Page 105 of The Duke's Rules Of Engagement
They stood looking at one another for a few seconds. Finally, Matthew said, “What can I do for you?”
He didn’t miss the wrinkle in Lilly’s demeanor as her courage faltered before she rebuilt it. “There are two items of great importance we would like to discuss with you, Your Grace.”
He quirked a brow in a look he knew appeared arrogant. “And what are they?”
Lilly glanced around. “May we sit?”
He gestured gallantly to the cluster of sofa and chairs. “Please.”
They took their seats, Lilly and Bess on the sofa and Matthew in the velvety green armchair across from them. The color reminded Matthew of the chair in Jo’s office, but this one, of course, was far more comfortable.
After a tense, silent moment, Matthew asked, “Shall I call for tea?”
Lilly raised her hand. “No, thank you.” She glanced at Bess, and they shared a nod. “What we have to say won’t take long.”
Matthew clasped his hands in his lap in a pretense of patience. “Very well.”
Lilly cleared her throat. “First of all, thank you.”
Now both Matthew’s brows rose. “What for?”
“For showing my notebook to Mr. Nash. We met Wednesday last, and it was…” She took a moment, seeming to catch her breath. “It was quite an excellent meeting. He has asked me to send him more of my plans, and to make some adjustments to the palace I conceived. He’s going to present the design to the prince regent.”
There was no small amount of awe in her voice when she said the words “the prince regent.”
“That is excellent news, Miss Appleby. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I will be forever grateful for what you did, Your Grace.”
“Think nothing of it. Talent usually finds its way into the appropriate hands.”
“Not so easily when you’re a simple woman of no rank.”
He couldn’t argue with that, unfortunately.
Lilly straightened, and a cool mask replaced the grateful softness of her features. “And now for the second thing.”
Matthew braced himself.
“I came here because I wanted to let you know that you have broken my friend’s heart.”
The breath stalled in Matthew’s throat. He couldn’t speak. And in any case, what could he say to that?
“Jo is more than a friend to me,” Lilly continued. “She is a sister. She is the kindest and most generous soul you will ever meet.”
Matthew had once thought that of her, too.
“She believes it is her own fault that her heart is broken, because she matched you with Miss Cherrington. Yet, she hated to do so; she hated every moment she attempted to finalize that match because she fell more deeply in love with you each time she saw you. Jo could hardly bear the thought of you with Miss Cherrington, and yet she believed you’d never deign to marry a simple country clergyman’s daughter.” Lilly sucked in a shaky inhalation, her eyes shining. “She believed you would never consider her to be good enough for you.”
Matthew’s body was encased in ice. He couldn’t move.
After a protracted silence, Lilly continued. “Shesuffered. For weeks.”
Matthew hated the thought of Jo suffering. He had been such a stubborn ass for so long, convincing himself she meant nothing to him, even as he ached to be with her. But he’d never, not once, thought her not good enough for him.
“She told no one,” Lilly continued in a raspy voice, “only berated herself for allowing herself to love someone who could never see her as his equal.” Lilly’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Her only sin was in attempting to help a desperate friend—me.”
“I don’t think—”
