Where Destiny Plays by Regina Kammer

Author:Regina Kammer [Kammer, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 19th century, abortion, aristocracy, aristocrat, ballroom, beta hero, bisexual, Britain, British, countryside, dancing, Disobedience By Design, doctor, dream, earl, England, erotic romance, familial duty, family saga, foreign languages, Harwell Heirs, heritage, historical erotic romance, historical erotica, historical romance, historical romantic erotica, Houses of Parliament, inheritance, legacy, Lincolnshire, London, manor house, marquess, masquerade, mature characters, mature hero, mature heroine, memory, menage, multiple partners, odalisque, Orientalism, Parliament, politics, polyamory, pregnancy, role play, romance, Rubaiyat, sexual discovery, St Albans, sultan, The Pleasure Device, The Season, Viscountess, Victorian erotic romance, Victorian erotica, Victorian orientalism, virgin, widow, younger man older woman
ISBN: 9780991016686
Publisher: Viridium Press
Published: 2016-12-15T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Grace walked along the corridor to the bedroom. It wasn’t her bedroom, it was his bedroom but he usually referred to it as the bedroom. Julius wasn’t in the bedroom very much anymore. Lately he had been holing himself up in his study, at times falling asleep on the couch and not bothering to come to bed at all.

And tonight, as she passed the study along the corridor, the door was closed. The pale glow of light within bled through the sliver of space between the door and the floorboards.

She had no idea what kept him up until all hours of the night. He hadn’t been doing any experiments but perhaps he was planning new ones. Perhaps it had something to do with Mrs. Chadbourne’s visit as he had been spending a great deal of time in his study since. Perhaps the medicine he gave her needed to be perfected. He had said it tasted bitter.

She pressed her ear to the door, not quite sure what she hoped to hear. There was nothing but silence.

The angle of her vision pointed down toward the knob, under which more light came through.

The keyhole. Julius must have taken the key from the keyhole.

Grace got on her knees, thankful the hall carpet extended almost to the wall. It would muffle any sound on her side of the door. She peered through the hole, her gaze darting about to take in the unusual perspective.

He was behind his desk, reading, the halo of a lamp illuminating his somber countenance and the document he held in his hand before him. He may have been crying, she couldn’t be absolutely sure.

He lay the document down on the desk and stared at it for a moment before covering his face with both hands. He rubbed his eyes then speared his fingers through his hair, gripping the strands as if he wanted to pull them out at the roots.

And then he sucked in an audible breath and his body shook as he sobbed.

Bad news. He had received bad news. A death maybe.

Grace stood with effort and continued to the bedroom. He wouldn’t want to talk about such things but she could be there for him with a smile and a gentle touch.

Whatever it took to make her Julius happy again.

* * * * *

Arthur stared into his teacup, the delicate white bowl half-full of tea edged by the blue and gold of the saucer underneath. If he blurred his eyes just a little, the set would appear as two concentric circles, brown within white within blue—

“You’re being far too introspective, my lord. It is distinctly out of character.”

Joseph’s voice tinged with playful mocking took him out of his reverie. He refocused his eyes on his friend sprawled out on the sofa in his drawing room. “Sorry. I should pay more attention to you.”

“I can amuse myself. Your father, however, will not stand for such disregard.”

His father. That’s why Arthur was in a mood. Father was expected at any moment. Arthur had invited him and Joseph to tea at his Belgravia house.

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