Romancing the Rogue by Lana Williams

Author:Lana Williams [Williams, Lana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Caroline studied the package that had arrived earlier, unable to curtail her anger at the sight of it. The helpless feeling that accompanied the anger was unwelcome and only made her resent the duke’s request more.

Though wrapped in brown paper, it did indeed feel like a book. No personal note accompanied it, nothing to express the duke’s gratitude. Only the name and address of a bookshop, along with a time. That only irritated her further.

According to Barkley, a young lad had delivered it, which made no sense to Caroline. If the book was so important, why wouldn’t Wayfair have had one of his servants deliver it to ensure its safe arrival?

He’d explained he was leaving town early this morning, which was supposedly why he needed assistance with the exchange. After she traded the book, he’d instructed her to hold the new one until his return home.

It was all a puzzle—an annoying one—but regardless, she still had to complete this errand. If the duke decided to tell others of her father’s incapacity, her family’s lives would go from bad to worse.

She’d decided against telling her mother and sisters of what the duke had said or his request. Nothing good could come of upsetting them.

The temptation to tell Richard about it had been nearly overwhelming. The way he’d looked at the duke, as though he’d rather strike him than speak with him, had shocked her. She’d recognized it as she felt the same way. There was no ignoring the animosity between the men.

But depending on Richard held far too much risk, mainly to her peace of mind, not to mention her wayward feelings. He might very well be a temporary addition to her life. No purpose could be served by growing dependent on him.

She gathered her things and popped into the drawing room to advise her mother that she was stepping out for a time. Their only maid, Lizzie, accompanied her. Caroline felt guilty for taking her away from her other duties, but she didn’t want to bring either of her sisters for fear they’d ask too many questions she didn’t care to answer.

Fog lingered on the ground and a fine mist fell, giving the air a damp chill as she and Lizzie walked to the hackney cab stand several streets away. The atmosphere suited her mood perfectly. She felt as if she were a character in one of Annabelle’s stories, neck-deep in intrigue, rather than simply visiting a bookshop.

She drew her cloak tighter then showed the address on the paper to Jack, the burly man who often served as their driver.

Jack shook his head, a frown crinkling his brow. “That ain’t a good neighborhood, miss.”

The comment gave her pause. How dare the duke send her into an area that might be unsafe. Yet what else could she do? The duke was gone, but his threat still rang in her ears.

She hated feeling so powerless.

“Perhaps Jack would be willing take it by hisself, miss,” Lizzie suggested.

“No, I was asked to do this.

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