The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess by Emma Linfield

Author:Emma Linfield
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2018-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

L eonard was unbearably tired and the ride home from London found him attempting to asleep amidst the idle chatter of Percival and his son. It was less of conversation than an endless barrage of complaints. The Duke wished he had not permitted the two to join him on the journey now for he found their squabbling insurmountably irritating. Father and son could argue over the mere color of the sky, it felt, and Leonard’s head was aching from the turmoil of hearing them for the past hours.

Even as he tried to fall into a much-needed slumber, their voices continued to seep into his mind, keeping him from rest.

“I fail to understand the pertinence of such interviews,” David complained yet again and Percival, whose patience had long ago faded, snapped at his son.

“You will understand the pertinence when you are Viscount,” the older man retorted. “For God’s sake, David, sulk in silence if you must act like a child. Can you not see the Duke is trying to rest?”

David’s scowl deepened and Leonard could see that the boy cared little for his host’s desire for sleep. If anything at all, the journey to London had only added to his disdain of the Duke. Leonard was beginning to wonder if he would ever win the boy over but it was less likely with each passing day. To his relief, however, David did finally stop his woe-filled discussion and Leonard was left to sleep as the coach headed for Brookside.

He was looking forward to seeing Elizabeth after their trip and although they had not been parted long, he did feel as if they had been separated for weeks. He considered how it would strike him once she left for Gordon in only a few days but he refused to dwell on the future. He held fast to the idea that perhaps the Viscount might extend his visit or perhaps entertain leaving his children at Brookside for a time. Leonard had not made the suggestion yet but he would when they returned.

Herbert will appreciate the extra time with Frances, undoubtedly. I will be doing all a favor by suggesting it.

Without the men’s voices in his ear, Leonard finally slept, a soft smile on his lips but it faded quickly when the slumber fell around him. He was plagued by a terrible nightmare instantaneously.

In the dream, he saw Elizabeth, her lovely amber eyes wide with fear, her hands extended toward him.

“Help me, Leonard!” she called desperately. “Help me!”

“Where are you?” Leonard gasped, whirling about to take in the darkness of his surroundings but there was nothing but an inky blackness which suctioned him into nothingness.

“Help me!” she cried again and he moved toward her but she disappeared, leaving him alone in the night-like surroundings, unsure of what else to do. Catherine appeared then, her face pale and terrified.

“You must return home at once!” she pleaded. “Something terrible has occurred!”

“What?” he choked. “What has happened?”

“You will never forgive me,” Catherine sobbed. “Never, never, never…”

“Catherine,

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.