“But that is not the only time you have seen him,” the duke interrupted in a mild tone.
“No,” Helen murmured. “I have…conversed with him twice since that night.”
The duchess raised a brow.
“He is identical to the duke in every way. Physically, at least. I know it seems…impossible but—even the eyes.”
“My eyes?”
“Well your eyes are very distinctive, Your Grace. Unusual. I would venture to say no one else shares that particular color, but hedoes. Save for the freckle,” she tapped the end of her nose. “And your manner of speech, there is little difference.”
“Ah yes, the freckle.” The duchess was nodding slowly. “I thought it a spot of wine.”
How astounding. The duchess had seen him too. Helen wasn’t going mad. And she’d been under the impression she was having a flirtation with Roxboro and hated herself for it. So it was a relief to know she wasn’t—
“Heis the man I met at the Perswick ball,” the duchess interrupted Helen’s thoughts. “The sapphire bracelet I wore that night went missing after I was ruined.”
“But not by me,” the real Roxboro said. “Though I’ve remedied the matter since.”
The duchess elbowed him.
“He took it,” Helen said with certainty, knowing she was right. “Just as he did the emerald pendant Lady Cerise wore to the ball.”
“Allow me to guess, Miss Cosgrove. He lured Lady Cerise into a dark corner with the promise of courtship, perhaps?” the duchess asked. “Perhaps he claimed to be struck dumb at the sight of her walking in the park. Rather a grand scheme, isn’t it.”
“Everyone at the Stout ball was bowing to you, Your Grace. I mean him. The imposter.” Helen cocked her head, taking in the duke once more. “The resemblance is remarkable.”
So who was the man she’d been flirting with? That kissed her and asked Helen to leave with him?
“Miss Cosgrove, by your own words you claim he has sought you out twice which is interesting because you’ve no jewels for him to steal, unless I’m mistaken. Was Lady Cerise with you on either of those occasions?”
“She was not,” Helen answered, her cheeks warming.
“I see. There is more to your tale, I think, Miss Cosgrove.” The duchess regarded her. “I’m dying to hear it. Who is he?”
This wasn’t at all how this evening had been meant to unfold. She’d come here to confront Roxboro, only to find out he wasn’therRoxboro. “I don’t know,” Helen finally said.
“I don’t have any male relatives save my uncle.” Roxboro took a sip from the glass in his hand, frowned and set it down. “This imposter has disguised himself to resemble me.”
“It isn’t a disguise.” The duchess’s eyes never left Helen. “You know that I’ve been close to this man as well, Roxboro. I can confirm that everything Miss Cosgrove says is correct. He is identical to you. Except for the freckle, which I mistook for a wine stain.”
“A twin?” The duke’s brow wrinkled. “But that isn’t possible.”
“But what if it is?” his duchess breathed, giving voice to Helen’s own suspicions. “Everything you know of your birth, your parents, all of it comes from Damon.” A hint of dislike colored her words.
“I know you don’t care for my uncle, Sophie. But a brother or a male cousin isn’t something he would keep from me.” Distress was stamped on the duke’s beautiful features. Which served to make him even more handsome. Even Helen had the urge to comfort him. “I know what you’re thinking but it isn’t—”
“We will speak of this later, my duke.” The duchess patted his arm. “We need to meet this imposter, which I’m positive Miss Cosgrove can facilitate.” Her shrewd gaze turned to Helen. “Given their…association.”
Her stomach tightened, pitching about. This was not an unexpected request, under the circumstances given Roxboro, a duke was being impersonated. She’d all but admitted to a relationship of sorts with the other Roxboro, which the duchess had latched onto immediately.
I should have lied.
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“The exact right answer,” the duchess replied with a smile. “Now, Lord Galway, nor anyone else,” she glanced at the other guests in the box. “Can know there’s another Roxboro wandering about. Not until we find out the truth.” She pinched the duke’s side. “No oneelse is to know, Roxboro. Not yet.”
He made a face. “I can’t possibly have a twin, Sophie,” he whispered, stricken at the knowledge. “How would it even be possible?”
