Notorious by Nicola Cornick

Author:Nicola Cornick [Cornick, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN
Published: 2011-07-27T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MISS FRANCESCA DEVLIN stood outside the house in Hemming Row and stared at the tiny sickle moon caught up in the branches of the cherry tree in the square opposite. She had been there for three hours, waiting for her lover. It was a warm summer night, a beautiful night, and a night made for romance. The scent of blossom was on the air. She almost expected a nightingale to start singing. No doubt there were many lovers plighting their troth under the midsummer moon but she had a feeling that there would be no happy ending for her. She had suspected it for a while, known how foolish she had been to risk all on the one throw of the dice and give herself to a man in the hope that it would make him love her. Love did not work that way. He had taken all that she had offered but he had given her nothing in return and the cold, creeping dread in her heart told her that he never would. She had gambled and lost.

She remembered her childhood again and how gambling and losing had always stalked her happiness. She thought of Devlin, who had always tried to protect her from the danger and despair that had threatened them. Dev would be so disappointed in her now.

Chessie swallowed a sob. Dev must never know what she had done, the risk she had taken, the gamble that had failed. She could not bear for him to look at her with horror and shame in his eyes.

Fitz was not coming back. She knew it. She had seen him leave the ball with Lady Carew and she had known this really was the end and that the beautiful, mysterious widow had snatched Fitz from under her nose once and for all. And she could not even blame Lady Carew. Not really. A few days ago she had been filled with hatred for the beautiful Caroline Carew. She had wanted to blame her for everything. But Chessie was fundamentally honest and she could not deceive herself. She knew no man could be snatched against his will. Fitz was weak. Chessie had always known it and yet she still loved him, stubbornly, stupidly, but loved him all the same.

She put up a hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks and in the same moment there was a clatter of hooves on the cobbles and Chessie shrank back into the enveloping shadows. A hackney carriage drew up outside the house and she saw Fitz jump down and give his hand to the lady inside to help her down. He put an arm about her waist and swept her up the steps to the door. Chessie could see his impatience and see, too, how the lady—if lady she was—laughingly protested at his haste. The moonlight fell on her golden ringlets as she paused to reach up and kiss him, a long, deep, passionate kiss.

“So this is how you celebrate your betrothal!” Chessie heard her say as they drew apart.

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