The Virgin At Goodrich Hall by Lisle Danielle

Author:Lisle Danielle
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Historical Romance, Erotica, England, Love Story
ISBN: 9781781840863
Publisher: Total EBound
Published: 2012-09-28T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

The gentle crackle of the fire and the firm and raspy strokes of Margaret’s father’s quill were the only sounds to be heard in the large library of Carrieton House. Her mother’s tongue was pulled to one side of her lips in concentration as she embroidered on the settee across from Margaret, who attempted to read a book. The action was not successful. Her mind was elsewhere.

“What time must we leave, darling?” her mother asked her father.

“I believe six will be adequate time, my love.” Lord Carrieton said with a smile aimed in his wife’s direction.

Margaret was perplexed as to what her parents were discussing. “Are you dining elsewhere this evening?” she asked.

Her mother looked up from her needlework, her ageing face creased in a frown. “The opera, dear. We spoke of it last week.”

Last week, Margaret had been seeking as much information as she could on a certain house on the outskirts of London prior to her visit. It did not surprise her that the opera had not registered in her memory. She nodded, trying to appease her mother. She should have known better.

Margaret’s mother was not a woman who missed much when it came to her child, but she had been busy helping with a fundraiser of late—luckily for Margaret. She looked about to enquire further when the door opened and their butler walked in. This was not out of the ordinary, though the people who entered after him were a surprise—for Margaret, a pleasant one.

“Claire!” Margaret called, as she jumped up and rushed past the servant in order to embrace her dear friend.

Claire held on to her tight. “Are you all right?” The whispered words in her ear were laced with worry.

“I am well,” she replied in a hushed tone, as she smiled into the face of the man who stood behind Claire—the man who had captured her friend’s heart. Lord Belfort nodded once in acknowledgement. While he appeared a hard man, Claire assured her he was anything but. As he moved his attention back to his wife, his expression softened. How Margaret wished for a man who would love her so.

“Why, Lord and Lady Belfort, this is an unexpected pleasure.”

“Please forgive our unexpected arrival, Lord Carrieton. We have only just arrived in London, and my wife was eager to see her dear friend,” the looming Lord Belfort said, with little emotion.

“Of course, you are most welcome to visit,” her father assured the wealthy lord. Margaret knew that while her father appeared undisturbed by Claire’s husband, he was, in fact, rather intimidated. From what Margaret understood, he should be. Lord Belfort was one of the richest men in England, and rumoured to be most ruthless when it came to matters of business, as well.

Soon her mother departed for an afternoon nap, and Claire and Margaret excused themselves to take a walk around the garden while the men chatted—her father, Margaret suspected, more so than Lord Belfort—about the market in London and around the world at present. She would have to find the time to thank Lord Belfort for his suffering.

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