The Notorious Rake by Mary Balogh

Author:Mary Balogh
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

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He did not particularly want to be doing this, Lord Edmond Waite thought as he descended from his carriage and hugged his aunt. He was always pleased to see her, of course, and normally he would have been quite happy to give a week of his time to celebrating a birthday with her, especially as there was to be other company. He had spent several summers at Rundle Park as a boy, when his uncle was still alive, and had pleasant memories of it.

But it had been hard to leave Willow Court just when he was settling there and finding that living in the country in his own home, surrounded by his own land, and served by his own servants, had a certain charm after all. And a certain soothing influence on a turbulent heart.

Yet now he had to face her again after making such a prize idiot of himself the evening of the garden party. She had not taken his hint that perhaps she should refuse her own invitation, since, as Lady Eleanor's nephew, he felt pretty much obliged to accept his. She had written back to say that she had no objection to meeting him at Rundle Park if he had none,

If he had none! Did she not have the sense—or the sensitivity—to realize that he would really rather face the devil than her?

And Goodrich had been invited too. His mistress and bastard brood were going to have to live without him for a whole week, Lord Edmond thought nastily. Was Mary betrothed to him yet? If she was not, doubtless she soon would be. Perhaps this week in the country would provide a suitable environment for the announcement. Perish the thought!

"Edmond!" his aunt said, hugging him and kissing him on the cheek,"can I believe the evidence of my own eyes?

You are a day early, when you are almost always late."

"Just say the word," he said, grinning, "and I shall take myself off and put up at the village inn until tomorrow, Aunt. Are there any new barmaids there?"

She clucked her tongue. "You will stay here where I can keep an eye on you," she said. "Do come inside, dear. It is an unexpected pleasure to have you all to myself for a whole day before anyone else can be expected to arrive. Perhaps I can talk some sense into you."

"That sounds ominous," he said, setting an arm about her waist and walking up the horseshoe steps with her to the double front doors. "And what the devil did you mean by sending me a partial guest list with my invitation?"

"Watch your language, dear," she said. "I thought you might be pleased to know that I was inviting Lady Mornington too."

"And Goodrich as well," he said. "I fell all over myself with eagerness to accept your invitation when I knew that he had been invited too, Aunt. Has he accepted?"

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"Both of them have," she said. "I believe they are quite an item.

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