Page 47 of How to Seduce a Duke this Autumn
Maddie scoffed. “Any position with you in the park, alone, would be improper.”
“Well, I, for one, am glad you chose any position at all,” Ashley said with a grin. “You’ve been far too busy pruning your orchids lately.”
Charlene rolled her eyes. “They require a lot of attention.”
Maddie chuckled. “Hah! Does the duke know he is competing against plants for your attention?”
“There is no competition,” Charlene argued. The orchids would win, however. Besides, Adam seeking her attention? He wasn’t even in London.
Would he return soon?
The first streak of light cut across the dark sky above them, bursting into gold as the fireworks began, drawing her attention. But as the light flared, a tightness gripped her whole being, and she quickly lowered her eyes, turning her focus back to the bonfire below, its crackling flames far less chaotic than the turmoil she wished she could smother under the crush of the crowd.
Honestly.
Why did it feel like her heart might explode for that man?
Just like those fireworks.
Chapter Eleven
Adam entered CavendishHouse with a scowl.
He’d rather be caught in a storm in the middle of the ocean than be there to watch fireworks. Completely different sorts of explosives raged within him, but he couldn’t act unless he could speak to her. And that was a slim possibility this evening, if she were in attendance, too. He shouldn’t lament his fate, but his skin itched with irritation. He had no desire, no patience for polite, insipid conversations, which seemed to be the turnout for every event where she wasn’t.
And she wouldn’t be here.
Not at Cavendish House.
The sound of the fireworks exploding outside annoyed him even more. If he were to see the fireworks, he wanted to see it with her.
He had no friends. Well, he had one. Jack Cavendish. A businessman. Also, the owner of this house. The man of questionable birth, filthy rich, and a mysterious magnet to the Ton. They’d met after Jack helped him out of a scrap years ago, but his friend had yet to show his face since Adam’s return to London.
He scoffed.
And Adam had a sinking suspicion that even his host wouldn’t be around tonight. The man had been tamed by his woman. Something he had never thought would ever happen.But then, he’d never thought he’d have a true chance at love with Charlene Fielding either.
The house was still a crush.
His mother would probably scold him for choosing this particular event, but since he had yet to learn Charlene’s whereabouts, he felt more comfortable here. And he’d hoped, the smallest of hopes, to see his friend, too.
A good night was something to hope for as well.
Adam searched the room. To his surprise, in the back, he caught sight of the Earl of Linsey, the fiancé of one of Charlene’s friends, attempting to balance four glasses of wine in two hands.
His mood suddenly cleared.
Did that mean Charlene would be there, too?
He didn’t delay; he made his way over to the blond earl. “Linsey, how unexpected. Can I offer you some help?”
“Rotheworth,” Linsey said in greeting, allowing him to take two glasses. “Thank you.”
Adam gave him a nod. “No problem. I’m surprised to find you at Cavendish House.”
Linsey nodded. “Because of Cavendish? I agree, but the women argued it has the best view.”
Indeed.
