Worthy of her Love (The Montford Cousins Book 4) by L.L. Diamond

Author:L.L. Diamond [Diamond, L.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“I asked what you are about, Simon.”

Since Jane had met Lord Charles, he had possessed an easy demeanour. His voice never possessed such a hard edge. Neither Lord Charles nor Henry seemed to think much of their brother. What a shame!

Lord Bath smiled as though butter would not melt in his mouth. “Why, to meet my future sister, if the rumours are to be believed. Nothing more. What has you at sixes and sevens, Brother?”

Lord Rutledge’s head swung back and forth between the two men. By his wide eyes, the man had no idea he would stir up a hornet’s nest with the introduction. The earl was a known gossip and officious. She held back from wincing. How many would hear of this debacle over the course of the night?

Jane patted Lord Charles’s forearm. “Pray, do not cause a scene. Yes, of course, Lord Bath. The next is yours.”

The second of the Granville brothers swaggered forward, and she placed her hand upon his arm as they made their way to the centre of the line. She glanced over her shoulder to Henry’s jaw clenching and releasing and gave what was surely her most reassuring smile. Perhaps that would be of aid to calm him. He had to understand she had little choice.

When the music began, they honoured their partners then waited while the first couple took their turn.

Lord Bath observed her in a way that made her skin prickle in an uncomfortable manner. “I must say you are quite the curiosity, Miss Montford. All in attendance know you are the granddaughter of the Earl of Richmond, but no one seems to know of your father. They say your mother left London society when she wed. She must have made a scandalous marriage to be shunned so.”

She did her best to keep a calm expression upon her countenance. “’Tis no great mystery or scandal, my lord. My mother and father preferred the country to town and remained on my father’s estate. He prefers the quiet of Longbourn and can be found in the solitude of his book room most days. The diversions of town do not appeal to him.”

When their turn came, Lord Bath maintained a genial countenance. While she preferred to believe everyone had the best of intentions, something was behind his behaviour—the outward display of amiability was a mask. She could not explain how she had come to the realisation, yet her entire being screamed it was so.

When she resumed her place, she glanced over her shoulder for a glimpse of Henry. He was no longer where he had been standing. Where had he gone?

At every opportunity, she searched the ballroom. Where was he?

During the next turn, his chestnut hair and tall bearing stood out at the edge of the dancers on the opposite side of the room, standing as close as he could without drawing attention, his hazel eyes never wavering from her. As she stepped through the next movements of the dance, Lord Charles’s presence to her right caught her notice.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.