Free Lily and the Duke by Helen Hardt Page B

experience of being in your bed. And I’m sure you have…other engagements.”
    “If you’re sure, Lily. But I reserve the right to try to change your mind.”
    “You won’t,” she said, and walked swiftly out into the hallway.

Chapter 5
    L ily changed into a light beige afternoon dress with a pattern of small green-and-white polka dots sprinkled across it. Her hair had dried considerably more than she had anticipated, so she sat while the maid braided it and pinned it into an attractive coiffure. Pleased with the results, she dismissed the maid and headed downstairs and out to the lawn. The ladies were finishing their dessert, a plum torte with Bavarian cream. She found her mother seated with her sister, aunt, and cousins.
    Bending to kiss her mother’s cheek, she said, “I’m so sorry to be tardy, Mummy.”
    “Where have you been Lily?” the countess asked.
    “You know me. I went out this morning to paint, and I lost track of time. I’m so dreadfully sorry.”
    “Aren’t you hungry, dear?” Aunt Iris asked.
    “Not at all. I had a rather large breakfast. I couldn’t possibly eat another morsel until dinner.”
    “Would you at least like some dessert?” Rose asked. “This plum cake is delicious.”
    “No, thank you. I’m fine, really.” She sat down in an empty chair next to Rose. “What have all of you been up to this morning?”
    “I played the pianoforte in the main parlor for a while,” Rose said. “I’m working on that new Beethoven piece, and Her Grace said I should use the pianoforte as often as I like. Sophie and Ally read while I played.”
    “That sounds enchanting,” Lily said. “What about you, Mummy?”
    “Auntie Iris and I visited with Her Grace and Miss Landon a bit. Did you know that Miss Landon and Auntie Iris were best friends as girls?”
    “No, I didn’t. Auntie, why have you never mentioned that before?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. I had too much else to think about when the earl was alive, I suppose. It was good to talk to Lucy again.”
    “Tell me, do you know why she never married?” Lily asked.
    “Yes, she was head over heels in love with an Irish sailor. They were betrothed, but he died at sea. Lucy’s father never approved of the match and made no secret of the fact that he was glad Nolan had perished. A month later, Her Grace married the duke, and poor Lucy was forgotten.”
    “How sad,” Alexandra said. “She never met another man that she wanted to marry?”
    “No, never,” Iris replied. “Her Grace made a place for Lucy here, so she could escape their parents. She has lived here since, and she and I lost touch eventually.”
    “I’m so glad you’ve gotten reacquainted,” Rose said. “How is it that you first met Miss Landon?”
    “She and I are the same age. The Landons had a London townhouse near ours.”
    “Is Her Grace older or younger than Lucy?” Sophie asked.
    “Older. She’s fifty-four.”
    Lily did some rapid calculations in her head. That meant she had been twenty-two when she had Daniel.
    Aunt Iris continued, “We all spent time together when our families were in London. Her Grace was being courted by an earl when she was seventeen, and the three of us used to follow her around and spy on them.” Aunt Iris laughed. “She was actually quite good about it. Lucy and I were fifteen, and your mother but eleven. What fun we had!”
    “An earl?” Lily said. “What about the duke?”
    “The earl had his heart set on someone else, actually. He broke Her Grace’s heart, and he didn’t marry until many years later. Her Grace married the duke when she was twenty. They had known each other for only a week. The duke approached Her Grace’s father, and a betrothal agreement was reached before Her Grace had even met the duke.”
    “I wonder why the duke chose Her Grace,” Rose said. “He probably could have had whomever he wanted.”
    “Maggie—I mean Her Grace—was exotically beautiful,” Aunt Iris continued. “Her hair was dark