Read Online Fate Is A Stranger: Regency Romance by Gloria Gay - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gloria Gay
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Arabella. I make a habit not to, as you know. He'd probably have you followed and snoop into your affairs if he doesn't already. I don't believe Deckworth has gambled two pence in his life."
"No. He never gambles, not ever," said Lady Deckworth. "He wouldn't understand, Hawk. He believes I play cards only for small amounts. He would make my life a misery were he to find out. He would hold the moral high ground over me and be constantly snooping into my expenditures. Why, there is all manner of ways in which he would make my life extremely uncomfortable, Hawk. I must have your word you will not disclose this to him. Surely you would not—could not dream of telling him?"
"Well, what a surprise it would be for him," said the duke, hardly able to disguise his satisfaction as he toyed with his sister like a cat toying with a mouse. He did not like seeing his sister squirm right before him, for he was extremely fond of her but there were some things he needed from her.
Beneath that rigid demeanor and that outré way in which her hair was invariably dressed was a nice and honest woman. He was aware too of how much Arabella had loved him, since childhood, as she was older by three years and had mothered him since he was born. He loved her just as much.
But Arabella must agree to host his house party. It would be a Cyprian party if she did not lend it legitimacy. So he was going to use all manner of tricks to make her agree to it.
"Well, Arabella, what do you say? Hostess my house party at Cynweir Castle and your problem disappears—poof!"
"Yes, but another problem appears," said the marchioness. "How can you think I would be allowed by Deckworth to hostess such a party even should I agree to such a preposterous idea?" she asked.
"Perhaps because it would be very necessary that not only do you agree to it but you convince Deckworth of it," said Hawk. "That is, unless you want certain behavioral problems to be revealed to Deckworth. Your dilemma may be in your deciding which of the two evils is the lesser. Choices such as the one you are now confronted with come up constantly in life to most people, my dear, just not too often to such a privileged one as you."
"You have this idea I sit at a blossom-studded throne to which I walk over rose petals each day, Hawk."
"Don't you?"
"Certainly not. I have two great estates to oversee, in case you haven't noticed. I am up from dawn 'till dusk."
"Of course," said the duke smiling.
Arabella pressed her index fingers to her temples and sighed. "Let me think about it, Hawk. I never make any decisions at breakfast. This request of yours is upsetting to say the least. The exchange is uneven, I believe. I would never live down such a party. Do consider how my wide acquaintance would believe I have taken leave of my senses."
" Peccatum minutus ," said Hawk smiling, "it has happened often before.”
"Do talk in the language we both know," said his sister, annoyed. "My friends have heard me often enough say that Lord Kelly is a fool and that his Cyprian wife will never be allowed beyond the fringes of society. You now ask me to be hostess of that woman's daughter’s 'coming out', so to speak. The girl may be a beauty but her prospects do not go beyond being the mistress of some young blood."
"I do ask you that. I believe I have the right to ask you for a favor at least once in my lifetime."
"I have done many a favor for you in my life, Hawk."
"Name one."
"Really, Hawk, what is it with this family that has you so changed in character?"
"You have until eight o' clock tonight, my dear," said Hawk without responding to her question. "I shall call on you then, agreed?"
"Yes, do," said his sister, sighing with resignation, her brow now deeply furrowed with worry over her gambling problems. "I shall wait on you for dinner, then."
The cat was in the bag, thought Hawk with extreme satisfaction; Arabella was only delaying the inevitable. She had no way out but must save face by postponing
"No. He never gambles, not ever," said Lady Deckworth. "He wouldn't understand, Hawk. He believes I play cards only for small amounts. He would make my life a misery were he to find out. He would hold the moral high ground over me and be constantly snooping into my expenditures. Why, there is all manner of ways in which he would make my life extremely uncomfortable, Hawk. I must have your word you will not disclose this to him. Surely you would not—could not dream of telling him?"
"Well, what a surprise it would be for him," said the duke, hardly able to disguise his satisfaction as he toyed with his sister like a cat toying with a mouse. He did not like seeing his sister squirm right before him, for he was extremely fond of her but there were some things he needed from her.
Beneath that rigid demeanor and that outré way in which her hair was invariably dressed was a nice and honest woman. He was aware too of how much Arabella had loved him, since childhood, as she was older by three years and had mothered him since he was born. He loved her just as much.
But Arabella must agree to host his house party. It would be a Cyprian party if she did not lend it legitimacy. So he was going to use all manner of tricks to make her agree to it.
"Well, Arabella, what do you say? Hostess my house party at Cynweir Castle and your problem disappears—poof!"
"Yes, but another problem appears," said the marchioness. "How can you think I would be allowed by Deckworth to hostess such a party even should I agree to such a preposterous idea?" she asked.
"Perhaps because it would be very necessary that not only do you agree to it but you convince Deckworth of it," said Hawk. "That is, unless you want certain behavioral problems to be revealed to Deckworth. Your dilemma may be in your deciding which of the two evils is the lesser. Choices such as the one you are now confronted with come up constantly in life to most people, my dear, just not too often to such a privileged one as you."
"You have this idea I sit at a blossom-studded throne to which I walk over rose petals each day, Hawk."
"Don't you?"
"Certainly not. I have two great estates to oversee, in case you haven't noticed. I am up from dawn 'till dusk."
"Of course," said the duke smiling.
Arabella pressed her index fingers to her temples and sighed. "Let me think about it, Hawk. I never make any decisions at breakfast. This request of yours is upsetting to say the least. The exchange is uneven, I believe. I would never live down such a party. Do consider how my wide acquaintance would believe I have taken leave of my senses."
" Peccatum minutus ," said Hawk smiling, "it has happened often before.”
"Do talk in the language we both know," said his sister, annoyed. "My friends have heard me often enough say that Lord Kelly is a fool and that his Cyprian wife will never be allowed beyond the fringes of society. You now ask me to be hostess of that woman's daughter’s 'coming out', so to speak. The girl may be a beauty but her prospects do not go beyond being the mistress of some young blood."
"I do ask you that. I believe I have the right to ask you for a favor at least once in my lifetime."
"I have done many a favor for you in my life, Hawk."
"Name one."
"Really, Hawk, what is it with this family that has you so changed in character?"
"You have until eight o' clock tonight, my dear," said Hawk without responding to her question. "I shall call on you then, agreed?"
"Yes, do," said his sister, sighing with resignation, her brow now deeply furrowed with worry over her gambling problems. "I shall wait on you for dinner, then."
The cat was in the bag, thought Hawk with extreme satisfaction; Arabella was only delaying the inevitable. She had no way out but must save face by postponing
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