Harlequin Historical October 2017--Box Set 2 of 2 by Lauri Robinson

Author:Lauri Robinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488021800
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Hal had managed to glean enough of the Earl of Upminster’s travel plans over their dinner to know he had important business to attend to at the Foreign Office on Friday and therefore would not be leaving for the Danbury house party until late afternoon. This allowed Hal to time his own journey to the Danbury estate to coincide his arrival within a few minutes of Lizzie’s.

This did mean delaying his sister Connie, Aaron and his mother, who had wanted to leave directly after luncheon. They were particularly unimpressed with Hal’s prolonged disappearance after luncheon, which in turn made the initial atmosphere in his own carriage tense, to say the least. Of course, the frostiness might also have something to do with his jaunty festive attire. The sprig of mistletoe, with its three remaining white berries pinned to the lapel of his coat, did a splendid job of making Aaron uncharacteristically belligerent. It was near eight o’clock when they rattled up the Danburys’ drive. Eight o’clock and pitch black; they were all stiff, starving hungry and absolutely freezing cold.

‘Had I known we would be travelling this late into the evening I would have had additional hot bricks and blankets put in the carriage.’ Connie rubbed her hands together to ward off the chill of the brisk night air. ‘I really cannot understand what you were thinking, Hal, to have delayed us for so many hours.’

‘Oh, I think I know exactly what he was thinking,’ said Aaron, glaring at the fancy coach being unloaded just in front of them, the Upminster crest barely visible in the darkness. Connie’s eyes followed her husband’s and a knowing smile crept up her face when Lizzie’s well-turned silk-clad ankle chose that exact moment to appear out of the door. Hal allowed his own eyes to feast upon the sight, purely because he had always had a particular fondness for a good pair of legs regardless of the female they happened to be attached to, and then hastily stared elsewhere when he saw his sister’s interested expression.

‘Oh, yes…now I think I understand it, too. Come along. Let us not waste the opportunity my lovestruck brother created for himself. We must befriend her.’ And she was off, like an arrow shot from a crossbow, dragging their mother by the arm on a determined trajectory towards Lizzie and her father.

But Aaron stood rooted to the spot, his arms folded across his chest and his dark eyes narrowed. A stance which made Hal laugh. ‘Now don’t be a sore loser, old chap. It is hardly my fault your wife is thrilled with my association with Lady Elizabeth. Look at them all talking. I will lay money on the fact she is already extolling my virtues.’ He patted his mistletoe corsage for effect. ‘I sense another one of these berries will be gracing your palm imminently.’

‘My wife might be extolling your virtues, but I intend to spend the weekend appraising Lady Elizabeth of your true nature.’

Poor Aaron. Hal almost felt sorry for him.

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