An Affair of Honor (A Regency Romance) by Candice Hern

Author:Candice Hern
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: horses, regency, traditional regency, regency romance, london season, romance, romantic fiction, regency romp, romance novel, historical romance

* * *

Meg sat at her brother's desk in the library, her head bent over pages and pages of Thornhill's breeding charts. Several mares had begun their breeding cycle, and Terrence had asked her to review the bloodlines in anticipation of the best pairings.

A knock at the door intruded on her concentration. "Yes? Come in."

She looked up in surprise to see Sedge trudge into the room. He stopped short when he saw her.

"Oh!" he exclaimed. "I—I was looking for Sir Terrence." He sounded uncharacteristically sheepish and Meg was surprised to hear him stammer. It was not like the gregarious viscount.

"I am sorry, Sedge, but he went out early to exercise Blue Blazes. He should be back within the hour. Can I help you with anything?"

If she did not know better, she would have said Sedge actually blushed. But it must be just a trick of the morning light. The central pane in each window included a colored depiction of the Ashburton coat of arms. A bit of red glass no doubt reflected off his face.

"Uh, no, no. I will w-wait for him to return." He looked down at the Turkey carpet and did not meet her eyes.

Why was he suddenly so shy and awkward with her? Was he perhaps remembering that incident on the landing, when he had almost kissed her?

She felt the heat of a blush color her own cheeks.

"I must speak with him," Sedge continued. "I wanted to do so last night, but with his friend Mr. Hawksworthy present... well, it just did not seem the right time."

"Mr. Hawksworthy is a neighbor, as you know," Meg said. "He often takes dinner with us. I am sure he would have understood if you wanted to be private with Terrence."

"Yes. Well, now it seems I must wait." Sedge took another step further into the room. "You see, my cousin and I are leaving this morning."

Oh, God. It was true, then. He was leaving. She had heard several of the servants whispering of furious packing and organizing, and so knew he must be planning to depart Thornhill. But she had not expected it to be so soon. Not today. Not this very morning.

"I wanted to thank your brother for his hospitality," Sedge continued. "And all of you for your kindness and generosity." He took another step closer. "Especially you, Meg."

She found herself captivated once more by those blue eyes, and almost without realizing what she did, she rose from her chair to stand in front of him.

He was leaving. He was really leaving.

"You saved my life, Meg," he said. "More than once. I wanted to thank you, and your grandmother, for nursing me back to health, and for being such good companions during my convalescence." He chuckled softly. "I am sure I would have been bored to pieces without your company, Meg."

She took a step toward Sedge. Good Lord, how was she to endure this? "No need for thanks," she said, for she had to say something, even if she could not say what was in her heart.

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