Cass had snuck over to visit Lucy, despite her mother’s insistence that they end their friendship. Cass had cried and told Lucy how utterly ashamed and sorry she was for her mother’s behavior. “I’ve tried to reason with her, Lucy. She refuses to listen.”
In the end, it seemed, there was nothing anyone could do. Lady Moreland was well connected at court and set about making it her business to bend the ear of the queen. She couldn’t force a duke to marry her daughter, but she certainly could set about trying to ruin said duke’s plans to marry an inappropriate duchess. And now the summons from the queen sat on the desk, like an awful little papery recrimination, reminding Lucy of how utterly unladylike and unworthy she was and always would be.
Lucy had just decided to toss the summons into the fireplace when Cass and Jane floated into the drawing room.
“We’ve come to help. A plan is in order,” Jane declared, hands on her hips, already searching about for the tea tray on which she would inevitably find her favorite cakes.
“Plan?” Lucy echoed, turning to face her friends. “Am I to have a plan?”
“Of course you must have a plan,” Jane replied, taking a seat on a rosewood chair next to her friend. “This situation isn’t about to resolve itself, is it?”
Lucy frowned. “What situation?”
Cass crossed over to the writing desk and scooped up the summons. “Just as we suspected, the queen wishes to see you.”
Lucy blinked. “How did you—?”
Cass shrugged. “I did some investigating. Seems when a duke decides to take a bride, the potential bride must be officially summoned by the queen.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I suppose I should be honored that she’s bothering to take the time to meet with me.”
Cass stamped her foot. “See, right there. That is the attitude you must change if we’re to help you.”
“Have you told His Grace?” Jane, having found the tea tray, popped a piece of cake into her mouth.
Lucy sighed. “No. What’s the use? She will never approve of me. Oh, Cass, why did I ruin your potential engagement for this? You and Derek might have been happy together.”
Cass slapped at Lucy’s sleeve. “Are you completely daft? We would have made each other miserable and you know it. Not to mention, he happens to be madly in love with you and you with him.”
“Tell her the other part,” Jane prompted.
Cass turned back to face Lucy. “Oh, yes. I also discovered that the duke received a similar summons.”
Lucy frowned. “To see the queen?”
Cass shook her head. “No, the prince regent.”
“Derek detests the prince regent,” Lucy replied.
“It doesn’t matter. If he’s to get his approval, he’ll need to be convincing. Which is why we’re here to help you with your plan.”
Lucy glanced between her two friends. “You keep using that word. What exactly do you expect me to do?”
Jane set her plate aside and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “We expect you to put on a show, of course. It’ll be just like a play.”
Lucy tossed a hand in the air. “A play? What are you talking about?”
Cass took a deep breath. “Lucy, listen to me. You must go to court and be demure and presentable—and most of all, quiet.”
Lucy narrowed her eyes on her friend. “You say that as if it’s something I could actually accomplish.”
“Of course you can, Luce,” Jane added. “Pretend you’re an actress.”
Cass nodded. “We’re serious, Lucy. You must speak only when spoken to, you must keep your eyes downcast, and you must be the picture of a reformed fine lady. You must convince the queen you’ve changed since your—ahem—unfortunate incident five years ago.”
Lucy groaned. “Do you have any idea how difficult that will be for me?”
Jane grinned widely. “Of course we do. That’s why we’re here to help.”
Cass leaned over and squeezed her shoulder. “You must do it, Lucy … for Derek.”
“Does Derek know about this?”
Jane and Cass exchanged uneasy looks. “Not yet. We decided we would see how it goes before—”
“Getting his hopes up?” Lucy provided.
“He has enough to worry about what with impressing the prince,” Cass said.
Lucy glanced between them again. “Fine. What exactly do you suggest?”
Cass’s smile widened. “We’re going to turn you into a lady. Well, a lady of court.”
Lucy shook her head vigorously. “Oh, no. My mother tried that once and I—”
“With all due respect,” Cass replied, clearing her throat, a determined gleam in her eye, “your mother is not me.”