1 - A Vengeful King Rises: House of Croft by Sophie Barnes

Author:Sophie Barnes [Barnes, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: House of Croft#1
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

23

Samantha arrived at the Midhurst musicale together with Melody and Lady Heathbrooke, with whom she’d enjoyed a lovely dinner prior to the engagement. Harlowe, who’d had a business meeting to attend to, would meet them there.

She swept the room with her gaze, searching for him until she realized he’d yet to put in an appearance. Instead she spotted the Earl of Marsdale, who stood in conversation with the odious Duke of Wrengate. The Ottersburgs and Glendales were also present, along with several other peers, including the Duke of Eldridge and Viscount Birchwood.

A cluster of younger men, from whom she recognized only the Newton brothers, were having what looked like some sort of debate, judging from their vigorous gestures.

The debutantes were gathered in a separate corner, whispering and tittering in a manner Samantha found highly annoying. All while sending coy smiles toward the young men.

“Thank goodness we’re not like them,” Samantha told Melody under her breath.

“What’s that?” asked Lady Heathbrooke.

Samantha sent the dowager marchioness a dazzling smile. “It seems we’re in excellent company this evening, my lady.”

The dowager marchioness snorted and swept past Samantha, cutting a path directly toward a couple of women of similar age with whom she immediately struck up a conversation.

“I must confess, I sometimes wish I were able to be just a little like them,” Melody murmured. She nodded toward the debutantes. “Or at the very least able to enjoy the excitement of courtship, with marriage and a family of my own still waiting upon the horizon.”

Samantha glanced at her in surprise. “I’m sorry. I never realized you might have such longings.”

Wishing for such things had never occurred to Samantha. She’d only ever focused on what she knew her life would be, instead of dreaming of something that couldn’t be hers. Seemed rather pointless really, if not a direct path to unhappiness.

“I try to keep these dreams buried,” Melody said. “But I do wonder what it might have been like to gain a suitor’s attention, to plan for a future with him and… Forget it. I’m being terribly silly.”

Samantha placed her hand on Melody’s arm. “You could still have those things if you truly wished it.”

An unhappy smile caught Melody’s lips. “How? None of the gentlemen of my acquaintance will have a tradesman’s by-blow, and I cannot imagine tying myself to the sort of man who would.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m better off with Lady Heathbrooke. Everything else is just fanciful nonsense. I beg you not to spare it another thought.” Melody turned and her eyes brightened. “How marvelous. Violet Greene and Octavia Burley are also in attendance. Come, I’ll introduce you to them.”

Samantha prepared to follow her friend but paused when the Earl of Marsdale stepped to one side and a dark, familiar gaze met hers. A slow smile followed as Mr. Croft acknowledged her presence. She took a slow breath, accepted her stomach’s fluttery response even as she explained it away as the thrill of the hunt.

He was here. She’d known he would be, but Melody had distracted her with her comment and… She caught Melody’s hand.

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