The Gift of a Christmas Scandal_Regency Romance by Arietta Richmond

Author:Arietta Richmond [Richmond, Arietta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamstone Publishing
Published: 2018-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Really Selina! What were you thinking! Or were you thinking at all? I know that you have been feeling a little closed in – as have we all, with the last few days of snow – but really – to go alone! You know better.”

“Yes Mother. I’m sorry, but I simply couldn’t resist the chance to get outside, to ride, in peace and quiet. The park is beautiful, and nothing terrible happened, after all.”

“No, but it could have- what if you had met a man? What if someone had seen you alone with a man? You might have been trapped into marriage!”

Selina clamped her lips shut, refusing to allow the laughter out, keeping her face calm and blank. That her mother should speak of being forced to marry, when that is exactly what they were trying to do to her, with Lord Hockingmoor, was beyond absurd. But she knew that her mother wouldn’t see it that way.

“Yes Mother. I will think more in future.”

Selina had not lied – nothing terrible had happened – what had happened was, instead, rather wonderful – even if her mother would not agree. She felt her cheeks flush a little as she thought of it – hopefully her mother would think it was from embarrassment from having been caught out, and nothing more.

She had ridden for far too long, and her mother had been up and pacing their rooms with worry when she had returned. For the rest of the day, she would need to be perfectly behaved, no matter how much Lord Hockingmoor drove her to distraction with his inanities. But tonight, when everyone slept… she hoped that the Duke… Alex… would find her in the library – no matter the risk. She wanted to convince him…

~~~~~

Alex looked at himself in the large mirror in his chambers. Albano had done his usual impeccable job of dressing him – the man had a talent for stylish presentation. He had been with him since Alex had first arrived in Italy, and it had been a great relief when the valet had agreed to come to England with him. Looking every bit the imposing Duke was necessary – it was armour of a sort, a shell he wore to prevent people trying to get too close to him. Not that it deflected Lady Phyllida.

Sighing, he pushed all memory of the morning by the riverside from his mind, and prepared to endure another day of his mother’s idea of an enjoyable house party. He was sure that many others were enjoying themselves, quite likely sneaking into bedrooms at night and other such activities, but for him, the whole event was drawn out torture.

As soon as he appeared in the parlour, Lady Phyllida attached herself, limpet-like, to his side. He dealt with it with as much dignity as he could, being polite through gritted teeth. But his eyes followed Lady Selina when she entered the room. He could not help himself, he found – if she was present, it was as natural as breathing to watch her.

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