The Duke and the Lady in Red by Heath Lorraine

Author:Heath, Lorraine [Heath, Lorraine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-04-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Avendale sat sprawled in his library, slowly savoring his scotch, watching the clock on the mantel, listening to the chimes of the one in the hallway as the minutes dragged by. One hundred and twenty of them. Double what he had allotted her for the afternoon. The only reason that he was still here was because he was allowing for the rain and the likelihood that the carriage would be forced to travel more slowly.

It irritated the devil out of him that she was not with him for every hour of every day while she was supposed to be in his company. He had told her that she had to be with him for a week. He would deduct these hours when she was away from the total hours found in a week and insist she not leave until he’d had that many hours in her company. Perhaps he would deduct the time she was sleeping as well.

With a growl, he shot out of the chair, crossed over to the fireplace, pressed his forearm to the mantel, and stared into the fire. What was wrong with him? Why was he so bothered by her leaving for a spell? She would return and they would carry on. They’d dine, then tumble onto the sheets—after he’d stroked every inch of her body. He had some oils from the Orient. Perhaps he’d use them. Drive her mad first.

It was only fair, as she was doing the same to him.

Why hadn’t she returned? His driver had specific orders not to take any detours. What if she had slipped out through the back garden? She’d been unduly put out with him because he hadn’t woken her in time to keep her appointment. How was he to know that the specific hour was so crucial? Why was it? Why would the little man or the giant care?

Everything within him stilled. He assumed the little man and the giant were the only ones in the residence now. Stupid assumption on his part, just because they were the only ones he’d seen. What if there was someone else? Someone she loved?

Just because she’d been untouched the first night didn’t mean that she had no other man in her life. He lifted his gaze to the clock. Ten more minutes had passed. Suspicion reared its ugly head.

He wanted to trust her, but he didn’t. She was a swindler. She’d lied, deceived him before. Why was she so secretive about her blasted hour that had now evolved into more than two?

He heard a soft knock and spun on his heel to find his coachman standing in the doorway, looking as though he were about to put his head on the chopping block. “Your Grace, I waited far longer than I should have and I apologize for that. Eventually when the lady didn’t come out, I knocked on the door only to be told by that small gent that the lady wasn’t about. I decided it best to let you know.

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