Free Simply Voracious by Kate Pearce

mother’s scented cheek. “I know I have. Carry on being happy for me, please?”
    “Of course I will. There will be no prouder mother around than I am. I’ll boast about your conquest at every social event for years!”
    Lucky wrapped her arms around her mother and hugged her tight. “Thank you, Mama. I love you so much,” she whispered.
    “And I love you too. Now go to sleep and be prepared for your whole life to change tomorrow. We’ll need to start on that trousseau right away.”
    Lucky raised her head. “I won’t have to have a big wedding, will I?”
    “You can’t have a big wedding. We’re still in mourning for the last duke, remember?”
    “Oh good,” Lucky said thankfully. “I mean, that’s right. I don’t think either of us would relish a huge fashionable crush. Maybe we can have something small and private instead.”
    “If we organized a huge society wedding, Paul would probably run away.” Her mother kissed her nose. “However, we still have plenty of time to make you look beautiful; don’t worry about that.”
    Lucinda got off the bed and allowed her mother to loosen the back of her gown and her stays. There was at least one memory she could share with her mother that was quite sincere.
    “I know you won’t believe me, Mama, but ever since I was a little girl, whenever I pictured my wedding day, Paul was standing beside me.”
    Her mother headed for the door. “Then perhaps you have made the right choice after all.” She paused to look back at Lucky. “If, perhaps, for all the wrong reasons. Good night, my love.”
    Lucky waited until her mother had left before sinking down into the nearest chair and covering her face with her hands.

7
    From the moment he saw Lucky being greeted by the hostess at the ball, Paul guessed she was already quite close to reneging on their arrangement. He wasn’t even surprised. Expecting her to keep deceiving those she loved under such difficult circumstances would be hard for anyone, let alone a sheltered twenty-one-year-old who had probably never lied to her parents about anything before.
    Before he went to claim her hand for the first waltz, Paul took the opportunity to study her from afar. She wore a light blue silk gown with blond lace trimming, which only accentuated the paleness of her complexion. Her dark hair fell in a cascade of ringlets from the crown of her head, and her blue eyes looked enormous. She stood tall though, her bearing suitable to her high rank and her manner daring anyone to contradict her about anything. A sense of pride consumed Paul. She was indeed much stronger than she looked, and he was certain that she would grow into a remarkable woman.
    Despite the fact that there had been no formal announcement of the upcoming engagement, Paul could already sense the undercurrent of interest that swirled around him as he approached the Haymores. He wasn’t known for regular appearances at social gatherings, and it was possible that the duchess had already whispered the news to a few chosen friends.
    His aunt held out her hand and he kissed it. “How lovely to see you, Paul. Have you come to dance with Lucinda?”
    “Indeed I have, Aunt.” He turned to Lucky, who was still looking rather apprehensive. “If she is willing.”
    She gave him her gloved hand and he tucked it into the crook of his arm and walked her toward the dance floor. The orchestra struck a chord, and he took her into his arms, amazed at how fragile she felt and how light she was on her feet.
    “Are you well, Lucky?”
    She looked up at him. “I’m not sure.”
    He kept his social smile pinned in place. “Do you want to stop dancing? I can take you back to your mother.”
    “No, I’d rather dance.”
    She returned her gaze to his shirtfront and refused to look up again, replying to all his efforts at conversation with the smallest of smiles and the shortest of replies.
    After a while he tried again. “Lucky, what is going on?”
    “I’m not sure what you