Captivated by His Countess by Kathy L Wheeler

Author:Kathy L Wheeler [Wheeler, Kathy L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: social issues, rebel lords of London, regency, spicy romance, small dog, witty, romantic suspense, abduction, london society, series romance, duke, earl, countess, forced marriage, shelter for women
Publisher: Chisel Imprint
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

~~~

James narrowed his eyes on Gabriella, the duchess, then watched as Lady Harlowe, her face pale even from this distance, rush up to grip his wife’s hands. “What are they up to?” he said more to himself.

Ryleigh snorted. “I don’t know, but it’s something. If you didn’t know your dog was ill—”

“Correction, my wife’s dog, more like a rat really.” He spoke absently, considering Lady Harlowe’s demeanor specifically. Emotional, intense, regretful.

“Good God, Huntley. What did I tell you? If you don’t put a stop to my youngest sister’s antics, you’ll soon find your home overrun—”

“She’s not so bad. Scraggly.” James winced, feeling a little disloyal. “And cleaned up, she’s even kind of cute.”

“Scraggly? Cleaned up?”

The duke’s words brought James’s head around. “What?”

“I was speaking of my sister, not your dog.” A chuckle erupted from him, surprising James. “As much as it pains me to admit this, I’m happy to hear you say that.” He shook his head. “Gabriella was never one to let any creature in need escape her attention.”

As James was quickly learning. He grinned back. “God knows why she named the mutt Lady Macbeth.”

“Horrid,” the duke agreed, “but the answer is simple. Your wife and her fascination with the theater. I guess I don’t have to tell you—how thrilled I am to say—she’s your headache now.”

James surveyed the room though nothing stood out to him. Bentick, he supposed, wiping his forehead, but with all the candles, several men did the same. He spotted Stanford strolling in with Rose. “Why don’t your sisters get along with my wife?”

The duke shrugged. “I’ve no notion. Perhaps it was because Gabriella was the youngest, and the others—myself included—felt compelled to guide her, I suppose.”

Guide her? Dictate more like, he thought, in a rush of sympathy. They certainly didn’t understand her. “She can be quite stubborn,” James acknowledged reluctantly.

A sharp bark of laughter erupted from Ryleigh, and he clapped James on the back. “You don’t know the half of it, my friend.”

The music tuned up while James studied his wife. She and the duchess were now speaking earnestly with Lady Harlowe. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your insight regarding our wives. They certainly do appear to be up to something.” His eyes narrowed. “I would wager it is Gabriella behind the situation.”

“I suspect the involvement level is equal. The fact that Rebecca is involved, tells me there is a philanthropic cause driving the underlying situation.” Ryleigh’s gaze moved over the gathering crowd. “If you had no idea the dog was ill, then I consider that note I read is a coded message. A singular statement, regarding your dog? Why else direct it to my duchess?”

James had no answer. “So, you don’t believe it was delivered by mistake as the duchess suggested?”

“Certainly not. I have another theory.” Ryleigh adjusted his cuffs, pulled at his gloves, though his attire was perfect and needed no such adjustments. “I shall tell you,” he went on. “Distraction.”

“Fascinating,” Huntley said. How had he not realized? He was the one tasked at keeping an eye on her antics.

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