When to Dare a Dishonorable Duke (Romancing the Rake 7)

Damian glanced down at his wrinkled clothing. “Long night.”

“Drinking?” Balstead turned toward him crossing his arms over his chest.

Damian straightened, one eyebrow rising. “That’s what the party is supposed to be about, is it not?”

Balstead grimaced, his mouth pressing into a thin line. “As you can see, there isn’t much of a party.”

“I’d noticed a lack of guests.” He crossed over to the buffet grabbing a plate. “Did you find the other men?”

“I found them,” Balstead answered. “In the small village of Seabridge Gate. The Duke of Rathmore returned with me, but I don’t think he’s up for much debauchery.”

“Why is that?” Damian heaped eggs onto his plate, then added a rasher of bacon and lightly toasted bread, not sure what else to do.

“He’s about to get married,” Balstead said. “And I am too.”

He quickly set his plate on the buffet, the loud thunk of it filling the room. “Congratulations.” He picked the plate up again and then turned toward the other man. “I’ve also decided to marry.”

One of Balstead’s eyebrows rose. “Really? Whom?”

Damian set the plate aside filling his lungs with air to calm the nerves that had been plaguing him all morning. “Cassandra.”

Balstead paused for a moment and then his shoulders slumped. “What a relief.”

Some of Damian’s anxiety lessened too and stretching his neck, he started for the table. “I’m glad you think so.” He shook his head. “It’s a bit sudden but—”

Balstead waved his hand. “There’s a lot of that going around.”

He dug into his plate, taking several bites of his eggs. “I’m just curious. Where did you stash all the lightskirts?”

Balstead turned toward him. “I beg your pardon?”

He stopped. Another bite of eggs halfway to his mouth. “The lightskirts. For the party.”

Balstead’s eyebrows drew together. “Didn’t Cassandra explain?”

“Explain what?” he asked, apprehension trickling down his spine as he straightened up in his chair.

Balstead shook his head. “There was never a party. I invited you to here to meet Cassandra.”

His fork fell from his hand, food spattering over the table as the clanking filled the room, echoing off the walls. “But she’s already engaged. Or she was…before…”

The words clogged in his throat. She’d lied. That much was clear.

Pain lanced through his chest. No wonder he’d been so worried last night. She’d managed to betray him already. He should have never allowed this to happen. Rising, he started for the door. He needed to hear an explanation from her lips. Right now.

Chapter Ten

Cassandra woke the next morning stretching with a contentment she’d never experienced. Not only had pleasure sapped her of every ounce of energy but sleeping next to Damian had been…perfection.

She’d been cradled in the crook of his arm pressed to the masculine lines of his body. For the first time in a very long time, she’d been safe. Her worries had melted away.

Not only about her future but also her past. While Cassandra understood she wasn’t living the life her mother had intended she could reconcile that as Damian’s wife she was free to make their marriage…happy. Fulfilled.

She stretched her hand, reaching out to find the bed empty.

Unease made her spread her fingers wide as she searched the room. He wasn’t there and his clothes were gone. Why had he left?

Rising, she wrapped herself in a dressing gown and began to gather her clothes, which had been discarded onto the floor the night before. She picked up her gown, finding it wrinkled and she began to smooth it, checking the buttons for damage before adding it to the neat pile she’d started.