More or Less a Countess by Anna Bradley

Author:Anna Bradley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-04-30T18:30:47+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“Reducing your gown to a heap of shreds won’t help a bit, Violet.”

Hyacinth reached over and tugged at Violet’s hand, but Violet clenched at the crumpled folds of blue silk in her fist until the delicate fabric, weary of her torment, ripped at the seams.

“For pity’s sake,” Hyacinth hissed under her breath. “Gather your wits, will you? Grandmother will be out any minute, and you can’t let her see you in such a state.”

They’d been about to depart for Lady Westcott’s rout when Lady Chase, fearful she’d take a chill, sent them to the carriage while she waited in the entryway for her lady’s maid to fetch her a warmer wrap.

It was a brief reprieve only—just long enough for Violet to give way to the panic clawing at her with its cold, skeletal fingers. Unless she could fall into a convincing swoon and escape this nightmare, she was about to come face to face with Lord Dare.

He’d called every single afternoon since that breathtaking, disastrous incident in his carriage, while Violet, who’d never in her life avoided confrontation, and who prided herself on her bravery…

She’d cowered in her bedchamber like a shivering rodent hiding from a merciless cat.

Five days of feigning illness. Five days confined to her bedchamber, and all for naught, because here she was, a carriage ride away from facing her doom.

Her grandmother’s patience with her fictional illness had run out the moment the invitation to Lady Westcott’s rout arrived. Lady Chase had called in a doctor who, predictably, had pronounced Violet miraculously cured. She’d been summarily rousted from her bed, hurried into the blue silk gown, and bundled into the carriage without further ado.

“Oh, Hyacinth! What am I going to do?” She’d half-deceived herself into believing her cowardliness was its own punishment, and since her misery intensified each time she refused another of Lord Dare’s calls, it seemed a sound enough theory.

It wasn’t.

Even the simple rules of cause and effect had deserted her. Logic had abandoned her to fate, and fate…well, fate was unpredictable, wasn’t she? Vindictive, even. Once fate took the reins, there was only one possible outcome.

Utter mayhem.

But fate was determined to bring Violet to justice, and now things had come to a head, indeed. Lord Dare would see her with Hyacinth, and thus the fact of Violet’s existence would be dramatically revealed. He’d fall into a fury, order her from his sight, and once her grandmother recovered from her apoplexy she’d banish Violet to her bedchamber for the remainder of her days.

Unless…

Violet grabbed Hyacinth by the shoulders, her grip frantic. “Tell Grandmother you’re ill, and can’t attend Lady Westcott’s rout tonight.”

“What? No! I won’t lie to our grandmother.”

“You’ve already lied to her! You told her I had a dreadful cold, remember?”

Hyacinth tried to shake her off. “No, you told her that. I just didn’t contradict you.”

“It’s a lie, just the same, so one more little one can’t make any difference. Please, Hyacinth. Lord Dare can’t see both of us tonight, or he’ll know I’ve deceived him.

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