Page 21 of The Lady Who Said No to the Duke
Hal sent her an appreciative look, presumably for an explanation which was perfectly truthful and perfectly deceptive.Godmama would have kittens if she knew theyhad been hiding together under the dustsheet in the summerhouse.
If she had been concerned that Thea might develop atendrefor Hal Forrest, then the discovery that they had been positively entwined like that would probably have had her packing Thea off back to her parents within the hour.
And she didn’t want to go, not because she feared her parents’ wrath, but because she didn’t want to leave Hal.But she didn’t want to stay either, because otherwise she might find herself falling…
No.
Thea took a deep breath.Feeling, that was the word.Feeling more for a man who was not a suitable match for the Earl of Wiveton’s daughter, with her magnificent future already lying before her.
On the other hand, Hal Forrest gave her no indication that he felt anything for her but friendship and the kindred spirit of being one of Lady Holme’s godchildren.He behaved impeccably, even when stretched out over her body in pursuit of that spider, a most improper position to be in and one which had caused decidedly disturbing sensations in parts of Thea’s body that she tried not to think about too closely.
But there had been that moment by the pond… Yet with the passing of time, she became less and less certain that there had been anything, that Hal had frozen into stillness too, that his breath had caught, as hers had.Had she imagined it?
‘Thea dear, have you been listening to a word I have been saying?’
‘No, Godmama,’ she admitted honestly.‘Not a syllable, I’m afraid.’
‘I was asking if you would go and see what flowers andfoliage Fosket can spare us for the house.He behaves as though I expect him to sacrifice his own blood when I want to pick anything, but at this time of year with less in flower, he is even worse.Perhaps you can charm him.’
‘I will try after luncheon, Godmama.He may be mellowed by his own meal.’
Her smile faded as Fenwick entered, a silver slaver balanced on one hand, its surface covered in paper.‘The second postal delivery, my lady.’He placed it on the side table next to Lady Holme’s chair.
‘Thank you, Fenwick.’She gathered a handful up and began to scan them.‘Two…no, three for you, Hal.’
Thea began to rise to help, but Hal was before her.He took his post and tucked it into an inner breast pocket without a glance.
‘One for me, and this, and this.Ah, this is for you, Thea.From your father, I imagine.’
Hal took it and handed it to her.
Thea looked at it as it lay in her lap.Pandora’s box: What would she discover if she opened the lid, broke the seal?
Abruptly she ran her finger under the red wax.The letter was a single sheet and she looked first at the end.
Wiveton.Her father had signed it simply with his title and no words of affection.
Braced now for the worst, Thea made herself read from the beginning.
She had almost been the death of her poor Mama.Her father, scarce able to believe such undutiful behaviour, hardly knew what to write.But her godmother’s letter had provided him with some hope that all might not be lost, that the honour of the family, and Thea’s reputation, might yet be saved.
She took a deep breath and read on.Lady Holme had graciously suggested that they tell their acquaintance thatshe was suffering from a mild infection and had asked that Thea visit for a week to cheer her.
She, Thea, would thenReturn Homeand do her duty by accepting the Duke if she wished to retain the affection of her deeply distressed parents.
Godmama and Hal were waiting silently, she realised when she looked up.
‘It is all right, I think.Godmama’s letter has helped, because it gives them a more believable excuse for my absence from London than the suggestion that I had some illness myself.But I am to return within the week and accept the Duke’s hand.’
‘So what will you do?’Hal asked.
‘I will return as they wish, but I will do as you suggested and explain my feelings to the Duke when he calls.Goodness knows what will happen if he then refuses to offer for me, or I decide I simply cannot live with the man.I will have to think of another eligible gentleman and fix my interest with him very rapidly, I suppose.’
‘And do you have anyone in mind?’Hal asked, his voice exceedingly dry, it seemed to her.
‘I do not, unfortunately.London is full of highly eligible men, many of whom I find perfectly pleasant and agreeable, and none of whom I have the slightest desire to spend the rest of my life with.’
And certainly none I desire to be in bed with.Unlike—
