Harlequin Historical July 2017 Box Set 1 of 2 by Sophia James Janice Preston & Virginia Heath

Author:Sophia James, Janice Preston & Virginia Heath
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488021558
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Published: 2017-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The room, its occupants, the hubbub of conversation all faded into the background. It was as though a bank of fog had rolled in, leaving a narrow tunnel with Rosalind at one end and, at the other, Leo Boyton—devastatingly handsome in black evening clothes as he stood in the open doorway of the Duke of Cheriton’s salon, gazing at the room with a bored expression.

Rosalind absorbed this in a single glance before tearing her attention away. Nell, Olivia and Elizabeth—deep in conversation—seemed oblivious to the change in the atmosphere in the room. Rosalind’s knees trembled as her breath caught in her lungs and her vision blurred.

‘Are you quite well, Miss Allen?’ Lady Tubthorpe cupped Rosalind’s elbow. Her voice appeared to come from far away. ‘You are exceedingly pale.’

Rosalind felt her glass of wine being removed from her unresisting grasp.

What is he doing here?

She knew she must face him at some time, but…

Please…not now. I am not ready.

She felt herself sway, her lungs burning.

Breathe! Keep breathing!

Lady Tubthorpe’s anxious expression swam into focus and Rosalind forced a smile, conscious that Nell and her friends had fallen silent and were watching.

‘I apologise. It has been a long day. I am tired and I felt faint for a moment.’ She retrieved her wine glass from Lady Tubthorpe and gulped a large mouthful, heedless of her manners. ‘I am recovered now. I shall not spill the wine, I promise.’

Lady Tubthorpe beamed. ‘Such a relief, my dear. Now, this is my daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is Lady Helena’s sister, Miss Allen.’

The girl’s plain face creased in a smile. ‘I am pleased to meet you, Miss Allen. Call me Lizzie, everyone does.’

Rosalind stretched her lips into an answering smile even as her heart battered at her ribs and her knees continued to tremble. To her relief, the three girls resumed their discussion about a new hat Lizzie had purchased that very afternoon and Lady Tubthorpe soon joined in with her opinions, diverting their attention away from Rosalind. She fired another swift glance in the direction of the door.

Mayhap I am overtired and imagined him? It cannot be him.

It was.

Why would he attend a private party for young girls not yet out? She could understand the presence of the younger men, but a man of his maturity? Perhaps he wouldn’t stay…unless…she recalled Lascelles’s claim that Leo had a family. Was his daughter here? Worse, was his wife here? Bile rose to scour her throat. If only she could leave, but Leo remained in the doorway and no power on earth could persuade her to move in his direction.

She cast a casual glance around the salon. There was another door, but it was closed, and to reach it she must cross the room in full view of Leo, should he happen to look in that direction. Her courage failed her. She remained still.

She snatched another glance at the doorway, recognising Vernon Boyton at his brother’s side. As she watched, he leaned towards Leo and passed a comment.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.