Page 65 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
The sooner they left, the sooner they could return here.
‘I will remove theto letsign first thing in the morning,’ he said.
‘Perfect.’
Chapter Ten
The next day, Xavier took a last look around the cottage where he had spent such pleasurable moments the previous evening. He was sure he had forgotten nothing. As he had promised, he had removed theto letsigns from the front and back of the cottage as well as mentioned to his man of business that he would not be leasing the cottage in the near future.
He had also brought in some provisions. Some bread, butter and cheese for the pantry. A few bottles of champagne. Tea and biscuits. Comestibles he imagined one might need for an afternoon dalliance.
He had purchased them at a grocer in town, where he was not known.
Last but not least, he had hired a woman to come in every morning to clean, do laundry and any other required tasks. She was to be gone by noon.
He had done everything possible to ensure to keep his and Barbara’s liaison private.
Now he had to wait until Wednesday afternoon to see her again.
He did not like waiting.
He locked the front door and drove home to receive the news from his butler that his secretary had returned from his leave.
He ought to be pleased, but now that meant there was another person to keep in the dark about his whereabouts.
He strode now the corridor to the back of the house.
Perry rose from his desk outside Xavier’s office. ‘Good afternoon, Your Grace.’
‘Perry.’ He shook hands with the young man. ‘How is your family?’
‘Well, sir.’
‘And the wedding went off all right?’
‘It did, Your Grace.’
‘Good.’
‘My brother-in-law sends his thanks for your most generous gift.’ Perry handed over a note.
‘Thank you.’ Xavier read the note and set it aside.
Perry gestured to the pile of mail. ‘Shall I begin with this?’
‘Please. I have missed you, as you can see.’ He hesitated. ‘Please do not make any arrangements for me on Wednesday afternoons. I wish to keep those free for the time being.’
Perry’s eyebrows rose, but he simply nodded.
Xavier had never made that sort of request before.
Damn. He hated this hole-and-corner stuff.
This was what came of getting involved with a reckless woman like the Countess. One lost all sense of propriety.
He should have given her the cut direct the moment she started her nonsense. Instead, he’d picked up the gauntlet she’d tossed at his feet.
It wasn’t too late to end it.
