Page 69 of The Duke and the Darkness

He would understand in a day or two when the danger was finally over and she could explain everything. He would forgive her for keeping secrets from him, they would find Betty, and together, they would be friends and family again, just as they’d been in France. She had to believe that to maintain her courage, despite the faint accusation of betrayal she’d seen in her old friend’s eyes.

She blew out a long sigh. At least the party seemed to be going well.

The duchess had outdone herself tonight. The grand townhouse was stuffed to the eaves with hundreds of guests who at that moment were being plied with glass after glass of strong drink and tables of refreshments that an army of kitchen staff had spent the past two days and nights creating. The duchess had also hired a sextet of musicians, although she’d done so grudgingly to concede to Lady Theodora’s wishes to dance as part of her reward for being there. The entire Raines family needed to be present tonight in a show of force for Peyton, and every one of them would be at her side when she made her announcement.

Despite the last-minute arrangements, Devlin’s mother had thrown herself into the task and pulled off the most-talked about event of the season—and no one yet knew the true reasonfor the gathering. She and Lady Margaret had done their jobs well by visiting as many friends and influential acquaintances as possible in the past two days and by sending personal notes to others, and to everyone they dangled the same intriguing, tantalizing bit ofon dit—

“You will not want to miss the evening. It will be the topic of conversation across the empire for decades to come!”

Their strategy worked, and their guests scrambled to cancel previous plans and cram into the Duke of Malvern’s townhouse, along with several others who hadn’t been invited but arrived on the coattails of others. No one was turned away. The more people who heard her announcement, the better. By morning, news of her resurrection would be flowing through London faster than the Thames.

Good.Peyton wanted this over, once and for all. It was time to put the past behind her and move on.

She rose from the desk and turned toward Crewe as he also came to his feet, as any proper gentleman would. Peyton was beginning to think his reputation as a libertine and blackguard was unfounded. “You don’t have to stay here to guard me.”

“Guarding you?” He laughed at the idea. “I’m not guarding…” When she arched a brow, his lie trailed off, and his shoulders sagged at being caught. “All right, I’m guarding you. And yes, I have to.”

Her chest tightened. She shouldn’t have been surprised. Shewasthe bait, after all. “Because you’re afraid I’ll be killed if you don’t?”

He fixed her a hard look. “Because I’m afraid Dartmoor will killmeif I don’t.”

A smile teased at her lips, then faded into grim solemnity. Absently, she rubbed her left glove. She’d tucked into it a small piece of lace that Teddy had given her as a good luck charm.Even as she rubbed her fingers over it, though, she knew she’d need much more than luck to survive tonight.

“I am so very sorry for what my father’s actions put you through,” she apologized to Crewe, “the lengths you’ve had to go to in order to make right his crimes.”

“It wasn’t only your father.” He added in a sardonic murmur, “Mine had a little something to do with it, too.”

“But my father controlled the money. Without him, none of what they did would have—”

“It wasn’t only your father,” he repeated, all teasing now gone, and so firmly this time that she knew not to brook any more argument.

The door opened, and Devlin strode inside, carrying a glass of champagne. The sight of him took her breath away. Dressed in Bond Street’s finest, he exuded power and privilege. Every inch of him proclaimed him a duke, from the shine of his blond hair to his diamond cravat pin, from the cut of his black kerseymere jacket to his white satin waistcoat.

More—he exuded a sense of trust and solidity that had been missing in her life. How would she be able to live on without that, once their plan was over?

Devlin gestured at Crewe. “Would you give us a few moments alone?”

“Of course. I’ll find the duchess and see if she needs my help with anything.”

As he turned to leave, Peyton placed her hand on his arm to stop him. “Thank you, Lucien.” Her voice hitched with emotion. “For everything.”

Impetuously, she rose up on tiptoe and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Surprised by the small show of affection, he gave her a stiff bow and retreated from the room, closing the door after himself.

When Peyton looked back at Devlin, she found him staring at her—and frowning. She knew it wasn’t the kiss that bothered him.

“It’s almost time for the announcement.” He held out the champagne flute to her. “Are you ready?”

More grateful for the drink than she would dare admit, she accepted the glass and nodded as she raised it to her lips to take a long sip.

“You don’t have to do this.”

The somber tone of his voice turned the taste of the champagne on her tongue to acid. She lowered the flute and stared into the bubbling liquid.

“It’s not too late to change your mind. You can wait until you’re absolutely certain you should reveal your identity.”

“It’s the best way we have to bring Horrender to justice,” she said, studying her glass. If she looked up at him, the concern in his eyes would undo her.