A Deal with a Duke (The Daring Drake Sisters 2)

“I love you too.” She g

ave him a wet kiss to the cheek. “Goodnight, Papa.” She climbed off his lap. “Goodnight, Aunt Radley.”

“Goodnight, dear,” Daphne said, rubbing her slightly rounded belly. “I do so hope this is a girl.”

“Me too, Daphne.” And he hoped Louisa might already be with child. He wanted brothers and sisters for Charlotte. A large family filled with love for Louisa.

THE FORTNIGHT PASSED in a blur to Louisa. She awoke on Friday praying nothing would go wrong today. She’d barely seen Harry the past ten days as Tessa had kept her busy with fittings for the gown and other assorted clothes she would need when married. Even though only family had been invited, Tessa insisted a new dress was required to marry a duke. Her stomach roiled, nervous with the thought of becoming a duchess.

Yesterday had been a trying day. Bolton broke off the engagement, stating Louisa’s transgressions had tarnished Emma's reputation. Poor Emma had been heartbroken by his disloyalty. As much as Mamma thought they should sue Bolton for breach, Raynerson and Tessa talked her out of it, hinting it would only keep the family name embroiled in scandal even longer. Only Louisa knew her mother’s desire to sue Bolton had to do with the money to pay Collingwood.

She wanted this wedding over, so she could start her new life. She and Harry had agreed only family would be invited to the wedding and after they would have a small family breakfast before departing for Worth Hall. After a fortnight there, given Harry’s estate business was complete, they would return for the rest of the Season.

“Louisa, are you awake?” Emma asked from the hall.

“Yes, come in.”

Emma’s usual enthusiasm had waned with her jilting. “I came over early to help you dress.”

“I would love that.” Louisa tossed off the coverlet. She walked over to the ice blue silk the dressmaker completed in only a few days once she heard it was to be worn by a duchess. It was a simple design with no flounce or ribbons. Tessa had called it elegant enough for a duchess.

Emma remained relatively quiet as she helped Louisa dress into her underclothes. “I do wish I could fix your hair, but it’s always so difficult.”

“Emma, are you certain you still want us to marry?”

“Yes, I do. This has opened my eyes to just how dominated Bolton is by his mother. I could never marry him at this point.”

“I shall do everything in my power to find you a good man,” Louisa stated firmly.

A light rap on the door was followed by Tessa’s announcement, “Louisa, there is a maid here who says Worthington sent her to do your hair. It’s all very odd to me.”

“I am here, miss. If Mrs. Raynerson would allow me inside your bedchamber,” a voice called from the hall.

“Lily?”

“Yes, miss, that’s me.” She pushed passed Tessa with a scowl. “Go along then, Mrs. Raynerson. I shall have Miss Drake all set in no time.”

“Louisa?” Tessa asked, staring at Lily with a confused look on her face.

“Lily assisted me when I was at Northwood Park.” Louisa smiled over at the young woman. “She is the only person who has ever been able to get my hair to stay in place.”

“All ladies out of the room so I can get her hair dressed.” Lily waved Emma and Tessa out the door. “Phew, now show me your gown.”

Louisa rose and then held up the gown to her body, allowing Lily to determine the best style for her hair. The brash maid spent the next hour arranging Louisa’s hair to perfection and guaranteed it would stay put until the duke removed her hairpins tonight. Once her hair was done, Lily assisted her in the gown.

She heard voices downstairs and assumed a few people might have arrived early. But as her mother’s loud voice came closer, Louisa suspected there was a problem already.

“You cannot go in there! You shouldn’t even be here!” Mamma shouted.

“I will see my daughter on her wedding day,” a low voice grumbled.

“Oh, no!” Louisa exclaimed as her father strode into the room, as best he could with a slight limp. “What are you doing here?”

Her father stopped and stared at her for a long moment. “Oh my, Louisa, whoever called you the plainest of the Drake sisters must have been blind.”

He walked forward and attempted to take her hand in his, but she pulled it away. He acknowledged the slight with a nod. “I cannot believe you hooked a duke.”

“Hooked a duke?” she repeated in disbelief. When Tessa finally admitted that their father was alive two years ago, she’d said he hadn’t wanted to go along with Mamma’s plan for Tessa to have a Season but eventually succumbed to her pressure. “Papa, I thought you were different. I thought you didn’t care about such things.”