. Not to mention, waiting would increase the chances that her mother would discover he was visiting.
“DoesMèreknow he’s here?” Delilah asked, a sly smile popping to her lips.
“But of course.” Amandine waggled her eyebrows. “Imayhave gone out of my way to stop in the breakfast room and tell her.”
“You didn’t!” Delilah exclaimed with wide eyes and an even wider smile.
Amandine smoothed a hand over the front of her uniform. “Of course I did. It gave me great pleasure to see the look on her face too.”
“Surprise?” Delilah asked.
“Shock!” Amandine replied in her heavy French accent. “I thought she might have a tiny apoplectic fit. Or at least I hoped she would.”
