Euphemia and the Unexpected Enchantment by Alicia Cameron

Author:Alicia Cameron [Cameron, Alicia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

The viscount entered his wife’s dressing room as she stood before the glass, adjusting the neckline of a ravishing gold silk gown, and made his languid way towards her. His wife was not deceived by his languor however, and nodded away her maid. He kissed her neck and shoulders and she leaned back into him so that he grasped her waist firmly. ‘No, my dear. We will be late for dinner!’

‘When will you learn, my love that dinner in a viscount’s house begins only when the viscount appears?’

‘Well, it is very unkind to cook, who is trying out a new recipe I brought from France of soufflé. It will collapse, and if it does, so will poor cook.’

‘As usual, I am astounded at your knowledge of the servants’ feelings, as well as deeply uncaring of same.’

‘If I believed that, Bastian, I should leave you for a Captain of the Guards. But I know you sent your valet back to bed today when he was suffering from a head cold.’

‘Only because I did not wish to be infected.’

‘Your old nurse, when I visited her in her cottage, said that you had never been sick a day in your life!’

‘Because I take precautions.’

She turned and he kissed her, and for a moment, it seemed that the soufflé must fall. But Felicity looked worried, and pulled away. ‘I am concerned about Euphemia.’

‘Mmm?’ said Bastian, kissing her neck.

‘Bastian!’ he pulled away and looked at her. ‘Things are different than we thought. Lord Balfour has offered for Euphemia.’

‘Richard? And she refused him?’

‘Yes. And the tragedy is, I think she really cares for him.’

‘I would say they did not have much time to know their feelings, but I knew how I felt about you from the very first.’

‘Nonsense! Your only thought was that I was the same height and age as Lady Letitia.’

‘Well, perhaps not from the very first. But soon.’ He teased and kissed her again. ‘Anyway, if she likes him, why didn’t she say yes?’

‘It is all wrapped up in those gowns he sent. She is very like Lady Balfour in stature, and she had need of a gown because there was an accident when he shouted—’

‘He does that!’

‘Yes, well, it was in the inn taproom, where they met, she spilt chocolate on her gown and then he fairly ordered her into his carriage—’ Felicity continued.

‘Now what kind of gentleman treats a lady like that?’ said Durant, shocked.

She regarded him narrowly, knowing he referred to their own first meeting. ‘No kind of gentleman at all,’ she said, and he laughed. She continued, ‘So he took her to Balfour Court, to his wife’s own sitting room, and sent her to change her gown for one of Her Ladyship’s, and then when he saw her, he had an attack of asthma I think she named it, and so then she knew he was using her to bring back the ghost of his wife.’ Felicity finally took a breath and shuddered dramatically.

‘Sounds like one of those ghastly novels you two are so fond of.

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