Loving Michael by Kate Pearce

Author:Kate Pearce [Pearce, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: historical romance
Publisher: Kate Pearce
Published: 2015-06-14T23:00:00+00:00

A RIGHT AND PROPER APOLOGY

Kate Pearce

A Right And Proper Apology

He could only pray his gamble would work.

If it didn’t, he might lose her again. But when had he ever possessed her? She’d left him two years ago. Everyone knew that. Her presence here, at this house party, and in this particular company was driving society’s gossips wild with fevered speculation as to just how he intended to deal with her.

Jonathan Ford, the Earl of Buckley considered the couples moving in graceful harmony on the dance floor. Claudia was dancing, of course. When did she ever sit still? The more she shone, the further he’d retreated, and the more outrageous she’d become...

“Are you going to speak to her, Jonathan?”

He looked down to see his mother positively bristling with indignation beside him.

“Of course I will.”

“She probably doesn’t even realize we are here!”

“I should imagine not, Mama, or else she wouldn’t have come.”

She sighed. “I’d try to speak to her myself, but last time I attempted it she laughed in my face and created even more scandal.”

“When was that?”

“At Lady Bridlington’s garden party.”

Ah, he remembered that day rather well. According to the well-meaning friends he’d encountered the next morning, his wife had been found wandering in the conservatory with some young debutante’s intended, and had laughed when the young lady in question had burst into tears and called her heartless.

She wasn’t heartless.

He knew that.

And his mother should’ve known better than to have interfered. That incident had culminated in him confronting her. After ten disastrous years of marriage she’d run off the very next night with his best friend.

The music ended in a loud crashing chord and the men bowed to their ladies and led them off the floor. Claudia’s laughter reached him as she stroked her partners sleeve and smiled at him. He wasn’t sure if he’d reacted in some way, but a second later, she looked over to where he stood, and her blue eyes widened.

He inclined his head a subtle inch, and watched as with a little toss of her golden curls she turned away and dismissed him, relegating him to his dark corner as if he didn’t exist. Jonathan briefly closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. He’d thrown the dice. He just had to pray that his legendary good luck held.

Claudia forced herself to smile up at Captain Mark Elliot, her acknowledged flirt, and her best friend in the world, but he was no fool.

“What’s wrong? You’re trembling.”

“Jonathan’s here.”

“Your husband?” Mark gave a quick glance around the crowded ballroom.

“Who else?”

Mark led her to a chair, took her fan away from her and gently waved it in front of her face. “But you said it was time to seek him out yourself.”

She glared at him. “Not yet! I’m not ready.”

He had the audacity to smile at her. “Let’s be honest, love. You’ll never be ready.”

“But I’m tired of this—why won’t he just let me go to the devil?”

“I don’t know.” Mark’s expression grew serious again. “Which is why you have to be brave and speak to him.

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