Harlequin Historical November 2018--Box Set 1 of 2 by Ann Lethbridge

Author:Ann Lethbridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Avery found himself whistling as he knocked at Carrie’s door on Wednesday afternoon. He was a few minutes late. He hoped Carrie wouldn’t give him a bear-garden jaw, but he’d had a little more trouble borrowing the carriage than usual. His brother had caught him in the carriage house and had futilely wasted precious minutes trying to persuade him to visit with their father.

Avery had been very tempted, but when he asked if the old fellow actually wanted to see him, Bart had looked more than a little tense. ‘Somebody has to make the first move towards a reconciliation,’ he had mumbled.

‘That’s all very well,’ Avery had replied. ‘The question is whether he will throw me out on my ear when I tell him I still have no intention of marrying to please him.’

‘Dammit, Avery, you don’t have to say that, you could just say you simply are not ready yet. Give him some hope of winning, at least. You know what a stubborn, prideful man he is.’

‘I am not going to lie to him.’

Bart had looked ready to throttle him. ‘If you don’t act soon, you might never get the chance to make things right with him.’

A cold shiver had run down his spine. ‘Is he that ill?’

‘I don’t know. The doctors will tell me nothing. On his orders.’

‘I’ll think about it.’

Bart sighed. ‘Please do.’

‘Now, may I borrow your carriage? I have an appointment.’

For a moment, Avery had thought his brother was going to say no, perhaps as a way to try to bring him to heel, but then he merely waved a hand, a gesture of assent.

‘You usually take the curricle.’

‘I need the town carriage today.’ He wanted a bit of privacy. ‘I’ll have it back by seven at the latest.’

‘Do not rush on my account,’ his brother said. His voice sounded a little thin. ‘I’m too busy for gallivanting.’

‘All work and no play made Jack a dull boy,’ Avery quipped, but his brother was already out of the stable doors and heading for the house. He wasn’t sure whether he’d heard him or not.

Perhaps he should have followed Bart in and tried to make his peace with his father. But he knew Papa very well. An apology would not suffice. Only obeying the ducal edict would make the old autocrat happy.

Thrumby’s porter was used to Avery coming and going and did no more than touch his hat and nod when he admitted Avery.

Carrie opened her door the moment he knocked. She looked delightful in a rich burgundy-and-black-striped carriage gown with a shako-styled hat set at an angle and sporting a net veil that skimmed the bridge of her nose and made her look mysterious, and elegant. Only a tall woman could carry off such a look.

‘You look…magnificent.’

She looked surprised. ‘Why, thank you, my lord.’ She tipped her head to one side. ‘Since you didn’t say where we were going I was not sure what to wear.’

‘That outfit is perfect for our destination.’ He frowned at it.

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