All a Mistress Wants by Eliza Lloyd

Author:Eliza Lloyd [Lloyd, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-08-16T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

“Are you and Eloisa quarreling?” Mother asked from where she sat, propped up amongst a ridiculous spread of pillows reading a book—her favorite means of passing time late in the evening.

He had quietly left Eloisa’s room after she’d rolled to her side and pretended sleep.

So nothing had really changed.

Walking down the hallway to his room, he saw light coming from beneath his mother’s door. Sometimes only a parent understood a child’s dilemma, even if that child was a grown man and a duke. In spite of the delicacy of the situation, Mother was well aware he had a mistress and who that mistress was.

He’d turned one of her sitting chairs toward the bed and stared pensively into space when she’d stabbed right into the heart of the matter.

“Why do you ask?”

“You are sitting in my boudoir at half past midnight and the two of you have barely spoken to each other since your arrival.”

“She insists our liaison is over, which undoubtedly makes her the most foolish woman in England.”

“Hmm. Or it makes you the most foolish man in England.”

“What do you mean?”

“I asked you not to involve me in this tête-à-tête to begin with. Eloisa is a gentleman’s daughter with whom you should have never had an affair, let alone allowed it to continue for so long.”

"Well, you are getting your wish.”

“I am surprised, that is all. Not that you took a mistress. I wasn’t sure how you would accomplish such a feat, considering Nellie.”

“Leave Nell out of this.”

“I’m not sure I can. And you did ask.”

“Why would she think to end a very suitable arrangement? Who else will care for her the way I have?”

“A husband perhaps?”

“Bah. She is not looking for marriage at this point. She enjoys her freedom too much.” But he would admit, after her announcement he wondered if he knew her at all.

“How do you know? Have you asked her?” Mother queried.

“She would have nagged me to death if that were the case.”

Mother laughed. “Knowing Eloisa as I do, I suspect she has mentioned it, probably to test the waters. Besides, she is not the type to nag.”

“Do you think that is what this is about?”

“I don’t know. What I do know is Eloisa is deeply in love with you. More than Nellie ever was.”

* * * * *

Eloisa returned the velvet box to Adam’s room the next morning, only to find it back in hers that evening. She locked her door that night, as much against his intrusion as her bad judgment.

She had not changed her mind. Their late-night liaison was only a confirmation of the hold he had over her and that it must be broken.

After a lady’s maid assisted her with dressing the next morning, another servant knocked on the door to deliver her breakfast which she had not requested.

“His Grace bids you good morning,” the footman said. “He also invites you to join him and the children at nine.”

“Oh?”

“Two sleighs are being readied.”

She should say no but she was in

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