Lady Hope and the Duke of Darkness by Maggi Andersen

Author:Maggi Andersen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: MAGGI ANDERSEN
Published: 2015-11-02T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Hope was to be introduced to the king. She’d never been to Carlton House, but she’d heard King George entertained lavishly. Her gown had been fashioned especially for the occasion. She was grateful that the presentation had changed since her mother had been a terrified young lady presented to the queen at Court, dressed in an abominable creation. Hope felt confident she looked her best in white satin embroidered around the hem and sleeves, with pearls threaded through her hair.

A liveried footman escorted Hope and her parents through a reception hall of marble columns to an anteroom, where they were announced. They entered the Crimson Drawing Room. No one could deny Carlton House dazzled the eye, and this chamber was no exception with its crimson silk walls and couches in the same rich color, magnificent chandeliers, and valuable art. Guests crammed the reception rooms, sipping champagne, as the music from an orchestra swelled to an almost deafening crescendo. Her father led her to where the king sat surrounded by particular friends and cronies. Hope tried to hide her disappointment. He was their sovereign and, according to Mama, so handsome and gallant as a youth. Now, huge and sickly, he seemed to eye the beautiful young women around him in a less than attractive way.

The Duke of Winslow, standing amidst a circle of guests, drew her parents into the conversation. Hope joined Amy Tyndale on a crimson velvet seat as Amy offered her opinion of the lady’s gowns. “Lady Heffer’s purple silk is quite hideous,” Amy said. “I hate purple.”

“I daresay we shall find it useful in our dotage,” Hope said, distracted.

She took another peek at Winslow who smiled and nodded at her father. Prickles of unease danced at her nape. Was this a sign that the duke had decided to marry her? By the look on her mother’s face, it seemed likely. Hope smoothed her gloves, unnerved at the prospect of becoming his duchess.

It was Daniel’s fault for making her doubt that Winslow was the right man for her. She’d been so focused on marrying him that she hadn’t questioned whether he was right for her or not. She drew in a breath at the sudden, fearful clarity. She’d been unable to find much to admire about Winslow, and nothing stirred even the faintest feelings of affection for him.

Even at this precise moment, Daniel nudged Winslow from her mind. She couldn’t ignore the sexual attractiveness she found in his every movement. Daniel, putting on her cape in his reception hall, his breath on her hair, and his expression, a mixture of hurt and something rather stirring and filled with promise. It was not what he’d said but rather what he hadn’t, and what he had failed to do. When his gaze settled on her mouth, she’d known he wanted to kiss her. She’d warmed from head to toe with expectation and had to fight the urge to coil her arms around his neck and draw his head down to hers.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.