AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Harry shot Richard a look across the table, and he realized that meant he ought to add something to the ladies’ conversation now. “Yes,” he agreed, “she’s quite right. We’ve planned a breakfast for four hundred guests.” He tipped his chin toward the windows on the other side of the room. “If I’m not mistaken, the lawn is being readied right now. Booths have been erected and carted out to the locations so that when we arrive back here tomorrow morning, all will be ready.”
“Oh,” Miss Drawlington sighed deeply, using her own handful of cards to fan the air in front of her. “I do believe this will be the most exquisite wedding I’ve ever attended.”
“As it should be,” Harry added jokingly. “It’s not every day the Duke of Braxton finds his Duchess.”
Miss Loery laughed perkily. “I should think not.” The card play continued then, and Richard’s eyes wandered back toward Leticia. But this time, as he cast his gaze upon her, she turned to look at him, too. For just a brief second, their eyes met, but then, as if she were embarrassed, she broke their connection and looked downward.
I shouldn’t have snapped at her yesterday.
He recalled the way he’d scolded her, telling her to behave in a more ladylike way. His gaze shifted back to Miss Loery. She sat in such a prim and proper state with her willowy carriage absolutely erect and her chin tilted so she could peer at her cards. She was the picture of the perfect lifelong companion and bride, and yet, Richard still felt very little for her. He flicked his eyes toward Leticia and guilt clawed at his insides.
I’m so preoccupied with Leticia and what she’s doing because I know I treated her poorly before. I must, at the very least, apologize.
He stood then, quite forgetting altogether that he and his companions were in the middle of a game. “Excuse me, Ladies…Harry…” he said, inclining his head politely first at Miss Loery then at the others, “but I must—”
Harry rose and came so quickly around the table that Richard was surprised by his swift movements. “No—” Harry said through gritted teeth. Somehow, he was managing to hold a smile in place, but his words were severe. “Donotgo over there.”
“But I think it best that I have a word with—” Richard began before Harry clapped a hand on his shoulder, not allowing him to finish his thought.
“Please excuse us, Ladies,” Harry said hastily. “The Duke and I need to have a private word.” Quickly, the men walked away from both their own party as well as the crowded table where Leticia was playing commerce. With his hand still firmly placed on Richard’s shoulder, Harry guided him toward the windows on the other side of the room. As Harry dropped his hand, Richard spun toward him, unable to keep the accusation out of his voice.
“Why did you do that?”
“I’m saving you a lot of heartache, old friend,” Harry answered. “The least you could do is thank me for my trouble.”
Richard stared hard at Harry, trying to puzzle out the meaning in his words. “Thank you?” he whispered.
“Yes,” Harry replied, stepping closer to the window and pushing aside one of the heavy, maroon-colored curtains. “I know that you and Leticia had a row yesterday, and I am sure it was not pretty. I think it is in everyone’s best interest if I keep the two of you separated tonight.”
“How do you know?” Richard asked as he took a step closer to Harry. Idly, his fingers went to the white cord that held the drapes in place, and he played with the fringed edges.
Harry shrugged. “Leticia didn’t say anything about it, but she was being awfully nosy yesterday. She kept trying to insert herself into your personal business.”
“Really?” Richard questioned, intrigued by this new information. “What did she want to know?”
Harry scoffed. “I’ve no idea. She just kept saying that she needed to have a private word with you. Thrice yesterday I had to calm her down.”
Reflexively, Richard swiveled, so he could lay eyes on Leticia once more. While she wasn’t looking directly back at him, he could see in the way she now sat rigidly that she must realize he was looking at her. “And did she tell you why it was so urgent she speak with me?”
Harry cleared his throat, and that drew Richard’s attention back toward him. “She failed to mention specifics. I just know that she was very worried about you…as we all are.”
But Richard didn’t hear that last part of his friend’s statement.
Leticia’s worried about me. That’s a first.She may not show others how much she cares, but she’s trying to show me. I wonder what could be on her mind—
CHAPTERTEN
“Ido so hope that this time next year, I will be welcoming my first grandchild,” the Dowager said, and her words were met with robust head nods from the ladies at the table while the men slapped the table with their open palms in agreement. The Dowager wore a scarlet-colored gown this evening. It featured swaths of lace at the ends of the sleeves as well as around her neckline. Festively, her lady’s maid had even woven a bit of the lace through her hair, giving her a mysterious and alluring air. But there was nothing enigmatic about the Dowager’s behavior tonight. She had sipped just a bit too much of the wine at dinner, and with her tongue loosened, she was talking in a most spirited fashion about her hopes for the upcoming future.
Leticia glanced down at her hand, pinching two cards between her fingers, willing all her annoyance to seep out through the movement. “Next year?” she asked. “So soon?”
“I don’t see why not,” Uncle Sebastian replied. They were seated at a round table, the very best design for a larger group that is engaged in the activity of playing commerce. While the Dowager sat to Leticia’s left, her uncle sat to her right. He took a gulp from his wine goblet. “The Duke is a strapping young man, and his bride should—”
“Really, dear,” her aunt interrupted, tapping her gloved fingertips lightly on the table near his elbow. “I don’t think anyone here needs to hear the specifics of how the grandchild is likely to be made.”
Leticia flushed furiously. She was embarrassed about the topic of conversation but also mortified on Richard’s behalf. It seemed all the people at the table could talk about was how winsome a creature Miss Loery was, and how, when she and Richard were married, they were likely to produce the most cherubic child ever born.
Leticia recalled clearly how Miss Loery showed such disdain for having Richard’s child just the day before. She didn’t even acknowledge it as a possibility as she mentioned if she were to become with child, the father would most likely be her lover, Matthew.
