A Rake's Revenge by Cynthia Breeding

Author:Cynthia Breeding
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-05-01T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

As if some gremlin had decided to concentrate all his energy to thwart her efforts to speak to Stephan, Caroline found herself seated beside the Duke of Danworth at dinner that night. And since George, due to his rank, was seated directly across from Prinny, Caroline couldn’t help but wonder if the prince was up to more shenanigans. He was quite aware that George had dumped her for Amelia, and he certainly could not have missed the rumors that she might have lost her virtue to George. Providing an opportunity to settle an old score would elicit splendid gossip. There was nothing the prince hated more than a dull house party, especially if he were hosting it.

Well, if he expected drama from her, he’d be disappointed. George had long ceased to provoke any emotion from her. Worse, though, was that the Duke of Kinshell had arrived that afternoon and was seated on the other side of her, which meant that Stephan was several seats away and inaccessible. Again.

When they’d gotten back earlier, Caroline had hoped to talk to Stephan privately to warn him about Tisdale, but unfortunately, the earl insisted he was entitled to a full afternoon of her company. Her father, who, blast it, had been outside when they arrived back, had agreed. Since the ride had been cut short, she’d had to endure sitting with Tisdale on a bench in the garden. The first bench she’d come to. She’d refused to walk a step farther. Stephan hadn’t followed her, and she suspected her father had waylaid him.

She’d hoped to let Stephan know at dinner that she needed to speak to him, but the invisible gremlin had taken care of that.

Unfortunately, the elderly duke was a widower and a known lecher. Even now his arm was brushing hers, and Caroline was pretty sure his hand would drop in a minute to graze her skirts. Unless she wanted to endure being groped, she had no choice but to edge her chair closer to George. That brought a smirk to his face. She sighed. The unloosed gremlin seemed out to torture her today. First the unbearably long afternoon with Tisdale and now this. If there was one bright spot that the gremlin had overlooked, it was that Tisdale was seated even farther down the table and she wouldn’t have to put up with him for tonight.

“My dear, you look ravishing,” the old duke said.

The gleam in his eye told Caroline he’d like to turn the adjective into a verb. “Thank you, Your Grace, but I do not feel all that well.” She coughed somewhat loudly. “I caught a chill this afternoon, and I think I am coming down with a bit of ague.” She dabbed at her nose with the edge of her napkin. “Actually, I am quite sure of it.”

He blinked and leaned back quickly. “If you are unwell, perhaps you should retire to your chambers.”

“An excellent idea.” Caroline wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to escape before the gremlin returned to make more mischief.

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