The Devil and the Viscount by Lancaster Mary

Author:Lancaster, Mary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

It was very odd, but Gina greeted the new morning with excitement, something that hadn’t happened for a long time. Apart from one morning in Renwick’s Hotel, but she wouldn’t think of that. Instead, she thought about encountering Rollo again. After all, they had made their agreement. They would not be lovers, but they would be friends. And Rollo’s friendship both supported and cheered her.

She joined Mrs. Fitzwilliam for breakfast with a cheerful, “Good morning, ma’am!”

“Good morning, my dear.” Mrs. Fitzwilliam returned the greeting with a little less enthusiasm—she was not a morning person—though she did rouse herself to say, “You must rest for part of today in order to be at your best for the Carrington’s ball this evening. Oh, and a note was hand-delivered for you a few minutes ago.”

The note lay by her place setting, small and intriguing, but she forced herself to pile eggs and toast on her plate before walking to the table, her heart thumping. Could it be from Rollo? Would he be so indiscreet? He had kissed her hand, but that was really a respectful kiss a friend could not object to.

No, she reminded herself. He kissed my wrist. Which, though only a few inches away, was somehow much more intimate. He had even pulled down her glove to do it. What did…?

She unfolded the note to distract herself—it wasn’t sealed—and read the signature first. Catherine Dove.

It was as well, though that didn’t help the pang of disappointment. Miss Dove was suggesting a morning walk in the park, though she warned Miss Wallace her siblings would be present, along with their large but friendly dog.

In truth, the normal, family walk sounded just what she needed. “May I go alone, Mrs. Fitz?” she asked, passing her chaperone the note.

“The Doves are unexceptionable,” Mrs. Fitzwilliam pronounced. “Eccentric but unexceptionable. Connected to the Earl of Wenning, you know, and by marriage to the Marquess of Sedgemoor. And so, to Lady Rampton, in fact. Take Little, and if you don’t want the carriage, I’ll send a footman with you to the gate.”

Although the expedition now seemed top-heavy with servants, Gina thrust aside her spurt of irritation and prepared to enjoy a brisk walk in the nearest thing London possessed to the countryside.

Trailed by Little and George the footman, she reached the Cumberland gate to the park to discover a laughing family and a massive dog with a bark like a bear’s.

“Oh, there you are, Miss Wallace,” Catherine smiled, while a lad of about sixteen commanded the huge hound to sit. To Gina’s surprise, it did, although it seemed to hover on continually shifting paws. “Pup’s a little impatient because we made him wait. Shall we walk while I introduce you? These are my sisters, Arabella and Susan, and my brother Adrian, who claims to be too ill to return to school.”

“How do you do?” Gina said politely and found a large, canine nose thrust into her palm. She was used to dogs at home, so let him sniff and then ruffled him under the chin.

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