Page 115 of The Dueling Duchess

Cecile forced her eyes shut and breathed deeply. Nothing had really changed—except she now had Cat in her life, which was the only good thing to come out of Guy’s return.

Chapter 19

Guy glanced down at Helena—Helen, he reminded himself—and asked, “Are you ready?”

She nodded, her expression grim. Neither of them had seen Cecile that morning, and Cook said she’d not come to breakfast, which wasn’t like her, so they’d left Cat with Cook and gone to seek her out.

Guy rapped on the door of her office.

“What is it?”

The voice from beyond sounded . . . Well, it sounded like Cecile yet not like Cecile.

“It is Guy. May I come in?”

“No.”

He was rendered speechless for a moment, but then regrouped. “Cecile, I need to talk to you.”

“Go away.”

He tried the door, but it was locked.

“Please let us in.”

“Us?”

“It is Miss Keeble and I.”

There was a long pause and then the door opened suddenly.

Cecile stood in the opening, her cheeks flushed and her eyes snapping. “What took you so long?”

“Er, I just got up and ate breakfast and here I am. Why? Was I supposed to do something this morning?”

She ground her teeth audibly.

“What’s wrong, Cecile?”

“What do you two want? Are you leaving already?”

“Leaving?” He looked down at Helen, who looked blankly back at him.

“No, we just wanted to get something out of the way this morning, and then we’ll both go to work.”

“Oh, is that what you think?”

He frowned. “What’s the matter? Can we come in? This is hardly a subject I wish to discuss out in the open.”

“Of course, you don’t! Although I’m sure everyone will find out about it in Mr. Humphrey’s window.”

Guy’s mouth opened, but he wasn’t sure what to say.

“I think Miss Tremblay might have the wrong idea.”

He looked down at Helen’s flushed cheeks and then at Cecile.

Her eyes were black, her dark hair wild, and her lips a deep red, as if she’d been chewing them.