Read Online After The Storm by Kimberly Nee - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly Nee
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already shimmering beneath conjured tears. Stifling an irritated sigh, he managed to reply, “Why does it concern you so, what I think?”
“I saw how she practically drooled into her plate each time her eyes fell upon you. And do not tell me otherwise, for I know what I saw!”
He was in no mood for her tirade. It was late, and all he wished was to retire to his chambers without too much of a scene. With any luck, he’d be able to calm her before she worked herself into a genuine fury. “You saw nothing of the sort, my lady. Now, I have no wish to argue because of your baseless jealousy, so let’s speak of it no more, shall we? Surely there must be something else you’d rather discuss.”
She refused to change the subject. Instead, her lower lip quivered. “Do you think she is pretty?”
Tears weren’t far off, and they were to be avoided at all costs, for they meant hours of cajoling and placating, and all other nonsense he hated. “Sally.”
“Do you?”
He tapped his cane against the marble floor. Lying didn’t sit well with him, but perhaps she’d be mollified enough to forget her pout. Or so he hoped. “Fear not, my lady. Though some may find her attractive, she does not hold a candle to you.”
Sally sniffed. “Do you mean that, Duke? Truly?”
“Absolutely.” He cupped his hand against her soft, pink cheek. “Now, might we let the matter drop?”
“I know it is so silly, to be so concerned…but I hadn’t expected her to be so lovely.”
Disaster averted, he urged her on down the hallway, patting her hand as it rested in the crook of his elbow. Miranda MacDonough wasn’t what he’d expected, either. Not by half. He originally agreed to assist Elyse simply to keep her from hounding him into madness. Now, well…now, he was quite glad he gave in. He couldn’t recall the last time the very sight of a woman made it difficult for him to catch his breath the way Miranda did. And what was more, she even managed to make him forget the constant pains that drove up into his hip. For a little while, anyhow.
However, he kept those thoughts to himself. They’d surely send Sally into apoplexy.
“So, then, has your mother sent the invitations?” Sally was saying as they neared the music room.
“I beg your pardon?”
“For the house party. Youhaven’t forgotten , have you? Why, I’ve already started putting my wardrobe together in anticipation.”
He stifled a rising groan, having forgotten all about the house party Elyse planned. It was tradition in the Montgomery family, but he’d rather hoped they’d skip it this year, what with his father’s passing and all. He’d hoped his mother wouldn’t have the heart to host it, but apparently she did.
“I’d have to ask her.”
“Ask her?”
“I am certain you’ve nothing to worry about.” He lifted her hand to his lips to brush it with a kiss. “I cannot recall a December when Thorpeton Hall wasn’t overrun with people and I daresay this won’t be the first. Now, I bid you good eve, my lady.”
“Yes…good evening, then.” Sally didn’t look at all happy as he stepped back, but he vowed not to dwell upon it as he set off toward the stairs and his chambers on the next floor up.
He welcomed the silence after the noise and chatter of a dinner party, sighing with relief as he sank down on the edge of his bed and unwound his cravat. It landed in a heap in the wicker basket beside his washstand, his fine white lawn shirt fluttered down to hide it, and he fell back into the soft tick. The quilts were warm and soft against his bared back, and the rug muffled the cane’s dull thud when it slid to the floor.
His yawn melted into a heavy sigh. “It shouldn’t surprise me, I’ve met this stunning creature when everyone thinks it safe to assume I will ask Sally for her hand,” he muttered at the canopy. “In fact, it doesn’t surprise me at all. It does seem to be the way my fortunes have been going as of late.”
The sixth Duke
“I saw how she practically drooled into her plate each time her eyes fell upon you. And do not tell me otherwise, for I know what I saw!”
He was in no mood for her tirade. It was late, and all he wished was to retire to his chambers without too much of a scene. With any luck, he’d be able to calm her before she worked herself into a genuine fury. “You saw nothing of the sort, my lady. Now, I have no wish to argue because of your baseless jealousy, so let’s speak of it no more, shall we? Surely there must be something else you’d rather discuss.”
She refused to change the subject. Instead, her lower lip quivered. “Do you think she is pretty?”
Tears weren’t far off, and they were to be avoided at all costs, for they meant hours of cajoling and placating, and all other nonsense he hated. “Sally.”
“Do you?”
He tapped his cane against the marble floor. Lying didn’t sit well with him, but perhaps she’d be mollified enough to forget her pout. Or so he hoped. “Fear not, my lady. Though some may find her attractive, she does not hold a candle to you.”
Sally sniffed. “Do you mean that, Duke? Truly?”
“Absolutely.” He cupped his hand against her soft, pink cheek. “Now, might we let the matter drop?”
“I know it is so silly, to be so concerned…but I hadn’t expected her to be so lovely.”
Disaster averted, he urged her on down the hallway, patting her hand as it rested in the crook of his elbow. Miranda MacDonough wasn’t what he’d expected, either. Not by half. He originally agreed to assist Elyse simply to keep her from hounding him into madness. Now, well…now, he was quite glad he gave in. He couldn’t recall the last time the very sight of a woman made it difficult for him to catch his breath the way Miranda did. And what was more, she even managed to make him forget the constant pains that drove up into his hip. For a little while, anyhow.
However, he kept those thoughts to himself. They’d surely send Sally into apoplexy.
“So, then, has your mother sent the invitations?” Sally was saying as they neared the music room.
“I beg your pardon?”
“For the house party. Youhaven’t forgotten , have you? Why, I’ve already started putting my wardrobe together in anticipation.”
He stifled a rising groan, having forgotten all about the house party Elyse planned. It was tradition in the Montgomery family, but he’d rather hoped they’d skip it this year, what with his father’s passing and all. He’d hoped his mother wouldn’t have the heart to host it, but apparently she did.
“I’d have to ask her.”
“Ask her?”
“I am certain you’ve nothing to worry about.” He lifted her hand to his lips to brush it with a kiss. “I cannot recall a December when Thorpeton Hall wasn’t overrun with people and I daresay this won’t be the first. Now, I bid you good eve, my lady.”
“Yes…good evening, then.” Sally didn’t look at all happy as he stepped back, but he vowed not to dwell upon it as he set off toward the stairs and his chambers on the next floor up.
He welcomed the silence after the noise and chatter of a dinner party, sighing with relief as he sank down on the edge of his bed and unwound his cravat. It landed in a heap in the wicker basket beside his washstand, his fine white lawn shirt fluttered down to hide it, and he fell back into the soft tick. The quilts were warm and soft against his bared back, and the rug muffled the cane’s dull thud when it slid to the floor.
His yawn melted into a heavy sigh. “It shouldn’t surprise me, I’ve met this stunning creature when everyone thinks it safe to assume I will ask Sally for her hand,” he muttered at the canopy. “In fact, it doesn’t surprise me at all. It does seem to be the way my fortunes have been going as of late.”
The sixth Duke
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