A Scandalous Deception by Messina Lynn

Author:Messina, Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Potatoworks Press
Published: 2018-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

He was dressed in evening clothes: black silk breeches, pristine white shirt, elaborate cravat, shoes polished to a high shine. His blond curls, a little longer than fashionable, swept across his forehead, and his brows were drawn in anger.

Or was it irritation?

Perhaps it was impatience.

Bea, who could not understand what the Duke of Kesgrave was doing in her aunt’s drawing room at ten o’clock at night, was further confounded by the fact that he was in her aunt’s drawing room at ten o’clock at night seemingly annoyed with her.

What had she done to cause his ire? For two days, she had been confined to her house, demonstrating solemnity and respect and repenting for the very scene on the balcony that he had deserted at the earliest opportunity. Furthermore, she had not been abroad and could not have created new resentments. What ancient grievance had he dug up to pester her about now?

While she was still trying to reconcile the oddness of his appearance, Kesgrave stepped forward and said, “You must forgive me for interrupting.”

Although his words were imperious, his tone was not, and Bea, more confused than ever, assured him that she did. Then she gestured to the settee and asked him to sit down. Annie, entering the drawing room, confounded her further by bestowing on her a nod and a faint smile of approval, as if endorsing the enterprise. She settled into a chair across the room by the window, close enough to provide respectability while far enough to allow for discretion.

Bea regained her seat by the fire and wondered what activity had been disrupted by this visit, for he certainly was not dressed like a man who had been spending a quiet evening at home.

“Would you like some tea, your grace?” she asked, determined to be as gracious as possible. Revealing her anger at his desertion would give the matter too much importance. Months ago, at Lakeview Hall, when they were discussing possible culprits in the murder of Mr. Otley, Kesgrave had suggested they were colleagues working toward a common goal. The idea appealed to her then and it had appealed to her on the night of the Lelands’ ball. But the concept was untenable, for in order to be colleagues they would have to be equals and recent history had demonstrated all too clearly that they were not.

The duke appeared ready to turn down the offer of tea and it was hard to say who of the two was more surprised when he agreed to a cup.

Bea put the request to Dawson, who immediately disappeared to fetch a second teacup. Then she felt the side of the pot to confirm the brew was still hot and waited for the duke to speak. He held his peace until the cup was delivered and when assured of their privacy, said, “Your cousin tells me you are being held prisoner.”

His forthright tone was tinged with amusement, making it clear that he didn’t believe Bea had been trapped in her home against her will.

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