Page 107 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
She came to. ‘Did you say something?’
‘You are wool-gathering. I said, would you like another cake? Or shall I ring for them to take the tray away?’
‘Oh. No more for me. I will ring.’
She got up and pulled the bell. A cockfight woulddo nicely How would she find out where such things were held? It would be common knowledge among the men, of course. But who could she ask?
Charles, naturally.
‘What are you smiling at, my dear?’ Aunt Lenore asked.
‘I believe I may have solved a problem.’
‘What problem?’ She looked anxious.
‘Nothing to worry about, I can assure you.’
Not yet, anyway.
Chapter Seventeen
Barbara glanced at the clock. It was almost time for Charles to arrive.
He was due to take her to a cockfight today; he had promised to call for her at ten. She had told him that this desire of hers to witness a blood sport was to win a wager. She had bet a woman’s stomach for blood sport was equally as strong as any man’s.
A ridiculous wager. But just the sort of thing people did.
She could not rid herself of the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Xavier would never speak to her again, once he heard about today’s escapade. Something in her chest squeezed the breath from her lungs. It hurt more than she cared to admit.
The only good part was that after this Father would have to cast her off. Wouldn’t he?
While she had not yet heard from Charles, she had absolutely no doubt he would keep his promise.
He always had.
Even on that fatal day when Helmut had been killedin a duel. Charles had told her about her husband’s folly and taken her to the site of the duel in hopes of putting a stop to it.
They had been too late.
The men had been duelling with rapiers. When Helmut caught sight of her, he had been furious, and in his temper had left himself open to his opponent.
The rapier had pierced his heart.
As his infidelity had pierced hers.
But she hadn’t wanted him to die. It had been quite awful. For everyone. Especially Charles.
Dressed and ready, she waited in the drawing room, hoping her needlework would settle her nerves, but her fingers shook so much she couldn’t thread her needle.
Finally, the butler announced Charles, who strode in looking distinguished in a flower-embroidered waistcoat and navy blue coat. The serious expression on his face boded ill.
She gestured for him to sit on the sofa and gripped her hands in her lap. She took a deep breath. ‘I am ready to leave whenever you say.’
He frowned. ‘I am not saying you do not look beautiful, because you do, but that attire would not do at all. You would stand out like a cat in a kennel.’
Exactly as she had planned.
He leaned back against the cushion. ‘It is as well we cannot go.’
