Lady Mariel's Scandalous Love_Regency Romance by Arietta Richmond

Author:Arietta Richmond [Richmond, Arietta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamstone Publishing
Published: 2019-10-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The dinner progressed steadily, and Mariel spent the entire time torn between the urge to laugh, and the urge to simply run from the room to escape the pretentious falseness of it all. When, after the desserts had been cleared, Lord Kirkwold rose in his place and called for everyone’s attention, she sighed with relief. The sooner he made the announcement, the closer they were to being able to leave.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure this evening to announce the betrothal of my daughter, Lady Phyllida, to the Earl of Hockingmoor. They have not known each other all that long, but their… affinity… for each other became obvious very shortly after they met. I am delighted to welcome Lord Hockingmoor to the family. Please raise your glasses in a toast to the newly betrothed couple.”

Dutifully, everyone did, and then Lord Kirkwold called for the gentlemen to retire to the billiards room for port, and the ladies to the parlour for tea.

Lady Phyllida and Lord Hockingmoor held back, as her parents led everyone from the dining room – perhaps they wanted a moment alone? Mariel turned to Selina with a mischievous smile as they entered the parlour.

“Who shall we talk to, Selina? For I doubt that any lady here is prone to the sort of conversations in which we usually indulge…”

“Well… we could shock someone… but perhaps it is best if we don’t. Lady Chaston seems the safest option – she is obsessed with the hounds she breeds, and will talk of little else.”

They crossed the room to Lady Chaston, and Mariel steeled herself to tolerate the conversation regardless.

~~~~~

Dash allowed most of the gentlemen to leave the room before moving towards the door. Lord Hockingmoor pressed a rather chaste kiss to Lady Phyllida’s cheek as he passed them, and the Lady turned and left the room, following all of the other women. Hockingmoor reached out a hand to bring Dash to a halt.

“Longwood… a word, if I may?”

Dash halted, and turned to the man, curious.

“Certainly, Hockingmoor, what can I do for you?”

The man looked a little nervous, and put a finger to his cravat, as if it had suddenly become too tight.

“Ah… that is to say… I believe that you… have a… collection… of a rather… scandalously interesting nature?”

Mentally, Dash cursed Lord Manderforce with creative intensity.

“I do have a collection of interesting items, gathered during my travels.”

He left it at that – this was not something he wanted to be discussing at the man’s betrothal dinner party. Certainly not before the London building was ready, and he had forewarned his own father. Hockingmoor cleared his throat nervously.

“Is it, as I have been told, of an… umm… erotic nature? Because if that is the case, I would be… most intrigued to know more of it, one gentleman to another, of course.”

Dash sighed.

“My Lord, I am not, at this point, willing to discuss my collection in detail. If I reach the point where I am willing to make it… more visible… to others, I will be sure to let you know.

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