A Chance Encounter: A rash decision changes their lives forever. by Buck Gayle

Author:Buck, Gayle [Buck, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-02-20T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Joan sighed softly. She looked up and her eyes traveled to the viscount, who stood a short distance away at the mantel. She rose and went to him. She touched his sleeve. Lord Humphrey looked down at her expressionlessly. Before her courage failed her, Joan said, “I believe it is now my turn to apologize, my lord. I was abominable.”

“You have a deuced temper,” he said, as though in discovery.

“Yes,” she admitted. Her eyes began to gleam. “But I suspect that I shall need it at times when dealing with your lordship.”

Lord Humphrey grinned reluctantly. He lifted her hand to his lips. “I do not deny it, my lady.”

Their interchange had not gone unnoticed. The others present, though they could not hear what had led up to it, had observed the apparent tiff between the viscount and Miss Chadwick and the subsequent patching of relations.

Lady Cassandra gave a short cackle. “There you have it, daughter. A most worthy pair of cooing doves.”

“Pray, Mama!” Lady Dewesbury cast an apologetic glance in Lord Ratcliffe’s direction, whom she was certain was not at all edified by the sight of his erstwhile future son-in-law making up to an unknown girl. But she was surprised, for, instead of the stiff affronted expression that she had expected to find on Lord Ratcliffe’s face, there was the faintest suggestion of a smile.

“The viscount cuts quite a dash with the lady,” he said imperturbably.

Lord Ratcliffe caught Lady Dewesbury’s glance, and his smile came out into the open. “Why so surprised, Charlotte? Some time ago it occurred to me to suspect that your fine young son was not one to come tamely to the cart that had been prepared for him, not when my daughter showed him at every turn that she thought she held the reins. But I was foolish enough to set aside the thought, believing that I was most likely mistaken. After all, Aurelia never saw it, and apparently neither did anyone else.”

“I am truly astonished, John,” faltered Lady Dewesbury. “I would have thought you, of us all, would be thrown quite into the boughs.”

Lord Ratcliffe shrugged. “I admit to feeling a certain outrage and insult, and I still do. But what is done is done, and I am not one to hold a grudge, especially against my own godson.”

Lady Cassandra reached across the intervening space between their chairs and cracked her fan against Lord Ratcliffe’s arm. “I like you, my lord. You accept the inevitable and go on from there. You will live longer with that attitude, I promise you.”

Lord Ratcliffe sketched a bow to the elderly lady. “I am most appreciative of your approval, Lady Cassandra. It is my understanding that few earn it.”

“Few deserve it,” Lady Cassandra responded promptly.

Lady Dewesbury threw up her hands in defeat. It was all beyond her. She didn’t understand any of it. Her mother was behaving uncharacteristically benevolent toward an interloper in their midst, while Lord Ratcliffe, who was just as prideful as her own spouse, had virtually given his blessing to the surprising betrothal.

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