The Eligible Earl: Heirs of London Book Five by Alec Joyce

Author:Alec, Joyce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

9

Frederica bit her lip and tried not to sigh aloud as Lord Morningside continued to drone on about his many, many horses that he had back at his estate. It was not that she could not ride, or that she had no interest in horseflesh, but rather that she had been able to think of nothing and no one other than Lord Wetherby since last evening.

Even now, she found herself thinking of just how he had looked as he had approached her. His face had been grey, his eyes, normally so vivid, were nothing more than a dull green. They had not looked toward her but, instead, had turned this way and that, as though he feared being seen by someone. Quite who that someone was, Frederica had very little idea, but her heart had filled with concern for him. For the rest of the evening, she had found herself wondering what had occurred and why he had been forced to leave so hastily, although no one else seemed to notice he had departed. She had not heard anyone asking for him, wondering where he might have gone. Even Lord Greenford, when she had spoken to him about Lord Wetherby, had merely brushed her question aside by stating that Lord Wetherby had simply had to return home and had done so some time ago.

It was all very strange, and Frederica was eagerly looking forward to the earl’s arrival, so that she might make sense of it all. It was strange, she reflected as Lord Morningside launched into a description of one particular gelding, that she now felt a good deal more for Lord Wetherby than before. Given just how much he wanted to improve her impression of him and the lengths he had gone to, she found herself quietly respectful of his efforts. Yes, not all had been successful and, indeed, matters with Lady Preston and her daughter might well have turned things on their head all over again had she allowed them to, but, on the whole, Frederica knew that he truly was attempting to express his true sorrow over what he had done and to impress upon her that he was not that sort of gentleman. It seemed, she considered, tilting her head to one side as she thought, that he was doing all he could to improve himself and that, certainly, spoke well of him.

“And with that, I fear that I shall have to take my leave.”

Relieved—but making certain to hide it well—Frederica rose from her chair and curtsied. “Good afternoon, Lord Morningside,” she said as the duchess smiled at him. “Do call again.”

Lord Morningside beamed and Frederica hid her amused smile, aware now that the gentleman hoped for nothing more than another opportunity to talk about his horses. Perhaps she had made a mistake in making such a remark.

“I thank you, Your Grace,” Lord Morningside said, bowing toward the duchess. “And you also, Lady Frederica.”

She kept her smile fixed in place until Lord Morningside had quit the room, only to tumble back into her chair in a flurry of skirts.

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