Cass’s mouth formed an O and she blinked in obvious surprise. Then she smiled at the duke and nodded before glancing away and taking a shaky sip of tea.
Lady Moreland’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “Excellent. I’m certain you young people will have a splendid time.”
Lucy set down her cup, plunked her hands on her hips, and narrowed her eyes at the duke. “You were not planning to go to Bath!”
He slowly turned to face her and gave her a long-suffering stare. “First of all, how could you possibly know that, Lady Lucy? And second, after Lady Cassandra here has just spent several minutes extolling the town’s virtue, I am entirely certain that I do indeed want to visit the place.”
“But you— But we—” Lucy couldn’t form a thought. She was livid. How had that man managed to thwart her again in the span of a mere fifteen minutes? And while she’d been keeping vigil? Very close vigil. Why, he’d snuck in and made his move right in front of her even. They called him the Duke of Decisive. He should be called the Duke of Deviousness.
“Lady Lucy, please,” Lady Moreland said, giving her a curt nod. “I believe the duke has made up his mind.”
“Indeed I have, madam,” he replied. “Do you have any objections, Lady Cassandra?”
Cass glanced at Lucy, then at her mother who gave her a stern stare. “No, of course not, Your Grace,” she said softly, tugging at the collar of her gown.
The next half an hour rattled by as the duke managed to wheedle every bit of relevant information out of a far-too-accommodating Lady Moreland. His questions rang out like a barrage, making Lucy shake with a combination of growing frustration and complete futility as Lady Moreland set about cheerfully answering them one by one. Where were they staying? With whom? What street did the house sit upon? How long did they intend to visit? It was utterly ridiculous. And every attempt Lucy made to circumvent the answers was met with a direct repeated question by the duke that either Cass or her mother somehow seemed compelled to answer.
By the end of the interview, Lucy was seething with anger. Cass’s eyes were cloudy with confusion. And the duke and Lady Moreland looked like cats with bellies full of cream.
Finally the duke stood to take his leave. He made a sweeping bow. “I look forward to seeing you in Bath, Lady Cassandra.”
Cass nodded weakly and attempted to manage nearly half a smile. “Yes, Your Grace.” Lady Moreland smiled and patted her daughter’s shoulder.
“You, too, Lady Lucy,” the duke added with a devilish wink as he strolled out the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The journey to Bath was bumpy, hot, and a bit crowded to be honest, what with Jane, Lucy, Cass, Aunt Mary, and Garrett all squeezed into Garrett’s coach. And while it was a superb vehicle, by the time the conveyance pulled to a stop in front of Garrett’s fine town house in the upper streets, Lucy was rubbing bruises out of places she didn’t know existed.
The door to the town house flung open and the servants came bustling down the steps to help them alight from the coach. Aunt Mary turned into a whirlwind of efficiency, ordering the servants about and directing everyone to their respective rooms. Lucy’s aunt Mary, Garrett’s mother, had never been accepted by her own mother. “Far too brash and friendly,” Lucy’s mother had said of her sister-in-law, a frown firmly on her lips. But that was just what Lucy adored about her aunt. Aunt Mary always had a smile on her face and treated everyone with warmth and enthusiasm.
The footmen shuffled to and fro, unloading the luggage from both the carriage they’d ridden in and the one that had followed them with the extra trunks. They all entered the grand house and were quickly ushered into one of the drawing rooms where they were served tea and refreshments.
“I’m so glad you all came on this trip with us,” Aunt Mary said, her voice a high-pitched rush of excitement. “We shall have a grand time this summer. You’ll see.”
“Thank you for having us, Aunt,” Lucy replied.
“Oh, it’s Garrett’s house now, not mine.” The shadow of sorrow passed briefly over her face. Aunt Mary had been a widow for over two years, since Uncle Charles had passed away.
Garrett had just finished taking a sip of tea. “Mother, it’s as much yours as mine.”
Aunt Mary patted her son’s hand. “Such a good boy. I’m lucky to have you.”
Lucy smiled. How she wished she and her own mother could have a relationship like that. Or she and her father, for that matter. Her parents had long ago given up hope for her to make a decent match and mostly stayed in the countryside lamenting the fact that Garrett would one day inherit all their lands and Father’s title. It was sad, really. When they might all be a big happy family. As if those existed.
Aunt Mary clapped her hands, calling Lucy’s attention back to the drawing room. “There is to be a grand ball just two nights hence at the Upper Assembly Rooms. It’s certain to be a great deal of fun.”
“Excellent,” Garrett said.
“Looking forward to it,” Lucy replied.
“Me too,” Jane offered, though no one truly believed her.
Cass seemed less than enthusiastic, but she managed a small smile when Aunt Mary insisted that she would go and have a grand time.
“And Mrs. Periwinkle told me that the Duke of Claringdon has just rented a house on Uphill Drive.”
Cass’s eyes looked a bit fearful. Lucy crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, we heard he’d be coming, too.”
