Knave's Wager by Loretta Chase

Author:Loretta Chase
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: historical romance, Romance, regency romance, adult romance, regency england, light romance, Fiction, Regency, loretta chase, Gothic, Historical, historical fiction, clean romance, General, chaste romance
ISBN: 9781617508547
Publisher: NYLA
Published: 1990-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Members of the company who’d noticed Lilith’s departure with Lord Brandon held their collective breath while counting the minutes until her return. They would have all been asphyxiated if Lady Fevis hadn’t decided to have her fortune told.

The Future was no sooner revealed than the heretofore sweet and gentle Lady Fevis burst from the gypsy’s tent, flew at her husband, and began thumping his head with her parasol. When the weapon was wrenched away by her mama, and her husband dragged away to safety, the enraged wife fell back momentarily. She collected herself, then made another mad rush—this time at Lady Violet Porter, whose hazel eyes Lady Fevis showed every inclination to tear from their sockets.

Mr. Porter tried to pull Lady Fevis away from his wife. Lady Fevis’s brother, Mr. Reginald Ventcoeur, ordered him to remove his filthy hands. Mr. Porter made an uncomplimentary observation. Mr. Ventcoeur rushed forward, spun Mr. Porter round, and knocked him down. Mr. Porter jumped up and rushed at Mr. Ventcoeur and brought him down. The two young men commenced to savagely pummelling each other.

Lady Violet screamed. Lady Fevis fainted. Friends rushed forward to help. Two gentlemen, trying to separate the foes, knocked their own heads together. Instantly, they gave up pacifism and began flailing at each other. One of Mr. Ventcoeur’s friends was heard to make a remark regarding “horns.”

Two of Mr. Porter’s friends immediately fell upon him.

In short order, thanks to the enlivening effects of large quantities of champagne, nearly all the younger gentlemen had thrown themselves into the battle. Of their elders, the greater part busily made wagers, while an unheeded minority called for order.

It was during the melee that Cecily slipped off to her forbidden rendezvous with Lord Robert. He, having retired to a distance to await her, was unaware of the excitement until it was well over.

In fact, the battle itself lasted scarcely five minutes. The confusion it engendered, however, continued long after. Though the ladies of the company had been led away to safety, a score felt duty bound to fall into swoons or strong hysterics. Between tending to these and the male wounded, considerable time and effort was expended in restoring tranquility to Redley Park.

Thus, except for those directly concerned, not one person of the several hundred realised Mrs. Davenant had been gone with Lord Brandon nearly an hour. She rejoined her battle-weary fellows to find her reputation safe. Of her virtue, Lilith was not so certain.

The first time Lord Brandon had kissed her, at Cecily’s comeout, he’d taken Lilith by surprise. Though this scarcely made it right, it was an excuse of sorts. Unfortunately, such a frail excuse works but once. What she’d done this time didn’t bear thinking of.

Had her schooling in deportment been less mercilessly thorough, Lilith could never have faced her fiancé. As it was, the strain soon told in the usual way, with a headache. Fortunately, she never needed to plead illness. Thomas was eager to be gone from a party that had turned into a thoroughly barbaric spectacle.

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