Page 111 of Wild Lily
Carbury glared at Julian. Straightening his waistcoat, he reddened. “I’ll see to my bride.”
The duke hastened behind Carbury, muttering to himself.
Alarm spread across Julian’s face. His brows shot together as he swung toward the exit where his sister and Carbury had disappeared. Then he hurried after them.
Marianne groaned. “This marriage was never going to work.”
Ada glanced from her cousin to Lily. “What? They never liked each other?”
“Like?” Pierce gave a joyless laugh. “She loathes him.”
With a flick of her eyes, Lily warned her brother and sister to say no more.
“Should you go?” Marianne asked Lily as they watched the duchess scurry from the ballroom.
“Do not.” Remy stood beside them, his attention riveted on the vacant doorway.
Down the marbled corridor from some far room, voices rose and rushed toward the reception in echoes of hate. Male, female, high-pitched, accusatory.
“I’ll get the butler,” murmured Remy to the assembled group. “I know him well. He must close all the doors. Excuse me.”
Lily could scarcely catch her breath. Ada and Marianne blanched. Pierce focused on the doorway to the hall, and began to pace like a leopard in a cage.
Remy reappeared, the butler and two footmen behind him. Down the hall, the sounds of slammed doors reverberated into the ballroom.
But closed doors did not silence the sounds of bitter arguments.
A crash of china and a woman’s scream rent the air.
The guests were mesmerized.
Julian rushed into the ballroom ,shouting at Remy to ‘Come, come quickly!”.
Remy ran after him.
No one spoke. Lily stared at Marianne, undone by the chaos.
Within a minute, Remy charged into the room. His face bright red, he rushed to Marianne and Lily. “Come quickly. They need you.”
Lily thrust her flute into Ada’s hands. Marianne did too.
Pierce headed toward the doors, but Remy grabbed his arms and hauled him backward. “Don’t.”
“What’s happened?” Pierce demanded of him.
“The duke has had a stroke.”
