Darkest Summer by Leona Bushman

Author:Leona Bushman [Bushman, Leona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Hermione

The Dark Duke’s townhouse

She sat in her best dress, knowing the pale blues enhanced her hair and eyes to their best. As always, she watched more than she participated, but she, this time, chose to do it while showing off her good coloring, keeping herself some of Lord Thomas’ attention, catching a wink which pushed heat into her face. She tried to calm her rapid pulse by cataloguing her surroundings.

The Dark Duke’s parlor, as svelte as ever, held interesting pieces from around the world. The bust of a Roman who lived long before she became a glint in her mother’s eye. Same with an Asian vase—and how did he have such a precious specimen? Perhaps the family bought it long ago, or mayhap he picked it up before the Opium Wars really started. The Wars reminded her of the lie bandied about the ton about her condition, causing her to wince and put down the tea cup and saucer. One hand stroked her ever growing belly. Definitely cooled her ardor.

Worry pushed its way to the forefront as conversation swirled around her. However would she care for an infant? Her parents promised to help, as well as Sarah, but she wanted to know for herself, not have everyone, including servants, take care of her baby. She wanted to do it herself.

Then she heard something about killings. “Wait, what?” she asked.

“The people I’ve hired have mentioned killings of prostitutes and thieves which have concerned them,” Duke Canterbury replied.

“Should not they all concern us, Your Grace? It is our duty to protect them, is it not?” Hermione clamped her lips shut, worried she’d appeared too blue stocking to Lord Thomas. Many a female of the ton had given her dirty looks for insisting on treating the servants better. However, a quick glance under her lashes revealed his lordship’s smile.

“Yes. We do. My people have throughout the centuries in our own domain. Ever since I started on my quest for revenge, I have kept careful watch on the area around the waterfront, and also toward East End. The way I have figured it, someone higher born was taking advantage of the lower class, seeing them as expendable, to further their dirty deeds, which ranged from smuggling to murder. Too many died in the chase of wealth around the time of my father’s death and more recently to be a coincidence.”

Hermione caught Lilly staring at her husband with love, and almost felt as if a voyeur to witness such naked emotions on her stalwart friend. Longing for that depth of love with her own partner swept over her.

“I must say, Your Grace, you are ruining the Scots belief in the perfidy of all Englishman, particularly the lords of the realm,” Lord Thomas said.

Hermione appreciated the way he put it, but she agreed. She remembered how appalled she was to learn how most of the upper class treated their servants. She also remembered the envy of learning women were starting to work in some places while still being respectable.

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