Surrender To Ruin (Sinclair Sisters Book 3) by Carolyn Jewel

Author:Carolyn Jewel [Jewel, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance
ISBN: 9781937823542
Publisher: cJewel Books
Published: 2017-12-04T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

What the devil? The morning following the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cynssyr, Bracebridge stood at the side of his house in breeches and shirt, mouth open. A line of carriages stretched from the front door and around the first curve of the driveway and past. Two footmen were outside assisting passengers from carriages, pointing drivers toward the stables, or directing other servants to drive the same direction.

He’d gone out for a morning breather, an essential part of his training regimen, then into Hinderhead to spar, and now this? He wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

He ought to have expected this. His neighbors had descended upon Corth Abbey because the long-unmarried, scandalous Earl of Bracebridge had secured a countess. That, and the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cynssyr were present. Word generally got around when Cynssyr called.

The length of the line suggested that gentry from well beyond Hinderhead had called, too. He glanced at the front parlor window and saw the owners of those carriages crowding the room. Thank goodness Anne and Cynssyr were here to handle everything. Not that he thought Emily incapable, but for a second night, neither of them had slept much. One could hardly expect a bride as young and inexperienced as Emily to cope with a crush of visiting strangers.

A drop of sweat trickled down the back of his neck and reminded him he was not appropriately dressed and that he ought not allow anyone to see him. His valet swooped in the moment he entered his quarters via the private entrance at the back of the house.

“My lord,” Keller said as he caught the shirt Bracebridge stripped off and tossed at him.

“How long have the vultures been here?” He peeled off the rest of his clothes and touched a sore spot on his upper chest. When he was at Corth Abbey, he frequently sparred with a fighter who had retired to ownership of a tavern in Hinderhead. While he had bruises to show for the outing, so did his sparring partner.

“They began arriving promptly at ten o’clock, my lord.”

It was now going on noon. Emily had been alone with those people for going on two hours.

“Thank goodness the duchess is here to see that all is in order.”

Keller stropped a razor while they spoke. They had their routine. A fresh suit was laid out; polished shoes, ready. He stepped to the basin and picked up the cloth next to a jar of fragrant salve. “His Grace and the duchess departed shortly after you went out this morning.”

Bracebridge stared at his valet. “Do you mean to say she’s down there alone with every woman from the parish and Lord only knows how many others?”

“Yes, my lord.” Keller took over washing away the dirt and sweat of Bracebridge’s training.

“Someone should have sent for me.”

Keller looked horrified, and under any other circumstance, this would have been the appropriate response. The entire staff was used to staffing a bachelor’s household and, subsequently, knew his training was not to be interrupted.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.