Doubt Not by Tracy Edingfield

Author:Tracy Edingfield
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, comedy, unexpected, clash, bad boy, good girl, Regency
Publisher: Tracy Edingfield
Published: 2019-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Edward walked down the stairs, a spring in his step, and whistled. True to her character, Ruthanne had given herself to him last night, unstintingly. During the course of the evening, they had made love three times and it still wasn’t enough. He woke with a smile and an erection and Ruthanne had handled both with unparalleled enthusiasm. He could not have been more pleased—

“Chevers?” The female’s high voice held a tone of surprise. “What on earth are you doing here?”

His heartbeat stuttered then resumed its normal rhythm, but the spring in his step left.

“Lady Penelope Medlam. What a happy meeting this is.”

They stood before the innkeeper, Mr. Johnson, with Edward burningly aware of the awkwardness of the situation. Ruthanne lingered in her bath upstairs while his ex-fiancée greeted him in the public vestibule of The Rose and Crown. The Fates had a perverse sense of humor.

Lady Penelope was gowned in expensive silk, her chip bonnet lovingly framing a heart-shaped face. She appeared most animated. Before he could ponder the reasons for that, she exclaimed, “How good it is to see you again. Dearest, dearest Chevers.”

He glanced at Mr. Johnson, whose eyebrows spiked toward his hairline.

Trying to inconspicuously pry Lady Penelope’s fingers from his coat sleeve, Edward guided her away from the innkeeper, maneuvering so that the stairwell was within his line of vision should Ruthanne come down for breakfast.

“Chevers, what a dreadful spot I’m in! Mama and I were robbed yesterday. The highwayman stole Mama’s diamonds, her wedding ring, and my emerald brooch!”

“Good God!”

“Yes, and all our money, too!” Having blurted out the last part, she clamped her delicate hand over her mouth, as if recalling the hasty words. Her shoulders lifted in a half-hearted shrug and she peeped at him beneath a pair of thick lashes. Previously, he had always enjoyed receiving one of Lady Penelope’s coy looks, but found himself oddly immune to them now.

Courtesy compelled him to offer to pay their room and board, so he did. Even so, he was astonished by Lady Penelope’s purr of delight. “So gallant. You’re the kind of gentleman upon whom a lady may always rely.”

The tips of his ears burned as he demurred.

She stepped closer and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. “I didn’t properly appreciate you, but I do now. So very much.”

Sweat beaded on his upper lip, which Edward palmed off. “I’m sure I failed to rightly appreciate you, as well. Doesn’t bode well for a marriage, does it? Tell me, do you plan to return home? I could purchase tickets for you and your mother to continue on the stage?”

Lady Penelope’s bosom brushed his waistcoat, the one Ruthanne had folded yesterday and helped him don minutes earlier. He frowned at the forward behavior then made allowance for it given her stressful circumstances.

“No, no. I’ve no wish to return home. Why not take us to the Stockton’s house party?”

She peeked beneath her lashes again. “Maylene wrote you were expected after I specifically asked after you.

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