Read Online Duke of Scandal (Moonlight Square, Book 1) by Gaelen Foley - Free Book Online
Authors: Gaelen Foley
Tags: Regency Romance
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her ear and did her best to seem nonchalant. “Well, if Mrs. Brown does not object, and if you really think you can get me an invitation at this late date…”
“Child’s play,” he declared. “Until tomorrow night, Miss Carvel.” Then he bowed to her once more and took his leave.
“Your Grace.” The farewell left her lips on a whisper, as he’d left her breathless yet again.
But after he had gone, Felicity sat trembling for a moment and stared unseeingly at the garden, contemplating where his sudden attention might lead. Hadn’t she hurt herself badly enough before, chasing after him? Suddenly, London seemed more dangerous than the jungles that her brother had just traversed, while Jason’s words echoed in her ears: Sounds as though Pete’s not the only adventurer in the family…
But she wasn’t thinking of Aunt Kirby this time. No, to Felicity’s dismay, it appeared that her brother’s best friend was still the only adventure she craved.
She closed her eyes and shivered with a sense of impending doom, for she wanted him even now.
I am such a fool.
CHAPTER 4
Nocturne
L ord and Lady Pelletier’s intimate musical evenings were always very well attended. About a hundred guests had crowded into the earl’s impeccable home in Moonlight Square, but so far, none of them was Felicity.
Jason wandered restlessly among the crowd, starting to get a bit nervous over whether she was actually going to come. He nursed a single malt Scotch and watched the top of the staircase for her arrival. On the main floor of the house, the pocket doors had been rolled back, joining the drawing and music rooms for the occasion, so he had a clear view from the post he now took up on the far end of the space, near the ensemble.
A gleaming pianoforte had been rolled into place in front of a small chamber orchestra of about twenty musicians. The players were tuning up, chatting, checking their sheet music, and receiving a final bit of pestering from Herr Schroeder, the Pelletiers’ very capable German composer, who would be debuting a new piece for the Season on this very night.
The recital would soon begin. For now, liveried footman scurried among the guests offering beverages. All around him, the elegant house was full of the sounds of people talking and laughing, glasses clinking, and friends meeting up, and he was feeling, as usual, slightly out of place.
This was caused, in part, by the several ladies sending him scowls and icy stares from around the room. Marriage-minded mamas dealt him expert snubs, but it was the trio of debutantes giggling at him from behind their fans that was making him feel the most self-conscious. What the hell was so funny?
He did his best to ignore them, turning his attention to his male acquaintances. Chaps he had last seen sprawled around the Satin Slipper had recovered and were out again tonight. The dandies were arguing over brands of pomade. The rakes were talking about who had lost the most at faro last night. The older gents were talking politics, which made Jason want to bang his head against the nearest column.
Sometimes it shocked him how much he did not fit in anywhere, really. Perhaps Felicity had been right. Perhaps he should have gone east on the grand trek with Pete.
But no. Even he possessed enough of a sense of family duty to realize that a duke could not go traipsing off into the jungles and risking his life until he had first sired an heir.
A legitimate one.
For, in truth, his title aside, there were two small but very important reasons he could not just go off risking his neck as his mate had, no matter how much he might like to do it.
Bored, he drifted over to talk to the musicians while he waited for Felicity. He had a genuine admiration for artists of all kinds. The musicians greeted him warmly, knowing who he was because of his patronage of that blasted good-for-nothing Italian, Leandro Giovanelli. But even as he chatted with them and learned that
“Child’s play,” he declared. “Until tomorrow night, Miss Carvel.” Then he bowed to her once more and took his leave.
“Your Grace.” The farewell left her lips on a whisper, as he’d left her breathless yet again.
But after he had gone, Felicity sat trembling for a moment and stared unseeingly at the garden, contemplating where his sudden attention might lead. Hadn’t she hurt herself badly enough before, chasing after him? Suddenly, London seemed more dangerous than the jungles that her brother had just traversed, while Jason’s words echoed in her ears: Sounds as though Pete’s not the only adventurer in the family…
But she wasn’t thinking of Aunt Kirby this time. No, to Felicity’s dismay, it appeared that her brother’s best friend was still the only adventure she craved.
She closed her eyes and shivered with a sense of impending doom, for she wanted him even now.
I am such a fool.
CHAPTER 4
Nocturne
L ord and Lady Pelletier’s intimate musical evenings were always very well attended. About a hundred guests had crowded into the earl’s impeccable home in Moonlight Square, but so far, none of them was Felicity.
Jason wandered restlessly among the crowd, starting to get a bit nervous over whether she was actually going to come. He nursed a single malt Scotch and watched the top of the staircase for her arrival. On the main floor of the house, the pocket doors had been rolled back, joining the drawing and music rooms for the occasion, so he had a clear view from the post he now took up on the far end of the space, near the ensemble.
A gleaming pianoforte had been rolled into place in front of a small chamber orchestra of about twenty musicians. The players were tuning up, chatting, checking their sheet music, and receiving a final bit of pestering from Herr Schroeder, the Pelletiers’ very capable German composer, who would be debuting a new piece for the Season on this very night.
The recital would soon begin. For now, liveried footman scurried among the guests offering beverages. All around him, the elegant house was full of the sounds of people talking and laughing, glasses clinking, and friends meeting up, and he was feeling, as usual, slightly out of place.
This was caused, in part, by the several ladies sending him scowls and icy stares from around the room. Marriage-minded mamas dealt him expert snubs, but it was the trio of debutantes giggling at him from behind their fans that was making him feel the most self-conscious. What the hell was so funny?
He did his best to ignore them, turning his attention to his male acquaintances. Chaps he had last seen sprawled around the Satin Slipper had recovered and were out again tonight. The dandies were arguing over brands of pomade. The rakes were talking about who had lost the most at faro last night. The older gents were talking politics, which made Jason want to bang his head against the nearest column.
Sometimes it shocked him how much he did not fit in anywhere, really. Perhaps Felicity had been right. Perhaps he should have gone east on the grand trek with Pete.
But no. Even he possessed enough of a sense of family duty to realize that a duke could not go traipsing off into the jungles and risking his life until he had first sired an heir.
A legitimate one.
For, in truth, his title aside, there were two small but very important reasons he could not just go off risking his neck as his mate had, no matter how much he might like to do it.
Bored, he drifted over to talk to the musicians while he waited for Felicity. He had a genuine admiration for artists of all kinds. The musicians greeted him warmly, knowing who he was because of his patronage of that blasted good-for-nothing Italian, Leandro Giovanelli. But even as he chatted with them and learned that
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