A Seduction in Winter by Carolyn Jewel

Author:Carolyn Jewel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance
ISBN: 9781937823443
Publisher: NLA Digital LLC
Published: 2016-02-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“My lord,” Baynard said when he joined Wrathell in the crowded front parlor. “I count only seventeen for dinner.”

He swung around to face the man. “No, we are eighteen.”

“You have miscalculated. There are only seventeen. Or do you expect another arrival?”

Wrathell counted his guests and came to seventeen, himself included. At which point he feared he understood Baynard’s conclusion. Sedately, he said, “When Honora comes down, we shall have the proper number.”

“Honora?”

He maintained his outward good temper. “Is she ill?” That was possible. She’d been locked in her room all day, slaving away for the cause of his ridiculous idea of using George’s portrait to mend relations with his father. She may well have worked herself into illness. If she had, he had major amends to make to her and her father.

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Then she will be downstairs shortly.” He suspected Baynard had other ideas about that. The man had the right to look after his daughter as he saw fit. He, on the other hand, had no right to the resentment seething through him. Except Honora was of age. She was of age, and did she not have the right to decide if she would remain hidden or if she wished to walk out with no veil? Or join a dinner party?

Privilege attached to being the younger son of a duke. The navy had been proof of that. He was well used to the courtesies that came with being Lord Leoline Marrable. He was learning that being the heir to a dukedom was another thing entirely. He summoned his father’s tone and manner. God knows he’d seen and heard it often enough in his youth. His father’s words carried weight. His approval could make a man’s career. His disapproval could destroy it. “She must come down, Baynard.”

“She does not attend parties,” Baynard said with chilling finality. “They are unpleasant for her. Imagine, my lord, what your guests will think.”

“Mr. Baynard.” His temper slipped, and that would not do. She’d come down for meals on other occasions when their schedules happened to intersect, but, now that he thought of it, there had never been more than the three of them, and once or twice only him and Honora. “I thought I’d made it clear you and your daughter were expected tonight.”

“I fear not.” Baynard shrugged regretfully.

“All my plans depend upon eighteen.” He did not have to feign concern. He had made his invitations based on even numbers. “I cannot have seventeen to dinner.”

“My lord—”

“Baynard.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and stared at his feet. Even if he accepted Baynard’s right to keep Honora upstairs, which he did not, seventeen was a social disaster. He met Baynard’s gaze. “If Honora does not join us, before noon tomorrow my Aunt Carter, whom I love dearly and who adores me in return, will nevertheless tell everyone the numbers were uneven because the heir to Marrable Gate is incapable of counting.”

Baynard’s pained reaction told Wrathell he understood the problem very well.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.