The Rake's Absolutely Devilish Reform by Eva Devon

Author:Eva Devon [Devon, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bard Productions
Published: 2024-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

“Hector is in love,” Mercy stated.

“I know. Isn’t it glorious?” her mother-in-law, the Dowager Duchess of Westleigh exclaimed, clapping her bejeweled hands together as they sat in her favorite drawing room.

Mercy let out a note of frustration. “It is not.” She could not match her mother-in-law’s enthusiasm, not after her meeting with Priscilla.

Her mother-in-law’s brows fell and her hands descended to her lap as she asked, “Why ever not? Do you not approve of the match? She is your dearest friend after all.”

“You were already aware that Hector has fallen for Lady Priscilla?” Mercy clarified, perching on her chair, wishing she had the appetite to eat one of the scrumptious cakes that Cook had provided. But she felt positively off her food at Priscilla’s predicament.

“Of course, I’m aware,” her mother-in-law said grandly. “I know all of my children, my dear. The moment I saw Hector the other morning, I knew. He had the look of a man who was standing on the edge of connubial bliss. He’s terrified, of course. I am thrilled.”

“Don’t be,” Mercy replied, hating to say it.

“Why?” the dowager duchess asked. “Do you know something about the young lady that I do not?”

“No,” she stated, folding her hands in her lap and wondering how to explain the challenge. “Well, perhaps. I don’t think Priscilla will be inclined to say yes to him.”

The dowager duchess let out a horrified gasp. “Why ever not? Hector is the most marvelous of young men.”

“Yes, of course he is. He has been a dear friend to me. But society knows him as a rake, and that is what Priscilla thinks of him.”

“Rakes make the best husbands,” the dowager duchess said. “That’s what everybody says.”

Mercy fought a groan. She adored her friend, but she was not like other young ladies of the ton. Which was, of course, why they were friends. Neither of them were what the ton considered ideal. “Yes, but Priscilla is not everybody.”

“Isn’t that heavenly?” the dowager duchess said with a whimsical sigh. “She’ll fit right in.”

“I agree with you that she will fit right in, but at present, she will not allow herself to join into our family because…well, because of her family.”

“Are they awful?” the dowager duchess asked, leaning in. Then she tsked. “We must rescue her if she’s in a terrible situation.”

“No, they’re not awful,” Mercy rushed. “That’s just it! She is devoted to them. And they to her. Her father, as I understand, is quite loving. Her mother is… Well, I’ve never met her mother. She does not venture out into society.”

The dowager frowned again. “We must sort that out. It’s not typical for a young lady to go into society with just a chaperone when her mother is alive and well.”

“They come from a different sort of family than the ones of the ton, Your Grace,” Mercy reminded.

“As do I. I love a comrade!” But then her mother-in-law frowned and nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose that could make things very difficult, but we shall not yield to adversity, Mercy.

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