Impetuous Innocent by Stephanie Laurens

Author:Stephanie Laurens [Laurens, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN
Published: 1994-11-15T23:00:00+00:00

“OH, DOMINIC! Thank God you’ve come. I’ve been so worried.” Bella’s plaintive wail greeted Dominic as he crossed the threshold of her parlour.

“Don’t fly into a pucker, Bella. Julian Ellsmere has just told me he saw Georgiana leaving town with a man who sounds like Charles. Has she?”

“Yes!” Bella was wringing her hands in agitation. “She was so set on it, I knew I couldn’t stop her. But I don’t trust Charles one inch. That’s why I sent for you.”

Taking note of his sister’s unusually pale face, Dominic replied with far greater calmness than he felt. “Quite right.” He swallowed his impatience and smiled reassuringly. “Why don’t we sit down and you can tell me all about it?”

Haltingly, prodded by gentle questions, the tale of Charles’s visit and the subsquent events was retold. By the end of the tale, Dominic was confident he saw the light. He leant forward to pat Bella’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll fetch her back.”

Bella blinked up at him as he stood. “You’ll go straight away?”

“I was setting out when Timms gave me your note. Just as well. At least now I can go directly to the Hare and Hounds.” Dominic’s blue eyes critically surveyed his sister. At his insistence she reclined on the chaise. Her face was too pale and her agitation was too marked, even given the cause. Shrewdly he drew his own conclusions. He had been going to suggest she come with him, to lend propriety to their return to Green Street. But in her present condition he rather thought any further excitement was to be assiduously avoided. And, if truth be known, he would much rather be alone with Georgiana on the drive back to town. He had every intention of reading her a lecture on the subject of herself—care of. Afterwards, he felt sure he would enjoy her attempts to be conciliatory, not to mention grateful. And it would give him a heaven-sent opportunity to correct her mistaken assumption regarding his conduct at the masked ball. Yes, he was definitely looking forward to the return journey. Propriety, in this instance, could go hang.

He smiled again at his sister. “Don’t fret. Arthur will be home shortly. You can tell him all about it. I suspect we won’t make it back until late, so you’d best send your regrets to the Pevenseys.”

“Lord, yes! I couldn’t face a party on top of all this.”

Dominic grinned, then bent to bestow a kiss on one pale cheek. “Take care, my dear. You burn the candle with a vengeance.”

She grimaced at him but refused to rise to the bait.

Dominic crossed the room, but turned at the door to consider the listless figure on the chaise. Had she realised yet herself? One dark brow rose. With a last affectionate smile, he left.

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