Temptation's Darling by Johanna Lindsey

Temptation's Darling by Johanna Lindsey

Author:Johanna Lindsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books


Chapter Twenty-four

CONDOLENCES? AND MONTY DIDN’T stick around to explain such an incredible remark. He’d very rudely left the parlor directly after saying it.

Layla was alarmed and asked Vanessa, “Do you know what he meant?”

Vanessa made light of it, replying, “Mother told me the Rathban son is rather quiet and shy. I suppose Monty might think he’s a boring fellow.”

“I’m sure we don’t want boring,” Emily put in.

“But if it’s just a matter of shyness, won’t that change after marriage?” Layla added.

Vanessa smiled at Layla’s logic, but the fact was, the excuse she’d given didn’t really explain Monty’s remark, and she intended to find out what would.

She went in search of her mother after tea, but was frustrated to learn Kathleen had gone to Dawton town after lunch and wasn’t back yet. She considered riding to the town her grandfather had founded, well, the marquis had founded the village of Dawton, which had since grown into a township, but she ended up breaking propriety and knocking on Monty’s bedroom door instead. But that just increased her frustration because he wasn’t in it—or wasn’t answering.

She began to wonder if he hadn’t meant to say what he’d said and was now embarrassed by it. He’d been angry with Charley, after all, and her engagement had been mentioned immediately after, so his condolences remark could have just been a churlish remnant of that anger—or from his surprise at hearing she was so suddenly engaged. Or he simply didn’t want to be cornered to explain because he had no intention of explaining.

She stood at the top of the stairs, debating whether to look for him further, when Mrs. Edwards suddenly approached from the east wing with a wide smile and tears glistening in her eyes. “Welcome home, Lady Nessa! You have been sorely missed by the staff, you and the earl both. We look forward to his return very soon, too.”

Vanessa was surprised by the housekeeper’s warm greeting, but the mention of her father just made her miss him all the more and strengthened her conviction that she was doing the right thing in accepting the arranged marriage to end his exile—boring groom or no.

She gave up on her search for more answers and ended up taking a long bath before dinner. And then the maid arrived to do her hair, sent by the twins. When the girl was finished, Vanessa barely recognized herself. The hoyden was definitely gone. She’d never once tried to coif her hair in Scotland. She probably could have, but she was too active there to want to be bothered by slipping pins and unraveling locks, so she’d simply worn her hair clubbed, braided, or loose—one of the little freedoms she now had to give up.

She did find her mother before dinner, catching Kathleen’s maid leaving her room and slipping inside before the door closed. Kathleen was still sitting at her vanity. “A private word, Mother?”

Kathleen turned, then smiled brilliantly. “Don’t you look lovely tonight, darling. I knew you would once you shed the .



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