The Fox and the Viscount by Laura Greenwood

Author:Laura Greenwood [Greenwood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Drowlgon Press

Eleven

Victoria

* * *

A knock sounds on the door and Varley steps inside. "The Viscount Renarton is here to call on Miss Foxe."

Shock floods through me and I exchange a confused glance with Denise.

"Very well, please see him in," I say, my voice shaking as I do.

"Of course, ma'am." Varley hesitates. "Would you like me to send for Lady Oxinforth?"

"There's no need, Varley," I assure him. Denise is chaperone enough. "But if you'd be so kind as to ask the cook if she has any lemon biscuits she could send up, that would be appreciated." Edmund will like that.

"As you wish, ma'am." He disappears behind the door, closing it once more.

"Why is the Viscount calling on you?" Denise asks. "And why are we having lemon biscuits? That's highly unusual for this time of day."

"Ed-Lord Renarton is particularly fond of the lemon biscuits."

She eyes me warily, probably seeing through my name slip. "I thought Lord Leon expressed his decision to propose."

"He did."

"Then is it a good idea to entertain another suitor?"

"Lord Renarton isn't here to court me, I'm sure it's just some other matter."

The doors open again and excitement wells up within me, only to be dashed when a maid walks in with a small plate of biscuits. She curtsies to each of us and places them on the small table next to me before retreating once more.

Denise swipes one and begins nibbling on it.

"You're not supposed to do that," I chide her.

"And you're not supposed to entertain suitors without Mama here," she counters. "So we're both breaking the rules."

"He's not a suitor." Even as I say the words, I realise how much I dislike them.

"The Viscount Renarton to see Miss Foxe," Varley announces after another moment.

Edmund steps through the doorway and my heart skips a beat. He's looking particularly handsome in a dark coat that perfectly compliments his complexion. I wonder if he's had to sew any of the buttons back onto this one.

"Miss Foxe, a pleasure," he says to Denise, bowing deeply, before turning to me. "Miss Foxe."

"Lord Renarton."

Our gazes lock and something shifts within me, though I have no idea how to put whatever it is into words.

"Please, take a seat." I gesture to the chaise beside me.

Denise picks up her book and retreats to the furthest window seat.

"Can we speak freely in front of your sister?" Edmund asks.

"Of course. Nothing is more serious than a confidence between sisters."

Denise looks up and nods ever so slightly to me, confirming that she'll do just that.

"It's a shame the two of us can not converse in private," he says.

"I think that's gotten us into quite enough trouble as it is."

"That's why I'm here."

"Oh?"

"Something about the way Lord Leon was speaking to you of marriage didn't sit right with me, so I asked around."

"Edmund, you shouldn't have," I say sharply.

Denise raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything.

Ah, I shouldn't be using his first name, but she already caught on to that before, I doubt this time will make any difference.

"It's no trouble when it comes to your happiness.

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