AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Some humiliating task. I haven’t quite decided yet. You’ll just have to hope you don’t fail, for you know how creative I can get.”
Considering that the last time Thurmont came up with a punishment, the rest of them were nearly expelled from Eton, he took the threat seriously. Nathan still shivered at the memory of freezing his naked ass off in the middle of winter whilst half the dormitory jeered. “So, who are we to dance with?”
Thurmont put a finger to his chin. “Lets see.” After a quiet moment, he thrust the finger towards Lockhart. “You will dance with Miss Cecily Balfour.”
The color drained from the baron’s face, his easy smile slipping. “Heavens, anything but her.”
Nathan rose an eyebrow at the sight, wondering what on earth about the famous bluestocking would strike Lockhart so. True, her acerbic tongue was well known amongst the Ton, but surely the woman wasn’t that unpleasant. Though, from the near sadistic smile on Thurmont's face, he must know something about Lockhart’s experience with the spinster that the rest of them didn’t. Making a note to ask Lockhart about it later, Nathan gave him a bracing slap on the shoulder. “Chin up, friend. Surely your charms will make it a breeze.”
“The prize you have in mind for me better be worth it, Thurmont,” Lockhart said, his voice foreboding.
“It will. I shall tell you soon. But first,” Thurmont shifted his attention to Nathan, “your assignment.”
“Go on,” he replied. “I am curious to see who you have in mind for me after making such a perfect pick for Lockhart.”
“Ha. Perfect,” the baron repeated faintly, the terror in his voice obvious.
Ignoring him, Thurmont spoke. “Miss Arabella Hughs for you, Milton.”
The small amount of tension within him eased. Leave it to Thurmont to pick a lady he was already interested in meeting, one who, by the way she seemed to look at him, would not at all be averse to an invitation. Bellona was his. “Wonderful. You’ll lose that horse within the hour.”
“Of course you give him her,” Lockhart grumbled.
Thurmont frowned. “Is she not infamously unpleasant?”
“Perhaps, though I’ve never met the lady,” Nathan said happily. “She seemed interested in me when I caught her staring. To be honest, I was hoping to meet her.”
“Well, damn.” The disappointment in Thurmont’s voice was plain. “And here I thought I’d get to spend the entire house party watching you follow her around like a puppy.”
Nathan perked up at the mention of the upcoming event, hosted by Thurmont’s mother on the massive family estate next week. “She is attending?”
“I saw her and her sister amongst my mother’s guest list, yes. Miss Balfour, too,” Thurmont replied. “So when you inevitably fail tonight, Lockhart, just know you have time.”
“Wonderful,” Lockhart replied sarcastically.
“Don’t get too cocky, Milton,” Kirkwood said. “I daresay you may have quite the task ahead.”
Nathan scoffed. “I’ll have no problem securing a dance from Miss Arabella Hughs. In fact, I think it will make for a perfectly pleasant time.” More than pleasant, if his initial judgment of the lady proved correct. An entertaining dance and the assurance of a prized animal? Perhaps tonight’s ball wasn’t so dull after all.
* * *
Arabella leaned against a pillar, watching as Caroline danced with a handsome earl. She was cheerful and vivacious as she twirled about, her partner obviously dazzled by the display. Dancing was Caroline’s best skill, one that had served her well on the marriage mart. Even Arabella couldn’t help but admire the ease with which her sister seemed to glide across the floor.
“I am going to the retiring room,” her mother said. “Do behave yourself.”
“Yes, mama,” she replied dutifully, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. As if a wallflower like herself could get into any sort of mischief. She watched her mother disappear into the crowd and suppressed a yawn. Standing around all night was fatiguing, and her toes were cramping from lack of movement. A walk to stretch her legs and work off the restless energy that had built within since spying the Duke of Milton was tempting. She glanced at Caroline once more as she twirled about in the jaunty quadrille. Their mother would return in time to receive her when the set was over. Decision made, Arabella left her spot and gingerly made her way along the edge of the ballroom. She’d heard that the home boasted of impressive gardens with a variety of rare and exotic plants. The prospect was enough of a diversion to entice her, along with the fact that the ballroom was downright sweltering in the summer heat. She was quite looking forward to the upcoming house party hosted by Lady Thurmont in a week’s time, if only for the cool country air it would provide. After a few more minutes of picking through the throng, most of whom paid her no mind, she found the terrace doors she’d been looking for and quietly slipped from the ballroom and into the welcoming breeze of the outdoors. The garden was indeed impressive and, much to her delight, devoid of company. Before she could think better of it, Arabella made her way deeper into the greenery, admiring the lovely rosebushes along the way and taking in their luxurious scent.
“Don’t get too cocky, Milton. I daresay you may have quite the task ahead,” a male voice spoke from nearby.
Interest piqued at the mention of the duke, Arabella crept closer to the commotion, peeking out from around a hedge. Milton and Lockhart were speaking with two other gentlemen, whom she could only assume were The Marquess of Kirkwood and Earl of Thurmont. The group was infamous among the Ton for their rakish exploits. Being cloistered in such a discreet corner of the garden meant that they were likely up to some sort of mischief. It would be wise to leave, lest they either detect her presence or she hear some lewd talk unsuitable for her ears. Ducking back behind the hedge, Arabella moved to retreat.
“I’ll have no problem securing a dance from Miss Arabella Hughs. In fact, I think I will have a perfectly pleasant time,” Milton said with an exaggerated scoff.
Arabella stopped in her tracks and nearly tumbled forward. Milton wanted to dance with her? Her cheeks warmed, stomach fluttering. Though she was still raw from the horrors of last season, surely one dance wouldn’t hurt. A dance with a gentleman wholly interested in doing so with her. Her! She swallowed the giggle bubbling up her throat.
“Anything for a good piece of horseflesh. Eh, Milton?” one of the men teased. “I’ve heard she is incredibly prickly and unpleasant, so Kirkwood may be correct in his predictions of your failure. Remember, waltz by the deadline or Bellona stays in my stables.”
“As if you even know what to do with a horse like that, Thurmont.”
