Ex-Spinster by Christmas: House of Haverstock, Book 4

Author:Cheryl Bolen [Bolen, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harper & Appleton
Published: 2016-11-14T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Her face flamed, her watery gaze dropped to the floor. Christopher then excused himself with two words. “Forgive me.” He said this not to Brockton but to her, and then he raced from the room. It had not only been the most awkward moment of his life. It was also the most horrifying.

The announcement of Caroline’s betrothal was as shocking and painful as the death of a loved one. Indeed, the only time he’d ever felt like this was when his father died suddenly at the age of two and forty.

His heartbeat roaring, he paced from one long wooden corridor to another. During his anger-fueled walk, inky skies replaced the day’s fading light. He easily outpaced the aged butler, who was lumbering along, lighting the sconces at fifteen-foot intervals.

His initial humiliation at Lady Caroline’s rejection quickly melted away. Even though she told him she didn’t want him at Glenmont, even though she had foolishly accepted Brockton’s offer, even though he could never be worthy of Caroline, he would not surrender and allow the most offensive man he’d ever known to ruin the life of the woman he loved.

Were it not for the breathless passion of their kiss, he might have been forced to capitulate. But a woman in love with her betrothed would not have kissed another man as Caroline had just done. Just remembering it caused him to groan with want of her.

She cannot throw herself away on such a scoundrel! He was comforted in the knowledge that her powerful brother felt the same. Now he and the duke had two things in common. Now that Christopher had finally followed in his father’s footsteps and successfully stood for the House of Commons, they shared political interests. More importantly, he and the duke bitterly opposed a marriage between Lady Caro and the blackguard earl.

Finch, whose wife’s favorite sister was Lady Caroline, had already expressed his horror at the thought of being forced to welcome Brockton into their family.

The pity of it was that Lady Caroline was of age. She could very well wed the scoundrel without her brother’s permission. By marrying Finch in that manner, her sister had set the example. Christopher was determined to enlist the duke and Finch to crush Brockton’s hopes.

* * *

Caro was frightened at the fury in Lord Brockton’s flashing eyes as he moved to her after Christopher left the gallery. “So you had an assignation with your former lover.” His lips sneered. He spoke harshly.

“No. I came here to think. I wanted to come up with a list of things you could do to ingratiate yourself with my brother. I don’t know how Mr. Perry found me.”

“You certainly gave him a warm welcome.” There was contempt in his voice.

She shook her head. “I told him I didn’t even want him at Glenmont.”

“Yet the man was disrobing.”

“I . . . I was very cold. He . . . forced his coat upon me. To warm me.”

He moved closer, his gaze simmering. “From now on, your kisses will only be for me.

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