Lord Lucifer's Disciple (Haberdashers Nights Book 1) by London Sue

Author:London, Sue [London, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Graythorn Publishing
Published: 2014-09-30T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

“The most dangerous part of any woman are her expectations. Try to make sure she doesn’t have any for you.” ~ Lord Lucifer

Elisa did the only thing she knew to do when in such a state. She threw herself on the sympathy of her good neighbor, Violetta. V had always been a true and supportive friend, less anxious and judgmental than cousin Fanny, who worried about every potential misstep that Elisa might make in Society. Once she and V said their pleasantries and were seated in V's morning room, Elisa finally allowed herself to think about what had happened so that she could create a logical narrative of things she could tell Violetta without indulging too much.

"What has happened, Elisa? You look near traumatized." V's eyes were full of sympathy.

Elisa waited until she had taken a bracing sip of tea before she replied. "A bounder has run off all my suitors, and at just the wrong time. Emberly has decided that I must choose a husband before my next birthday or he will choose one for me."

"Oh no, Lis! That can't be true. Your birthday is just after mine. That's hardly any time at all!"

"I know! On any typical day I would be delighted that someone made those vultures and peacocks slink off, but now I need to choose one of them!"

"Who drove them off?"

Elisa frowned fiercely down into her tea. "John Howards."

"Beg pardon?" Violetta said faintly.

Elisa looked up to see her friend with a strange expression.

"Did you say John Howards? It isn't my cousin, surely." Violetta gave a nervous laugh. "Of course it isn't. John could hardly drive off a hungry cat, much less a room full of suitors."

Elisa simply stared. John, the cousin Violetta hadn't expected would accept an invitation to the masque. Of course it was the same John Howards. She needed to leave, now, before she admitted to Vi that she would happily kill that cousin in his sleep. Something in her expression must have betrayed that she suddenly knew that were talking of the same man because Violetta launched to her feet.

"You're the reason."

"I'm the reason?" Yes, escape seemed best.

"Why John has had such a change of heart of late." Violetta's eyes welled with tears before she leaned down to wrap Elisa in a hug. "Oh thank you, thank you so much."

Elisa wiggled in an attempt to get out of Violetta's grasp, but the woman knew how to hug. "What is it you think I've done?"

"What I couldn't. Made John understand what it means to love."

Elisa wriggled again. "I assure you that I did not do that."

Violetta finally released her, but then sat on the tiny settee beside her, holding her hand. "Regardless how everything else works out, yes, at least you've done that."

"I think you overestimate our feelings for each other."

"That he has any feelings at all for you is something of a wonder."

Elisa felt herself bristle, even though he wasn't hers to defend. "If you have affection for him yourself, you shouldn't talk about him that way.

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