Read Online Romance: Regency Romance: In Bed With The Duke (A Regency Romance) by Emily Teska, Historical Deluxe - Free Book Online
Authors: Emily Teska, Historical Deluxe
Ads: Link
become of us if we had left.
As if on cue, the sounds of strange instruments began to waft through the garden and into my open window. Sophie clapped her hands and raced for the door. I followed her, shaking my head with mirth. The noise from the garden beckoned us closer, and I found myself eagerly looking forward to the events of the day. The croquet tournament unfolded with more organization that I expected, which was entirely credit to Mrs. Campbell and her iron fist of instruction. The Duke was of course the winner, but he shared his prize graciously with the ladies who had played against him. I clapped and laughed along with the crowd, but found my eyed locked with His Grace’s as Mrs. Campbell pinned the winner’s medal upon his broad chest. I looked down quickly, but not before he had given me one of the warmest smiles I had ever received.
The musicians played on and on without a break until Mrs. Campbell clapped for them to cease. The Duke had settled himself on the closest thing to a throne he would ever sit upon, and it was time for the ladies to present the dance they had prepared. Three of the ladies brought out small instruments and settled themselves on low stools set in the grass. To the accompaniment of a flute, a small drum and a fiddle, the ladies proceeded to go through the steps of several complex country dances and reels, much to the delight of His Grace who clapped along to the tune. Emboldened by his appreciation, two of the ladies pulled the laughing Duke from his chair and brought him into the center of their number and included him in the dance. The audience clapped along with the time of the dancing, and the tempo of the music began to pick up speed. Before long the dancers were screeching with laughter and the entire company had collapsed in a heap, His Grace included. The valets and footmen rushed over to extricate the Duke, and he emerged wiping his streaming eyes while his deep laughter echoed through the garden.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. The Indian musicians struck up their strange music once more, and the wine began to flow while the women picked at cheese plates and small sandwiches were served. The Duke lounged in his great chair as the guests flowed around him, pressing small handmade gifts upon him and plying him with wine and sweets. But the whole time, I could feel his eyes upon me. Even Sophie had noticed.
“You’d better watch yourself, Charlotte, someone’s watching you.”
I dipped my head and whispered back, “I’m trying not to look at him. I haven’t done anything to encourage his attentions.” Sophie scoffed and bit into an apricot, talking with her mouth full.
“I don’t think it would matter to His Grace. He seems to like it better when he’s the one doing the pursuing.” She popped the rest of the apricot in her mouth and wiped her lips on the sleeve of her jacket. I giggled at her improper behavior. It was a good thing Sophie was already married and her husband wasn’t here to see her behaving in such a way. Sophie pulled me up from the blanket. “Come on, it’s almost sundown, we should go and change for dinner. We have a long night ahead of us.”
I looked over to the Duke’s chair, but he had already left the party. Mrs. Campbell was walking swiftly amongst the guests clapping her hands and breaking up groups while directing servants to begin breaking down the outdoor furnishings. The Indian musicians were all but refusing to leave, but Mrs. Campbell’s shrill voice carried above their instruments and they eventually had to stop playing and obey her commands. I followed Sophie back to the house and she promised me that she would see me shortly to help with my hair. I rang the bell in my room and before I could pull my bonnet from my hair, the knock of a ladies’ maid came at my door.
I opened the door to a girl I didn’t recognize, and without a word she swiftly helped me out of my dress and into
As if on cue, the sounds of strange instruments began to waft through the garden and into my open window. Sophie clapped her hands and raced for the door. I followed her, shaking my head with mirth. The noise from the garden beckoned us closer, and I found myself eagerly looking forward to the events of the day. The croquet tournament unfolded with more organization that I expected, which was entirely credit to Mrs. Campbell and her iron fist of instruction. The Duke was of course the winner, but he shared his prize graciously with the ladies who had played against him. I clapped and laughed along with the crowd, but found my eyed locked with His Grace’s as Mrs. Campbell pinned the winner’s medal upon his broad chest. I looked down quickly, but not before he had given me one of the warmest smiles I had ever received.
The musicians played on and on without a break until Mrs. Campbell clapped for them to cease. The Duke had settled himself on the closest thing to a throne he would ever sit upon, and it was time for the ladies to present the dance they had prepared. Three of the ladies brought out small instruments and settled themselves on low stools set in the grass. To the accompaniment of a flute, a small drum and a fiddle, the ladies proceeded to go through the steps of several complex country dances and reels, much to the delight of His Grace who clapped along to the tune. Emboldened by his appreciation, two of the ladies pulled the laughing Duke from his chair and brought him into the center of their number and included him in the dance. The audience clapped along with the time of the dancing, and the tempo of the music began to pick up speed. Before long the dancers were screeching with laughter and the entire company had collapsed in a heap, His Grace included. The valets and footmen rushed over to extricate the Duke, and he emerged wiping his streaming eyes while his deep laughter echoed through the garden.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. The Indian musicians struck up their strange music once more, and the wine began to flow while the women picked at cheese plates and small sandwiches were served. The Duke lounged in his great chair as the guests flowed around him, pressing small handmade gifts upon him and plying him with wine and sweets. But the whole time, I could feel his eyes upon me. Even Sophie had noticed.
“You’d better watch yourself, Charlotte, someone’s watching you.”
I dipped my head and whispered back, “I’m trying not to look at him. I haven’t done anything to encourage his attentions.” Sophie scoffed and bit into an apricot, talking with her mouth full.
“I don’t think it would matter to His Grace. He seems to like it better when he’s the one doing the pursuing.” She popped the rest of the apricot in her mouth and wiped her lips on the sleeve of her jacket. I giggled at her improper behavior. It was a good thing Sophie was already married and her husband wasn’t here to see her behaving in such a way. Sophie pulled me up from the blanket. “Come on, it’s almost sundown, we should go and change for dinner. We have a long night ahead of us.”
I looked over to the Duke’s chair, but he had already left the party. Mrs. Campbell was walking swiftly amongst the guests clapping her hands and breaking up groups while directing servants to begin breaking down the outdoor furnishings. The Indian musicians were all but refusing to leave, but Mrs. Campbell’s shrill voice carried above their instruments and they eventually had to stop playing and obey her commands. I followed Sophie back to the house and she promised me that she would see me shortly to help with my hair. I rang the bell in my room and before I could pull my bonnet from my hair, the knock of a ladies’ maid came at my door.
I opened the door to a girl I didn’t recognize, and without a word she swiftly helped me out of my dress and into
Similar Books
