Night at the Opera by Stacy Henrie

Author:Stacy Henrie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Clean & Wholesome Romance, Christian romance, inspirational romance, Women's Fiction
Publisher: Mirror Press, LLC
Published: 2018-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Standing opposite the mirror, Avery whistled to himself as he fiddled with his cravat. He didn’t need gloves tonight, since he would be attending the theater and not a dance.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you quite this jolly before a social event, sir.” Mack picked up Avery’s coat from off the bed.

Avery chuckled. “I’m looking forward to attending the theater tonight. Lord and Lady Linwood will be there too.” He hadn’t seen Clare since the dinner at the Linwoods’ home, and Avery hoped her presence this evening meant all was right once more with her and his best friend.

“I highly doubt it’s the earl and his wife who’ve put that smile on your face.”

Avery’s smile increased as he turned away from the mirror so Mack could help him with his coat. “Then what, pray tell, is the reason for my good humor, Mack?”

“I’d say it’s a young lady.”

Arranging his face into a neutral expression, Avery chose not to comment as Mack brushed off his coat and readjusted his cravat.

“Your silence is very telling, sir,” the man quipped. “Perhaps you’ve learned the identity of the girl from the opera box?”

Avery shook his head. “I haven’t.” But he felt only mild regret over that fact. “I’m beginning to think I dreamt her American accent, Mack.”

His valet stepped back and studied him. “You’ve met someone else, then.” A slow grin spread across the man’s lined face.

“Now why would you think that?” Avery deflected as he picked up his hat and placed it on his head.

Not surprisingly, Mack wasn’t easily thrown off. “Who is she?”

Avery’s mind called up an image of Miss Barton—Gwen—and the confident, passionate way she’d defended her faith to him two days ago in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Or the compassion he’d glimpsed in her during their visit to the doctor. Almost against his will, he found himself smiling again.

“I knew it.” Mack folded his arms, looking as smug as if he’d played matchmaker. “She must be quite a woman to batter down your defenses.”

The words had the opposite effect than Mack likely intended. Avery sobered at the reminder of why he needed defenses in the first place. “She may have, Mack. But you and I both know that nothing can come of it. Not if I wish to keep serving king and country.”

“If she cares for you, she’ll support you.” He collected Avery’s day suit from off the armchair. “Just as my Melinda did.”

Avery fought the vain hope Mack’s words provoked and instead recalled how closely Lord Linwood had come to being seriously hurt. All because of his association with Avery. “If I come to care more for her, I can’t ask her to take that risk.”

“Perhaps.” He waited as Mack stowed his clothes in the dressing room, then Avery moved toward the door. But his valet’s next remark made him pause. “You’re going to have to choose at some point, sir. Duty to family or to country. If you don’t, the decision will be made for you and you might not like the result.

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