Finally, Phillip: Rakes vs. Wallflowers by S. Cinders

Author:S. Cinders
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

Do you care about her… Elias

CHAPTER 18

“Do not think I do not know what you are about.”

The sound of her mother’s frigid tones washed over her like icicles, and her night of adventure was washed away as surely as the cold rain after a warm summer’s day.

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you are talking about,” Eden squared her shoulders for battle, turning to face her mother head-on.

The duchess had been sitting in wait for her. Her diminutive forms deceptive, for there were brigadier generals that would run if faced with her wrath.

The duchess’ laugh was mocking, “Do not play with me, Eden. You are in over your head this time. I forbid you from seeing Phillip Randall. He is a rake and a whoremonger. You are not to have any contact with him.”

Eden felt as if she had been physically wounded, “Mother! You cannot do that: Phillip is my friend.”

“Lord Randall is friend to only himself,” the duchess stood and walked over to her daughter. “You think that I am unkind, that I do not care for you. Eden, you are young, impetuous, and far too innocent to know what kind of a man he is. I can tell that you have a tendre for him. It is in your eyes when you look at him, your voice when you speak to him. But I will not have you dishonor yourself or this family. Do not cross me on this.”

“Or what,” Eden whispered bravely. It was the first time she had ever crossed her mother, or even stood up to her.

The duchess slapped her, the sound reverberating in the long corridor.

Eden stood in shock clutching her smarting cheek, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

“Are we clear?” The duchess asked again.

Eden nodded slowly and then waited to be dismissed like the naughty child that she was.

*****

Phillip knew that something was wrong. He hadn’t heard from or seen Eden in more than three days. What was even more alarming, his sisters and mother had been told that the duchess and Eden were not receiving visitors when they had called upon the ducal home. It was this reason and more that he had found himself pounding on the front door of his old friend, the Baron of Mangrove.

“You do realize that it is half past eight, so what was the emergency?” Elias said, tucking his fine white lawn shirt into his breeches, and not even bothering with a cravat.

“Friends do not mention trivialities such as time in emergencies,” Phillip quipped before glancing down at Elias’ feet. “Did you know you are barefoot?”

“Friends that mean to go back to swiving their wives as soon as possible don’t bother with boots,” Elias reasoned.

Phillip raised a brow before nodding, “Fair enough. Something has happened with Eden, all of the sudden she is missing from every party, event, ball, everything.”

Elias frowned, “Are we speaking of Eden Norfolk, Sophie’s friend?”

Phillip waved his hand frantically, “Don’t act like you do not know: you wrote that letter to mother, bringing her here, which I am still mad as hell about.

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