Page 44 of Seducing an Earl under the Mistletoe
“I…” Arthur stuttered, but everything was clear to his friend.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Marcus assured him. “Just know that I will support whatever decision you make.”
Arthur could understand the unspoken message. Marcus had learned from his mistakes, and he wanted nothing more than to see Arthur find happiness and fulfillment in his life choices. Arthur was still torn, but there was little he could do about it. Lord Thornton had Catherine in his grip. That much was obvious.
The two men spent the following hour talking, while Arthur tried to distract his friend with topics unrelated to love. Fortunately, it was a successful effort, after which he bid his friend goodbye.
As he walked through the main hallway, heading towards the exit, Arthur bumped into the butler, a dignified and unassuming figure who had been carrying a stack of incoming correspondence. The moment they bumped into each other, the butler lost his footing and stumbled, causing the letters to scatter across the polished floor.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Arthur exclaimed, kneeling down and joined the butler in the task of collecting the letter.
“It is quite all right, Lord Rinder,” the butler assured him.
As they gathered the letters, Arthur stumbled onto something interesting. There was a letter addressed to Lord Saltdean, with the sender’s name being none other than Punch. In a deliberate and discreet motion, he slipped the letter into the inner pocket of his coat, guarding its contents from prying eyes. The mere touch of the missive from Punch stirred a mixture of surprise, intrigue, and a sense of impending revelation.
“Thank you, my lord,” the butler bowed when they were done. They bid each other goodbye as Arthur headed out to his carriage, pressing the letter in the inside pocket of his coat.
As soon as he was safely inside his carriage, heading back home, he opened it without a moment’s delay.
Lord Saltdean,
We must converse urgently. Your son has found me, along with a friend, asking questions. I have disclosed nothing, but my silence costs. You know where to find me.
Punch
Arthur had a feeling this man hadn’t told them all he knew. But what exactly did he know? Unfortunately, it was obvious that his loyalty rested with Lord Saltdean, who was apparently paying for the man’s silence. All of this was mysterious, and Arthur could sense there was so much more to this story than met the eye.
As Arthur made his way back to Hollygrove Hall, his thoughts were still entangled with the poignant conversation he’d shared with Marcus and the unexpected letter from Punch that now nestled within his coat. The estate was a hive of activity in preparation for the evening soirée, and the sense of anticipation was palpable.
The entry door was wide open, allowing anyone to enter or exit, whatever suited their fancy. Eager to gather his thoughts and perhaps explore the contents of the enigmatic letter, Arthur climbed the stairs to his room. However, when he reached the door, he was met with an unsettling surprise. The door, typically locked and secure, stood slightly ajar, as though an uninvited guest had entered.
With a sense of foreboding, Arthur pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside. His eyes widened with disbelief and shock as he beheld the figure waiting for him in the dimly lit room—a man, his face obscured by bandages and disfigurement, yet unmistakably familiar.
As the realization washed over him like a tidal wave, Arthur’s breath caught in his throat.
“J-James!?”
Chapter 20
As Catherine attended the Fontwell party in the company of Lord Thornton, the opulent gathering swirled with excitement and the mingling of society’s elite. This was the last place where she wanted to be, but missing this party was out of the question.
In the midst of the festivities, she couldn’t help but notice how smitten her sister was with Conte Barrault. And he with her, for that matter. Virginie’s exuberance was infectious, and she couldn’t contain her joy as she bounded over to Catherine to share the news of her betrothal. Catherine had a lot to say on the matter, but she held her tongue about her reservations.
“That is wonderful news,” Catherine said as she held her sister’s hand. “I hope you two will be very happy together.”
“Thank you.” Virginie beamed as Conte Barrault stood by her side, smiling himself.
Yet, as she exchanged pleasantries with the newly betrothed couple, there was a lingering sense of longing in her heart, a yearning to see one person above all others. Her thoughts turned to Arthur, the man who had occupied her thoughts and dreams.
It was his presence she craved, his voice she longed to hear. However, despite her hopeful anticipation, Arthur was conspicuously absent from the gathering, leaving Catherine to wonder about his whereabouts.
As more people approached to congratulate Virginie on her betrothal, Catherine wanted to seize this chance and find some solitary corner where she would hide away from the rest of the world, but she was not allowed to do so. Her path was abruptly intercepted by her father. His countenance radiated a sense of paternal pride as he warmly acknowledged Virginie’s betrothal, the news of which had lit up the room.
“Isn’t that wonderful news about Virginie and Conte Barrault?” he inhaled with deep pleasure as he gazed at the crowd.
“Yes.” Catherine nodded.
He turned to her. “All I ever wanted was for you, my children, to be taken care of, Cate. And a woman cannot take care of herself. She needs someone by her side to love her, to protect her, to keep her safe, and make her happy. I believe that Lord Thornton could be this person, if only you allow him close to you.”
