Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season 1)

She took the tube of black paint and squirted it on the canvas, annihilating the green, and then fell onto her bed, refusing to let the tears come.

Chapter 12

Lily ordered a lunch tray in her chamber but barely touched it, unable to erase the memories of t

he morning.

Rose came in later. “I thought you would be with His Grace,” she said.

“Why on earth would you think that?”

“You said you were going to see him when you left Thomas and me, and then you didn’t come down for lunch, so I just assumed…”

Lily snorted. “You just assumed I jumped in his bed, didn’t you?”

“Well, I don’t mean to offend you…”

“No offense taken, dear. I’ve certainly done nothing in the past few days to indicate that I would have acted any differently.” She sighed. “For God’s sake, why didn’t you stop me?”

“Lily…”

“No, don’t answer that. You couldn’t have stopped me. No one could have. Oh, if only I’d had more sense!”

“Lily, if there’s anything you want to talk about—”

A knock on the door interrupted Rose, and Lily rose to answer it. Two footmen stood in the hallway, along with several packages.

“From His Grace, milady,” one of them said. “Where should we put them?”

“Put them back wherever you found them,” Lily said. “I don’t want them.”

“Sorry, milady, we have our orders. We’ll just stack them over there by the dressing room.” They piled the packages neatly. “Do you require anything else, milady?”

“Yes.” Lily stood with her hands on her hips. “Take them back out of here.”

“Sorry, milady.” He grinned, and the two left the room.

Lily eyed the pile before her.

“Aren’t you going to open them?” Rose asked.

“Good heavens, no. I don’t want his bribes.”

“Come on. Your curiosity must be killing you. I know mine is.”

“No.”

“Just one.”

“You want to open them? Go ahead. I’ll sit over here.” She plopped down on her bed.

Rose giggled. “Maybe just one.” She chose a box the size of a dinner plate and ripped off the brown wrapping. Inside was a leather case that snapped open. Rose lifted the lid and gasped. “Lily, look!” She hurried to her sister. Nestled on velvet was a diamond-and-ruby necklace with matching ear bobs, set in gold. “These are flawless. This must have cost a fortune!”

“They likely cost him nothing, Rose. They’re probably part of the Lybrook collection.” Lily shook her head, though she couldn’t help admiring the jewels.

“They’ll be lovely on you,” Rose said. “Perfect for your coloring. I could never wear rubies. My blond hair and peachy pale skin would clash horrendously. But on you, why, they’ll be exquisite.” She sighed.

“I suppose they’re…nice.”