A Renwick House Christmas Box Set by Van Dyken Rachel & Sanders Leah

Author:Van Dyken , Rachel & Sanders, Leah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leah Sanders & Rachel Van Dyken
Published: 2019-12-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

Down for the Count

Perhaps he could merely pretend to have had an apoplexy. How long, he wondered, could a person hold his breath before he did permanent damage to his body? Perhaps if he passed out, he could make up a story about how the woman, who he would now refer to as Eve, tricked him, tripped him, and clobbered him over the head.

He kept his eyes closed just in case his ridiculous plan would work.

It didn’t.

Another throat cleared. He stopped his prayers and opened one eye, then two. His aunt's icy blue stare seemed to penetrate his body with such irritation that his head began to hurt again, or was the throbbing merely a happy coincidence with getting hit by Lady Katherine? Saints alive, she was going to be the death of him.

“Look what you’ve done.” Aunt Agatha shook her head and sniffled. Well, at least she was over her imaginary head cold; now it seemed she had nothing but tears and outrage.

“I did nothing wrong, I merely fell after being struck by a blunt object. You cannot fault me in the matter!”

“You compromised that woman! What the devil is wrong with you? Have I not raised you to at least woo a woman before you lift her skirts? Heavens, we are in public!”

“I was accosted!” he yelled.

“You were seducing her!”

“I was unconscious!” He blinked his eyes and cursed. Pain was now throbbing at his temples. Truly, if God were to call him home, he wouldn’t fault Him one bit. He’d merely lift his arms heavenward and thank the Lord for taking him. Then again his thanks would be twofold, for he would be grateful to even be near the pearly gates, let alone given free entry.

Aunt Agatha sighed. “Either way, it was bad form, Benedict. Truly bad form. I shall announce your impending marriage at once. Now, run along and have yourself some brandy. You look awful. Hmph.”

With swift movements, she left him on the cold ground, alone and upset. One thing was for certain, he wasn’t going to marry the girl. He would rather jump into the Thames in the dead of winter! Although, on second thought, jumping into the Thames would mean he would die of a head injury, considering it was frozen over. Perhaps he could cut out a little hole and jump into it. Sadly, the smile on his face was entirely brought on by his suicide plan, an unfortunate circumstance that. Was marriage truly that ghastly to him?

The woman was a plague, a disease he could not rid himself of! It mattered not that she was beautiful, or that she had grown into those luscious lips and curves. She was still the devil's own to deal with. And he would not align himself with such a lady for the rest of his life. Imagine! Lady Katherine? A Duchess? Married to the Devil Duke himself?

He pushed away from the ground and examined his body for dirt and smudges. Satisfied, he cracked his neck and walked back into the ballroom.

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