Dalliance with the Duchess: A Regency Historical Romance (Disgraceful Duchesses Book 3) by Sara Bennett

Author:Sara Bennett [Bennett, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The entrance hall was lit by a single lamp, and the house seemed suddenly so silent. Sophia had been lost in it while she was in mourning. Rattling around like a ghost in a place that no longer felt as if it was her own. Marianne was here now, but Sophia hadn’t heard a peep out of her. She reminded herself that she still had to talk to the other woman. Her time since Marianne appeared on her doorstep had been taken up by other matters, but Sophia still had questions for her. Webster had informed her earlier that “the child” had arrived, but she hadn’t asked for details. Her butler would be only too happy to add to his complaints and Sophia did not want to encourage him.

She turned to the waiting servant. “Bring us some coffee. We will be in the Yellow Room.”

As she walked toward the sitting room, she wished she had taken Nicholas to the drawing room instead, which was large and imposing and always made her visitors a little nervous. The Yellow Room was far more comfortable and informal. But did she want Nicholas to feel comfortable? Then she reminded herself that he probably would not feel discomforted wherever he was because nothing seemed to intimidate Nicholas Blake.

Or nearly nothing.

Which brought her to the subject at hand.

She gestured for him to sit in an armchair opposite, while she made herself comfortable in the other. They stared across the small space at each other, and she found herself examining his features. Sophia could see that he was as tired as she, the weariness causing shadows like bruises under his eyes, while lines bracketed his mouth.

He had admitted he hadn’t been sleeping and she was the reason. She was keeping him awake. Well, that was only fair, because thoughts of him were keeping her awake.

A footman brought a tray with coffee and cups, and what looked like a large fruit cake. Cook was very proud of her fruit cake, justifiably so, and produced it on every possible occasion. Seeing it now, Sophia realized how hungry she was, and placed two thick slices on the delicate plates, handing one to Nicholas, before biting into her own with relish. After demolishing half of it, she set it aside and sipped her coffee. She was feeling better, more alert, and ready to speak.

This time when she met Nicholas’s gaze she smiled. “Perhaps Chatham catching us together like that was a good thing,” she said. “He was most forthcoming when I assured him that my hatred for you had not dimmed.”

Nicholas laughed, and despite his untidy dark hair and unshaven jaw, her heart gave a little flutter.

Not now! Sophia gulped some more coffee to steady herself, before setting down her cup. “He has plans for your young friend.”

Nicholas’s smile faded, his dark eyes piercing as he searched hers. “Tell me.”

Swiftly and precisely she repeated Chatham’s words to him while he listened in sober silence. “I have yet to discover just what it is they will use to ruin him, but I will do my best to find out.

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