Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
No doubt my behavior will be the talk of the district.
* * *
He felt an empty sort of satisfaction at the thought. He could feel Janice’s tiny hand steadying him as they made their slow painful way to his manor – or possibly, the Marquis of Sarandon’s manor. He was quite sure he’d know soon enough.
* * *
He could feel her curiosity beating against him like a tiny bird but did his best to ignore it. He had no wish to regale her with his drunken shenanigans.
* * *
Perhaps I should not have overdone it.
* * *
He had been so eager to ensure that he’d be too drunk to win that he could not even remember playing. “Are you alright?” her voice was low and concerned.
* * *
He made an effort to smile. “Lady Janice, please don’t feel sorry for me. I am merely debauched and not hurt. I drank in a dissolute manner last night and now I am paying for it.”
* * *
“Oh…I see. How did you end up in the ditch?”
* * *
“I would also love to know.”
* * *
She stared at him keenly. “You do not know?”
* * *
He shook his head and then winced. She gave him a sympathetic glance and then her expression became bleak. “Is it…because of what we did yesterday?” her voice became small at the end of her sentence.
* * *
He stopped walking and turned to face her. “I do assure you, Lady Janice, that my behavior has nothing to do with our…encounter. I have nothing but…good thoughts about that incident.”
* * *
“Oh.” She blushed bright red, looking extremely becoming. If he weren’t feeling so sick, he might have been tempted to kiss her again. They resumed their walk.
* * *
“Was it to do with your father?” Janice asked after a while.
* * *
Arthur laughed, and then winced. “Yes, as a matter of fact, it was.”
* * *
She nodded. “I see.” She stared thoughtfully at the ground. “You don’t make a habit of spending the night in ditches, do you? You’ll catch your death.”
* * *
“I do not.” He squeezed her shoulder, “In fact, I am mortified that you found me this way. It is not how I would like to be represented to you.”
* * *
She laughed. “In a way, I’m glad. I feel that I have seen you stripped of your vanities and laid bare before me.”
* * *
He shivered. “Somehow that sounds a little debauched. I fear the ton would be scandalized.”
* * *
“Really? By my words or your actions?”
* * *
“Both, I suppose. The only difference is that I mean to cause a scandal.”
* * *
“Indeed, you do.” Janice smiled ruefully.
CHAPTER 10
Janice was bemused by this entire experience. Living the sheltered life she did, she had rarely even seen a man in his cups. It was an education. She helped him up the steps of Avebury Manor but before she could knock, the butler was opening the door and staring at them in quite a stupefied manner.
* * *
“Help me,” she called and he came to assist her in steering the duke into the house.
* * *
“He should get out of these wet clothes,” she declared, staring at the butler imperiously.
* * *
He nodded. “Yes, my lady.” And proceeded to propel Arthur up the stairs. They paused halfway up for Arthur to turn and look down at her.
* * *
“Wait for me,” he said.
* * *
She nodded. “I’ll be in the parlor.”
* * *
He grinned. “Have them bring you tea while you’re busy ordering my staff about.”
* * *
She smiled back. “I may just do that since I haven’t broken my fast yet.”
* * *
“Indeed. Make sure they feed you,” he said before allowing the butler to help him the rest of the way up the stairs. She watched him go with a smile before making her way down the empty hallway, peering curiously into rooms as she passed, her pup still on a leash, walking beside her and following her languidly from door to door.
* * *
The place seemed devoid of human life, cold and lifeless in a way that made her shiver as if a goose had walked over her grave. She pushed open a large wooden door and peered in to see a room decorated in blue. There was a comfortable divan and two sofas facing a small table, blue tapestries on the wall and the light from the window bathed the room in the cold morning light. Deducing that this was the parlor, she stepped in, picking up a small bell and ringing it tentatively before settling herself on the divan. Picking up the pup, she settled him in her lap.
* * *
Not even five minutes later, three maids came bursting in, laden with trays containing a kettle of tea, slices of bread with jam and butter, deviled eggs, kippers, and ham. She cocked an eyebrow, impressed at the speed with which they responded.