An Unexpected Bride for the Betrayed Duke by Emma Linfield

Author:Emma Linfield
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

G erard stifled a yawn. It probably hadn’t been his best idea to choose the night before he left on a trip to seek out Vivien and ask her to accompany him on a moonlit walk, but Gerard also knew that he’d have longed for her company all the more strongly if he hadn’t.

He could manage a little tiredness, because the midnight walk with Vivien had been so very lovely. And she was quite an astute creature with sharp insight.

She was right about me, too. About everything she said.

As Gerard crossed the threshold, a small procession followed him to the waiting carriage. There was his half-brother Samuel and Her Grace. Following them, there was Lady Dewdale and Lady Isadora, and last but far from least, there was Vivien. Gerard tried not to glance at her too often, but every time he did, she seemed to be gazing at him with a small, secretive smile.

The coachman Isaac was a bent, old man with thinning gray hair and sharp eyes that seemed to defy his old age. He’d been serving in the household for as long as Gerard could remember. Isaac opened the carriage and bowed low. “Good morning, Your Grace,” he greeted.

“Good morning,” Gerard replied.

Before stepping into the carriage, he turned around and smiled. Lady Isadora shyly tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. “We already wait with bated breath for your safe return, your Grace,” the Lady said.

Behind her, Gerard saw that Vivien nodded, and a small smile graced her lips. Gerard felt his face soften as he gazed at the woman. She must be tired, and Gerard felt a twinge of guilt that he’d kept her from sleep. But she looked as fresh and radiant as a new spring blossom growing from the earth. Like a lily, perhaps. Or a rose.

“Yes, try not to tarry,” Her Grace said.

Why? So you can’t try and push me closer to Lady Isadora, when it is increasingly apparent how ill-suited we are for one another?

Gerard gathered himself, determined to act with grace despite it all. “I shall, Your Grace. I would not leave had I not planned this journey for so long.”

“I’ll do my best to entertain our guests while you’re gone,” Samuel said.

Considering how Samuel’s eyes darted to Lady Isadora, Gerard didn’t doubt that his brother would do his best to entertain their guests, and he’d already seemed fairly taken with Lady Isadora since her arrival.

“Thank you, everyone,” Gerard replied.

He received a mumbling of assent and last farewells, as he climbed into the plush cushions of the carriage. As the door closed behind him, Gerard couldn’t help giving Vivien one last, final glance through the window. She smiled, her face brightened by the sunlight.

“I will hurry back for you,” Gerard murmured.

The carriage made an odd jolt, and Gerard frowned. There was a small, clattering noise that he hadn’t heard before.

Probably just a rock or a bump.

Gerard settled back into the cushions and smiled to himself. It wouldn’t take long to reach the Duke and Duchess of Brittlemore, an hour at most.

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