Read Online Shana Galen by When Dashing Met Danger - Free Book Online

sleep.”
    “I admit that was a miscalculation on my part—”
    “Miscalculation!” Francesca threw her arms wide. “Last year at the masque when you thought the Prince of Wales was John and you tore off his disguise screaming ‘Aha!’ in the middle of the Duke of Essex’s ballroom— that was a miscalculation. You’re lucky Prinny found it amusing. Oh, and that scheme at Almack’s—”
    Lucia’s head was pounding. “All right. All right. I’ve made a mess of things in the past, but I assure you I won’t make a muddle of the affair at the Seatons’. It’s too simple to go wrong. Simplicity: that’s the beauty of the plan, Francesca.” Lucia felt a familiar prickle of excitement creep through her limbs, making the little hairs on her arms stand up. She knew her idea would work. It had to.
    Francesca eyed her dubiously, but Lucia wasn’t going to let her sister’s dire predictions alter her decision.
    Suddenly Francesca sat up. “Mamma will never agree to this. You’re to attend the Duke of York’s ball tonight.” She sighed in relief.
    Lucia pursed her lips. She’d forgotten about the duke’s ball. But it needn’t be a problem if—
    “I’ll go to the duke’s ball after a stop at theSeatons’,” she said. “Mamma need never know if you offer her a place in your carriage. Dandridge can escort me tonight, and there will be such a crush that if Mamma doesn’t see me until later in the evening she’ll think nothing of it.”
    Francesca appeared unimpressed. “Dandridge won’t agree. The Seatons aren’t fashionable. Dandridge won’t give up the duke for Mrs. Seaton.”
    “Yes, he will. I can be persuasive when the occasion calls for it. And though he’ll never admit it, I’m sure Reginald will be eager to make amends for his behavior last night.”
    “That’s another thing I want to discuss with you.” Francesca placed a hand on Lucia’s shoulder. “Are you really going to go through with this marriage to Dandridge? It’s not too late to cry off.”
    Lucia could hardly believe what she was hearing—call off the wedding? Be labeled a jilt? Disappoint her father and mother? Never. As Francesca had just pointed out, she’d made a muddle of things in the past. No wonder her father didn’t have faith in her. But she was going to show him that she’d changed—matured into a responsible, respectable woman. And marrying Reginald was the final proof.
    “Not too late?” she choked. “We’re engaged. If I cry off there will be a horrible scandal. Father will be mortified, and our family will be the latest on-dit . It might ruin Father’s chances for advancement.”
    “He survived it when I broke my engagement to Roxbury.”
    “You’re different, Francesca,” Lucia said. You’re perfect .
    “Nonsense. Daddy wouldn’t want you to marry someone you didn’t love or at least esteem.” She paused, her gaze searching Lucia’s face. “ Do you love Dandridge?”
    Lucia tried not to cringe. Love Dandridge? Of course not. But she couldn’t say she didn’t love him. She compromised. “Not everyone wishes to marry for love,” she answered. “Not everyone is lucky enough to fall in love, like you.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Francesca said with a smile. “I saw the way you were looking at Selbourne earlier. He was watching you, too. I’ve never seen you look at Dandridge that way.”
    Lucia stiffened. Was her attraction to Selbourne really so obvious? Worse, was her dislike for Reginald so evident?
    She’d always known her parents wanted a union between the Brigham and the Dandridge titles, but they’d been generous in giving her an entire Season to fall in love with some other eligible bachelor. When she had not, despite several marriage proposals from suitable men, discussions with Lord Dandridge and his dowager mother began in earnest.
    Lucia was also aware that her father cultivated an alliance with the young viscount to gain the clout needed to realize his ambitions in