The Duke's Mistress by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Carole Mortimer
Published: 2015-11-03T18:30:00+00:00

Julian entered Blackmoor House several hours later with most of the contents of a decanter of brandy inside him, having spent those hours at his club in brooding contemplation of Thea Fitzroy’s behavior. The more brandy he drank, the angrier he became as he considered all the delicious ways in which he would punish Thea when next he saw her for having reduced him to this state.

He now gave a pained wince as he found his daughter in the hallway in great agitation as she issued instructions to his butler.

Instructions which ceased the moment Amelia saw Julian and instead launched herself into his arms, the flow of her tears instantly dampening the lapels of his jacket. “Thank goodness you are here, Papa!” She sobbed all the harder as she clung to him.

It took a few seconds for Julian to clear the effect of the brandy from his head enough to be able to answer her. “What on earth is wrong, Amelia?”

“George has sent me a note explaining why we cannot meet this evening after all and… Oh, it is too awful, Papa!” She trembled against him.

Julian’s mood was such at present he would take great delight in punching young Somersby on the nose if the younger man had cold feet and had decided he could not marry Amelia after all. His daughter’s upset certainly seemed serious enough for that to be the case.

“Brandy in the library, if you please, Bradford.” He could not imbibe any more himself this evening, but Amelia certainly seemed in need of some form of fortification.

She pulled out of his arms. “We do not have time for brandy just now, Papa. I must go to George. To Lady Thea—”

“What the deuce does George’s aunt have to do with your upset?” Julian scowled his displeasure.

Having spent the past two hours looking at the bottom of a brandy decanter, to the detriment of his now aching head, he did not welcome so much as hearing mention of her name.

Nor, he hoped, had she allowed the awkwardness of the situation that now existed between the two of them to color her judgment concerning the marriage soon to take place between her nephew and his daughter. It would be most unfair of Thea to have involved anyone else in their affair.

Or end of it, he reminded himself sourly.

Amelia gave him an impatient glare, her temper more than a match for his own, even if her blonde locks and blue eyes were all her mother’s. “Lady Thea is the problem, Papa.”

“What has she done?” His nostrils flared as his own temper rose. He really had not thought Thea to be so small, or so petty-minded, as to endanger the happiness of the young couple in order to spite him.

“She did not do anything. It is all the fault of the stupid man driving the carriage—”

“What stupid man? Really, Amelia, you are making no sense whatsoever.” Julian’s head was aching in earnest now.

He also did not appreciate having this conversation out here in the hallway and in front of his butler.

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