Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
She looked over the ladies one by one, with a cheerful amber eye, and said not another word before taking her friend and walking off toward the lake. I watched her go, somewhat…disappointed? Confused? I was not sure, exactly. She laughed and walked on disinterestedly, never turning back.
Not even a single word of thanks for all my efforts? No acknowledgment, not even abhorrence? Just nothing?
What on earth was wrong with this woman?
“By heavens, what did she say?”
I glanced over to Lukas, who had magically appeared at my side, as the position was only now open. All the other young ladies had vanished, his sister included.
“One moment I was worried I’d have to save you from an ambush of noble ladies, the next they were all fleeing as if under fire.” He chuckled, his gaze on Hathor’s distant figure.
“Was it not you who told me she was a title hunter, Lukas?” I said, forcing him to look at me. “That she cared for nothing else, and only desired to be a lady of great standing and influence? Why does that now not seem to be an accurate picture of her character?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “My dear friend, have you forgotten all you know of women? If anyone should understand the games they play, it should be you, shouldn’t it?” he said, hinting once more at my sordid past.
He was not wrong. I’d spent a great deal of my time seeking to seduce lonely noble widows…when I was not lost in a brothel. I wondered what Hathor would say of my background. Actually, I did not need to ponder that, she’d made her feelings well known to me. If she knew the depths of it, she very well may have convulsed in disgust at the sight of me. That thought…brought me displeasure. I did not wish for her to know. I did not wish for her to hate me.
“August?” Lukas called out to me.
“Games?” I said, as if I had not been lost in my thoughts. “You believe her to be playing games?”
“Yes, of course. Is she not playing hard to get? Clearly, she is plotting something. If not, why did she force all the other girls from your side?” he questioned.
Was that it? Was she only pretending to keep her distance? Pretending not to be interested in me? I frowned. That did not feel like the case, but then again, women did have a tendency to plot.
“Do not think too hard on it. Come, let’s find the rest of the gentlemen and see if they have any word on the war.”
I followed, and found myself once more surrounded, this time by men. To be honest, their company was not that much better than the ladies’. Though I did not have to fend against advances, I found myself observing as they all sought to prove their knowledge and expertise in battle strategy and maneuvering.
“My second cousin, poor fellow is fighting in Lisbon, I believe…he writes of the horrid conditions and nonstop cannon fire,” the man to my left added to his story of his heroic family, which was odd; there had not been any battles in Lisbon for some time now.
“Your Highness, I heard your elder brother is leading a campaign against the French in the east. Is that so? What says he of how we are faring thus far? I heard there were a few disgruntled soldiers who were abandoning posts?”
They all turned to me. Instantly, I preferred the ladies’ company. This day was already tiresome.
“I fear the greatest issue in war is information. By the time a letter is sent and returned, the conditions may have altogether changed, gentlemen. However, I trust that any news of discontented soldiers may be lies disseminated by Napoleon to harm the morale of our army. Other than that, I know no more of the state of things than any of you; nor did I come to Belclere to dwell on it. I am sure the ladies do not appreciate us neglecting them over it, either.” I nodded to the group of young ladies waiting not so far off, their attention upon us. The men all stood up a bit straighter. “Men at war should be at war. Men at home…should be among ladies.”
“I do believe I am meant to go for a walk with Lady Elizabeth,” Lord Chiswick said, causing me to nod proudly at him and the rest of them to snicker. I took my chance to leave their company.
My only goal was to seek refuge somewhere, to sit and rest. I swear it. Yet, somehow, my feet led me far from everyone else, and directly to her. She sat upon a blanket, her back against a large tree, an open book in one hand and a pencil in another…sleeping! Her head back and her mouth open, snoring just as loudly as her younger sister had attested. Never had I seen such a thing. A lady, so finely dressed and put together, passed out as though she were drunk!