Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes (25 page)

the acid churning in her throat. Lord, what she wouldn’t

do for a Tums right now.

Lord Granville left then, even though the evening

had only just begun. Leah was confused, but not sorry

to see him go. It didn’t look like the duke wanted Lady

Chesterfield to shove Leah at him any more than Leah

did herself. In fact, it seemed that the duke would much

rather spend time with Leah’s chaperone than with

Leah herself.

The rest of the musicale was sort of anticlimactic

after that. The music wasn’t bad, and with everyone

distracted, Leah was pretty much left to her own

devices. She darted glance after glance out the window,

hoping for a glimpse of Avery, an answer to why he’d

acted so strangely and what had happened to him, but

he was nowhere to be seen. She even sneaked onto

the balcony once more, sprinting to the nearly naked

Greek statue she’d seen him behind before, but he

wasn’t there.

Sighing, she slumped against the cold marble.

What was with him? And for that matter, what was

with her?

She looked up at the stars, brighter here than she’d

ever seen them at home. It was strange that despite the

advanced technology of her time, she hadn’t ever seen

the heavens like they were here.

The twinkling lights above didn’t offer her any

answers. Bastards.

“What do I do?” Her lonely whisper faded into the

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darkness. A raindrop kissed her cheek, then another her

neck. She turned back to the house, her steps leaden.

How could she disappoint Lady Chesterfield? How

could she let her chaperone push her toward the duke

when she might have feelings for Avery?

The marble stairs were slick with raindrops, so she

gripped the handrail tightly. At the top, she turned her

palm over. Her glove was damp, dingy now with the dirt

of the rail. His hand had been wet too, but with blood.

She let her lids slide closed and focused on dismantling

the knot that had lodged in her throat. It wouldn’t budge

no matter what she tried.

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Nineteen

The next day dawned sunny and warmer, which

should have made Leah happy. It didn’t. She paced in

the drawing room, wearing a carriage dress of powder

blue that matched her eye color almost perfectly. Even

the gorgeous costume couldn’t pierce her melancholy

armor. She glared at her reflection every time she passed

the mirror behind the settee.

“You’re a coward, Ramsey. An ungrateful and

idiotic bitch.”

Her “pep talk” didn’t do much for her self- esteem or

her confusion, so she gave it up and flopped down side-

ways on a wingback chair in the corner, legs draped over

the arm. Worrying the inside of her cheek, she stared at

the ceiling and concentrated on breathing deeply. Maybe

extra oxygen would clear the fuzz from her brain.

A noise at the door grabbed her attention. A dark-

haired maid toting a bucket and a broom had entered the

room and ground to a halt at the sight of Leah.

“Oh, I apologize.” The maid blushed as she stam-

mered, hands fumbling on the broom handle. “I did not

know you were here.”

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Leah smiled encouragingly at the girl. Man, did she

ever understand how the maid felt. “Don’t worry about

me. Do what you need to do.”

“I couldn’t, miss. ’Tis no trouble.” She started backing

out the door.

Leah’s feet hit the floor. “It’s cool, come on. I could

use someone to talk to.”

Though her face was wary, the maid set her bucket

by the hearth and began sweeping the ashes. Déjà vu

slammed into Leah. Such a short time ago, she’d been in

this girl’s position. How amazingly things had changed.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name.”

“Eliza, miss,” the maid said as she dumped a load of

ash into the bucket.

“Can I ask you a question, Eliza?” Leah rubbed the

brocade fabric of the chair arm as she spoke. The nubby

texture was soothing somehow, and boy did she need

something soothing. As soon as she got back home, she

was going to book a two- hour massage.

“Of course, miss.” Eliza turned from the hearth, her

face a giant question mark. It was probably weird for her

to be approached like this.

Oh
well, let’s get it done.

“If you were supposed to be with someone, but you

weren’t sure about them, what would you do?”

Eliza shook her head, mobcap flopping. “I do not

understand, miss.”

Leah stood and ticked off points with her fingers.

“Okay. Say you’re part of an arranged marriage. Your

parents, your guardian, everyone you know expects you

to love this guy. But you know he’s not the right one

for you. In fact, he’s perfect for someone else, but they

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don’t see it at all, and they want you to marry him too.

What do you do?”

Eliza resumed her sweeping as she replied, “I shouldn’t

want to disappoint everyone. I should wed him.”

Leah’s brows lifted. “Even if you thought you might

have feelings for someone else?”

Eliza lifted the bucket full of spent ash and faced Leah

with a matter- of- fact expression. “If I were so lucky as

to be promised to a man of standing, then I should wed

him. There are not many so lucky in the world, miss.”

Leah’s damp palms slid down her skirt. “I see. Thanks

for your answer.”

“My pleasure, miss.” Eliza nodded. “May I fetch

something for you before I go?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Eliza bobbed a quick curtsy and took her bucket from

the room.

Leah’s heart thudded against her ribcage and she

resumed her pacing. Okay. She could do this. Open

mind, keen observation, and level head. For the moment,

she had to play the part and get to know the duke. Lady

Chesterfield would expect it. But while she did it, she’d

be thinking, planning. She’d find some way to fix this.

She ground to a halt and glared at the ceiling. Damn

it, why did Avery’s stupid face keep popping into her

head at the most inconvenient times? Stupid, handsome,

silent face.

“Oh, Miss Ramse…er, Miss Ram, there you are.”

Lady Chesterfield fluttered into the room, trailing her

violently purple shawl behind her. “Lord Granville

has arrived for your turn about the park. Make haste,

my dear.”

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“I thought you had other plans today,” Leah said

wryly as Lady Chesterfield dragged her toward the foyer.

“Oh do be quiet, girl.”

Feeling suspiciously like she was about to take a

nosedive into the fang- covered pit of the sarlacc, Leah

followed Lady Chesterfield into the foyer, where His

Grace was waiting. He greeted her with a polite smile.

“Miss Ram, you are looking quite fine.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Leah said as she accepted

her wrap from Graves. “You look very nice today too.”

He offered her his arm, and she took it. With a last

glance at Lady Chesterfield, Leah walked with the duke

toward the high two- wheeled carriage with its pair of

black horses.

She didn’t say anything as he helped her into the

carriage. She didn’t know what to say, or what to do

even. It had been easier last night, while surrounded with

other people and with music, albeit bad music, to distract

her. And with Lady Chesterfield, who seemed to thrive

on conversation with the duke. But here? They were

alone, other than the maid who rode silently on the back

of the phaeton, to assure Leah’s respectability. Kind of a

nerve- wracking turn of events. Leah swallowed hard and

screwed a smile to her face. Hopefully it looked normal.

The duke smiled at her once he’d settled into the seat

beside her. “Shall we be off?”

She nodded and pulled her wrap closer around

her. “Yes.”

His head tilted and he furrowed his brow. “Pardon

me, but have we met before? I know we were intro-

duced last evening, but your face is somehow familiar.”

Leah laughed nervously. “Oh no, Your Grace. I only

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got here last week, and before that I lived far away.

There’s no way we could have met.” She patted her hair

self- consciously.
Pull
it
together, Ramsey. Don’t blow it, or
Lady Chesterfield might get in trouble because of you.

“I see.” He seemed to take her explanation. The reins

flicked over the horse’s backs, and they were off toward

the park.

He was quiet for a moment, and Leah used the time to

compose herself. She had to keep it together and figure

out a way out of this mess.

“Miss Ram,” the duke said as they turned into the

park, “may I be frank with you?”

“Please,” she said, sitting up straighter. It’d be great to

have someone tell her what the heck to do.

“I am not in the habit of squiring young ladies

about.” His voice was soft, higher pitched than she’d

have liked, but it wasn’t a girly voice. He was easy to

listen to, actually.

“Then why are you taking me? Not that I’m not

enjoying it, because I am,” she hastily corrected herself.

He glanced over at her. He was attractive, she had

to admit. Maybe she was just intimidated by his age,

position, and obvious wealth. Not out of the realm of

possibility. Kevin had been rich, and she hadn’t exactly

fit in with his family.

“That is the question, is it not?” He rounded a corner

on the park’s path, and the scattered other carriages along

the way had disappeared. She swallowed the sudden knot

in her throat. They were alone.

“Yes. I guess it is.” She stared straight ahead.

He cleared his throat. “Perhaps it is best to admit the

truth. I am entertaining the notion of marriage.”

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Well, shit
. She dropped any pretense of looking

forward. “What?”

“I am not proposing marriage to you, Miss Ram.” He

laughed, flicking the reins as another carriage rounded the

bend. “I have my heir and am simply considering the matter.”

She smiled politely as he looked over at her. “Ah. Okay.”

He grew somber. “My first wife passed away many

years ago. I had not realized how lonely I’d become.”

“I’m sorry,” Leah whispered. Reaching over, she laid

a hand on his. Even through their gloves, she could tell

how cold his hands were, and it sent a shiver through

her. Poor man. Poor, lonely old man.

“It is of no consequence.” He patted her hand, and

she withdrew. “Shall we continue?”

She nodded, and the carriage rolled on.

i

Avery pulled the brim of his hat lower over his eyes.

He was dressed in a coat much too heavy for the finer

weather of the day, but he’d had no choice. He could

not be discovered.

He’d followed the duke’s phaeton to Lady Chesterfield’s

manse. His hands had curled into fists when he saw his

employer’s hands on Leah’s waist, handing her up to the

high seat atop the conveyance. Jealousy seethed beneath

Avery’s skin, but he tamped it down with effort. He could

not afford the distraction. He must keep her safety in the

forefront of his mind. Another note had come in the night.

Russell,

The Swansdown approaches. You will face Brookers,

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and you will lose. If you do not, she will pay. I have

gotten some quite interesting information as of late,

about a lady you seem to care for.

Make no mistake, we know who, and where, she is.

Prachett

He followed them at quite a distance, making sure

to keep the phaeton in his sights. Fortunately, the horse

he’d secretly borrowed from his grace’s stables was quite

well mannered and even quick when needed. The nag

was not of good stock, but he had spirit. And his nonde-

script color and markings were perfect to blend into the

crowded lanes of the park.

He wished he could hear what they were saying.

What caused Leah’s brows to lower as she responded to

the duke or what caused her to smile, throw back her

golden head and laugh.

Was she falling in love with him? That is what she’d

wanted all along, from the moment she’d landed in

Avery’s arms. But he could not resign himself to the idea.