A Date with Dishonor by Mary Brendan

Author:Mary Brendan
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

‘Isn’t that Alex Blackthorne’s phaeton?’

‘I believe it is,’ Dolly Pearson replied. ‘And look who is sitting beside him.’

Raising her lorgnette, Edith Vickers studied the splendid carriage’s passengers more closely. ‘It’s not surprising he’s smitten. Celia Chase is a lovely lady, isn’t she?’

Dolly disdainfully eyed the flimsy muslin garment clothing the young woman. ‘Pretty?’ she sniffed. ‘Maybe... Lady? I doubt it...’ Her muttering tailed off and she smiled brightly on noticing one of her nieces had turned away from the display of fabrics cramming a shop window.

‘We have noticed that the viscount is out and about today.’ Edith Vickers helpfully pointed out the sleek vehicle, oblivious to Dolly’s frown.

‘So he is,’ Elise breathed. She stared at the high-flyer drawn by two elegant greys. Even had she not overheard her aunt name the viscount’s companion she would have guessed that he was taking his mistress for a drive. The woman looked to be about her own age and devoted to him. Celia had a possessive hand on his sleeve while gazing up at him with an intimate smile.

He, on the other hand, was watching her, Elise realised as she glanced at his face to see if he was mirroring his mistress’s ardour. She pivoted away, hating the fact that he’d caught her gawping at the two of them.

‘Shall we move along and investigate other shops?’ Elise beckoned to Bea, indicating that they were ready to walk on.

The sisters had barely set foot on Regent Street before bumping into their aunt and Mrs Vickers, who’d also been of a mind to get outdoors for a constitutional before the weather again turned to showers. The two older women had seemed eager to join them and Elise had welcomed their company. Bea had barely surfaced from her fit of the glums during the cab journey to the centre of town. As they’d all slowly promenaded among the crowds, stopping to peruse the shop displays, her sister’s spirits had seemed to improve.

Elise took a surreptitious peek from beneath the brim of her bonnet, noticing that the phaeton was on its way again having escaped the knot of vehicles that had brought the traffic to a temporary standstill. An odd tension curdled her stomach as she watched the couple disappear into the distance and a lump formed in her throat. She gulped in a breath, inwardly scolding herself. Just because he’d once kissed and caressed her, making her, idiotically, feel overwhelmed didn’t mean he was special to her any more than she was to him. He was just a man who happened to be a practised philanderer and was friendly with the gentleman her sister wanted to marry. The sight of him with his mistress should not have affected her at all for it was none of her business what he did. She realised the sooner places were booked on the mail coach for her and her sister to travel home, the better it would be for everyone.

‘You two young ladies are very welcome

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