A Game of Hearts (Hearts in Hazard 3) by M.A. Lee

Author:M.A. Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: marriage of convenience, rakes, courtesan, self-made man, unhappy first marriage, two love stories
Publisher: M.A. Lee
Published: 2020-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15 ~ Saturday, 23 November

“Maggie says I should ask you. She says she’s biased.”

Rafe watched his daughter pace, a habit that revealed her suppressed agitation, as it revealed his. Not long after her impetuous arrival, she had abandoned her chair, and she hadn’t landed since. He leaned back, crossing one foot over his knee. “I witnessed the Wiltons’ treatment of her at Eadings. Lady Scotton was particularly rude.”

“Lady Scotton is rude to everyone. They weren’t rude at the wedding breakfast.”

“No,” he granted. “They came with Lord and Lady Bertram, but they didn’t interact with many other people. They certainly didn’t speak with Maggie or myself that day.”

“I was glad that Missy and Tina were there—especially since Josephine Trelawney was too uppity to speak with Richard Malbury. She snubbed him!”

Denby shifted in his chair, as if he were restless or repressing a comment. Rafe flicked his clerk a glance then looked back at his daughter. “What do you want, Connie?”

“Missy and Tina are my friends, since my days at school. I don’t see why I must give them up.”

“No one has said you must. Have I? Has Maggie?”

“No. She said only that she wished the Wiltons would not attend the Davenports’ soiree. She wishes I would not attend the party at their house on Tuesday.” She paused at the window. The sunlight caught in her eyes, making them seem translucent. “I didn’t expect that she wouldn’t like the Wiltons. I heard that Mr. Wilton and the late Lord Symonds were friends. I thought the Wiltons would be invited to our house. Maggie says she will invite them to a large party but not to dinner. And she refuses to go to their house. She won’t say why.”

“You know Maggie’s first marriage was unhappy. I believe the Wiltons used her husband’s treatment of her as the model for their own. Since their visits to Mallow Hill were not pleasant for her, she will not willingly associate with them now.”

“Missy and Tina had nothing to do with that! They were too young.”

“I know.”

Her brow crinkled. Rafe knew his daughter: she wanted a way to have everyone happy. Connie hadn’t yet learned a compromise often couldn’t be found. She looked at Denby, once more sitting quietly.

Rafe and he had had a map of lowland Scotland spread over the desk when Connie had erupted into the office. The young man had simply rolled up the map and now held it in one hand, a sheaf of lists in his other, while he waited. He hadn’t offered to leave. Years had passed since the last time Denby had left whenever Connie came to the office.

“What do you think, Denby?”

Her question of his clerk startled Rafe. In the past Connie had drawn a strict line between Denby’s business association and any personal interaction. Sometime this autumn that line had apparently fallen.

Nor did Denby look to his employer for permission to offer his opinion. The line had indeed fallen. He shrugged now. “You have attended gatherings at the Wiltons before, haven’t you? Is it necessary for Mrs.

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