To Tempt an Earl by Kristin Vayden

Author:Kristin Vayden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical romance, regency, regency romance, england romance, romance 1800s, england history romance, england 1800, london romance, london regency
Publisher: Blue Tulip Publishing

CHAPTER TEN

"Bethanny? Bethanny!"

Slowly Lord Graham's voice changed pitch till it sounded identical to her sister Beatrix's.

"Bethanny, for pity sake, get up already!"

That was most assuredly not Lord Graham speaking.

"Ugh," Bethanny moaned, trying to roll over.

"I'll get the pitcher," Beatrix warned, her tone low and threatening.

"Why?" Bethanny whined, not caring that she sounded eleven, which, ironically, was the same age that Beatrix had learned about the effect of dumping a pitcher of cold water on her sister when she wasn't willing to rise from bed.

"Because you'll murder me if you find out from anyone else."

"Find out what?" Bethanny asked, her eyes unwilling to open. The soft comfort of her bed called to her with its inviting warmth. Her body relaxed, her mind drifted—

"You'll thank me later." Beatrix sighed.

A tepid deluge of water cascaded over Bethanny's hair, soaking her pillow and sheets.

"Ah! Ah! Beatrix! I'm going to—"

"He's gone, Bethanny."

Bethanny had just shot out of bed, her blurry vision searching for her sister's form so she could throttle her.

But her words halted her threatening advance.

"Who?" Bethanny asked, though she feared, dearly feared she knew the answer already.

No. No. No.

"He left for Edinburgh this morning," Beatrix whispered.

Bethanny stumbled backward and landed on her soggy bed. Rivulets of water dripped down her nose and cheeks from her wet hair, but she hardly noticed.

He left?

Why?

Hadn't he said, hadn't they made plans to see each other again soon?

So perhaps the plans weren't exactly set in stone, but he had said they would meet again soon.

It didn't make sense.

But that didn't stop the pain, the rejection, from piercing her heart with dread.

"I'm so sorry, Bethanny," Beatrix murmured.

Bethanny glanced up, through the wet strands of hair clinging to her face, and watched her sister place the miserably empty pitcher on the side table. Beatrix's expression was full of empathy, pain.

Beatrix had always been the most sympathizing of the sisters.

Also the most inventive — thus the pitcher of water.

"How did you find out?" Bethanny asked.

Beatrix walked toward her, reaching out she smoothed the hair out of Bethanny's face and sat beside her.

Then jumped up, patting her bum, casting an apologetic grin at her sister.

Serves you right, getting wet too. Try the whole pitcher over your head.

Beatrix kneeled in front of Bethanny, grasping her hands and holding them tightly. "I heard the duke and Carlotta talking over breakfast. They didn't know I was approaching, so I hid behind the wall and listened once I heard Lord Graham's name mentioned. Something about Lord Graham having business in Edinburgh. Carlotta questioned his sudden disappearance, and the duke didn't answer. I left soon after, knowing you'd want to be aware after…" Beatrix bit her lip.

"After?" Bethanny asked, her eyes trained on her sister's expression.

"After you two disappeared last night," Beatrix finished then proceeded to bite her lip.

"Oh no." Bethanny groaned and leaned back on the bed so that her legs still dangled off the side. "Where did you hear that?"

"Carlotta." But don't fret! I'm sure no one else noticed," Beatrix spoke then paused, "though I think Lady Southridge might suspect—"

"Oh, she is far past suspicion," Bethanny mumbled.

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