An Outside Chance: A Regency Historical Romance (The Chances Book 3) by Emily E K Murdoch

Author:Emily E K Murdoch [Murdoch, Emily E K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

October 10, 1812

Dodo’s pulse thumped so wildly as she strode down the pavement in the blustery air, she suspected those who passed her could probably hear it.

Thump, thump, thump…

And it shouldn’t. Polite young ladies should not be getting so excited to see a gentleman. Most especially entirely on her own. She had been raised to know such things, was aware of how her stay in Bath flouted Society’s rules, and she felt these things, deep within herself.

If only her heart were listening.

It had been days since she had last seen George Chance. No, Dodo attempted to correct herself, it’s been days since I last saw the Earl of Lindow. And that was important, wasn’t it?

Remembering my place, Dodo thought as her skirts were swept up by the breeze. Her place, that was, apart from George.

But staying away from him was impossible, particularly when he sent invitations like the one she had received that morning.

A walk? L

It was intriguing. It was mysterious. It was… short.

If she knew anything about the man who had sent it, then he likely as not wished to discuss something. Or merely wished to see her.

She should not be getting her hopes up, as her mother would say. The trouble was, her hopes were already up, whirling wildly, so swiftly, she could hardly tell what she was hoping.

You cannot keep this up much longer.

The thought was so unsettling, she wobbled as she turned a corner onto the street where Lindow House could be found. Putting out a hand to the wall, the cool of the Bath stone steadied her.

Dodo swallowed. Not just the whole of this Bath madness, staying in lodgings by herself, pretending her chaperone was always around the corner whenever out and about. But stealing from George—because that was what it was, even if she could attempt to sweeten the betrayal with phrases like “inspired by” or “informed by” or even “accidentally learned.”

The point was, the Earl of Lindow was spilling his secrets to her, and she was using that information to bet against him.

What was that, if not stealing?

This week will be the last time, Dodo told herself firmly as her legs strengthened and she felt able to continue along the pavement. Just a few more bets, higher now that she had a greater understanding of the system—Mr. Gregory and Mr. Gillingham would advise her there, she was certain—then she could put this to bed.

The mere thought of “bed” so close to “George Chance” caused heat to scald her cheeks. By the time she reached the front door, she was positively pink.

Dodo frowned at her reflection in the spectacularly shined bronze knocker. After wrapping smartly on the knocker that was so inconveniently demonstrating just how rosy she was, she did not have to wait long before the door was opened by a footman who stepped aside.

The butler, Northrup, scowled. “No.”

“I—” Dodo blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

It was definitely not the response she had been expecting. True, the butler seemed to have little admiration for her, which was to be expected.

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