All In with the Duke by Ava March

Author:Ava March
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Tristan set his fork beside the plate of barely touched eggs and pushed from the table. He hesitated as he left the breakfast room. Finding the corridor empty, he turned right, in the direction of the conservatory.

Arrington Park was massive. A sprawling house with too many rooms to count. But at the moment, it felt even smaller than the quaint cottage Tristan had grown up in.

A part of him knew he was being completely irrational. As long as he avoided the study, chances were exceedingly good he would not see Max until supper. Still...

Instead of reaching for the brass lever, Tristan turned from the conservatory door and the lush green plants visible through its many panes of glass. Perhaps the countryside would do him better. A couple of hours away from the house, and away from any threat of coming face-to-face with Max. Give himself time to gather his composure after last night.

The butler opened the front door as he approached. He tipped his head in thanks and stepped out into the sun. All traces of yesterday’s rain were gone from the sky. The air was quite warm even for late morning on an August day. He made his way to the stables but the twinge as he’d sat for breakfast kept him from going inside. Best to simply proceed on foot.

He glanced about and, recalling the map of the property done in watercolors hanging in an ornate gilt frame on the wall in the library, proceeded toward the low hill off to the right.

Rubbing his eyes, he let out a sigh. His eyelids felt heavy yet his nerves buzzed with that uncomfortable mixture of exhaustion and extreme wakefulness one felt after spending a night tossing and turning.

Max had been angry. He hadn’t had to speak a word...not that he’d spoken many. Tristan had read the anger in every hard line of his body, in the clenched jaw and narrowed eyes. And he had absolutely no notion what Max would say, how the man would react, when he saw him next. Max could send him from the house for all he knew. But he didn’t want to leave, at least not permanently. He really liked being with Max...when they were together, that was.

He saw not another soul as he wandered across a field. Not another person to disturb the thoughts tumbling about in his head.

On the other side of another low hill, he came upon a pond, its placid blue surface glinting in the sunlight, beckoning him. Sweat tickled his skin beneath his cravat, the sun beating down on his shoulders. The navy wool coat he’d selected that morning was one of his favorites, but it certainly hadn’t been made for a hot summer day.

Dropping to his haunches at the pond’s edge, he swooshed his fingers in the water and found it to be on the perfect side of cool. He swept his gaze around him. Nothing but the pond and green grass and the occasional tree, leaves swaying in the light breeze.

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