Read Online Sweet Bravado by Alicia Meadowes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alicia Meadowes
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Lady Eleanore’s relief turned into anger.
“A duel? Who told you anything about a duel?” His eyes narrowed and sought out Nicole.
“Never you mind. Just tell us what happened.”
He grinned once more. “Lord Crawley is at this moment nursing a wounded arm.”
“And you?”
“As you can see, I am all in one piece, and extremely pleased with the results of tonight’s work.” He crossed the room to
kiss his mother’s cheek.
Somewhat soothed, she said, “I never doubted your skill for a moment, my son.”
“My ability with the sword is seldom questioned, ma’am. I wish the same could be said of my authority.” Once again his eyes
swept Nicole.
He suspects me of informing on him, she thought incredulously. The fool! As if I would tell his mother even if I did know
what he was planning. She threw back her head defiantly and met the challenge in those piercing blue eyes. I should tell him
it was his mistress who flouted all convention by coming here.
Lady Eleanore, intercepting the clash of eyes, placed herself between them and announced, “This affair has upset us all and
kept us up unnecessarily late, so bid the ladies goodnight, Ardsmore, and be on your way.”
“Might I have a word alone with my fiancée?” he asked.
“No, no, the girl is exhausted. Besides, you are promised to us for the weekend. There will be plenty of time to chat then.
Come, I will see you to the door.”
“There is no need, ma’am.”
“There is every need,” she informed him emphatically.
Noting the determined tilt of her head, Valentin acquiesced, saying, “Well, ladies, it seems I am dismissed. Until tomorrow,
goodnight.” He saluted smartly and escorted his mother from the room.
It was sometime later before Lady Eleanore returned to usher them all to bed. As Madame Lafitte helped Nicoleprepare for bed, she listened to the girl’s vehement outburst against the morals of the Viscount. Sighing heavily, madame
cajoled persuasively,
“Ma chérie,
it would not be wise to reproach him for the
faux pas
committed by that… woman.” She waved aside Nicole’s protest and continued, “She has much gall, that one, but remember you
are not his wife yet. You would only anger his pride and jeopardize your chances for winning his heart.”
“But, Fifi, it was his mistress who dared come here, insulting all of us.”
“And do you think to gain his love by storming at him of insults? No,
chérie,
a jealous rage now would only force him to defend his position. And the wedding only a few days away. Wait. Bide your time.
Once you have his love you will not suffer the burden of such women. So promise me, little one, to say nothing of this Von
Hoffman woman.”
Nicole flounced upon the bed and pursed her lips. “Fifi, he thinks I informed on him. I saw the accusation in his eyes. How
can I just ignore it?”
“Be assured Lady Eleanore has already straightened him out on that matter. Why do you think she accompanied him to the door?
The Viscount does not lack for sense, I think. The Von Hoffman woman will not intrude here again. Unless I am sadly mistaken,
she will be so informed shortly.”
Madame Lafitte could not have been more correct, for at that very moment the Viscount was mounting the stairs two at a time
to Tessa Von Hoffman’s boudoir. Without knocking he flung open the door and strode into the room. A startled cry sprang from
the flimsily clad woman reclining on the settee. She rose to a sitting position, clutching the diaphanous garment about her.
“Valentin, thank God! I thought you might be dead.”
“Damn you, Tessa,” he lashed out at her and crossed the room.
“What?” Her head flew back to meet the angry blue eyes. “I am frantic with worry for you,
mein Herz,
and you come storming in here to‘damn’ me!”
“How dare you go to my mother?” he roared.
“How dare I?” She rose from the settee, allowing her dark tresses to fall over her silken shoulders.
“A duel? Who told you anything about a duel?” His eyes narrowed and sought out Nicole.
“Never you mind. Just tell us what happened.”
He grinned once more. “Lord Crawley is at this moment nursing a wounded arm.”
“And you?”
“As you can see, I am all in one piece, and extremely pleased with the results of tonight’s work.” He crossed the room to
kiss his mother’s cheek.
Somewhat soothed, she said, “I never doubted your skill for a moment, my son.”
“My ability with the sword is seldom questioned, ma’am. I wish the same could be said of my authority.” Once again his eyes
swept Nicole.
He suspects me of informing on him, she thought incredulously. The fool! As if I would tell his mother even if I did know
what he was planning. She threw back her head defiantly and met the challenge in those piercing blue eyes. I should tell him
it was his mistress who flouted all convention by coming here.
Lady Eleanore, intercepting the clash of eyes, placed herself between them and announced, “This affair has upset us all and
kept us up unnecessarily late, so bid the ladies goodnight, Ardsmore, and be on your way.”
“Might I have a word alone with my fiancée?” he asked.
“No, no, the girl is exhausted. Besides, you are promised to us for the weekend. There will be plenty of time to chat then.
Come, I will see you to the door.”
“There is no need, ma’am.”
“There is every need,” she informed him emphatically.
Noting the determined tilt of her head, Valentin acquiesced, saying, “Well, ladies, it seems I am dismissed. Until tomorrow,
goodnight.” He saluted smartly and escorted his mother from the room.
It was sometime later before Lady Eleanore returned to usher them all to bed. As Madame Lafitte helped Nicoleprepare for bed, she listened to the girl’s vehement outburst against the morals of the Viscount. Sighing heavily, madame
cajoled persuasively,
“Ma chérie,
it would not be wise to reproach him for the
faux pas
committed by that… woman.” She waved aside Nicole’s protest and continued, “She has much gall, that one, but remember you
are not his wife yet. You would only anger his pride and jeopardize your chances for winning his heart.”
“But, Fifi, it was his mistress who dared come here, insulting all of us.”
“And do you think to gain his love by storming at him of insults? No,
chérie,
a jealous rage now would only force him to defend his position. And the wedding only a few days away. Wait. Bide your time.
Once you have his love you will not suffer the burden of such women. So promise me, little one, to say nothing of this Von
Hoffman woman.”
Nicole flounced upon the bed and pursed her lips. “Fifi, he thinks I informed on him. I saw the accusation in his eyes. How
can I just ignore it?”
“Be assured Lady Eleanore has already straightened him out on that matter. Why do you think she accompanied him to the door?
The Viscount does not lack for sense, I think. The Von Hoffman woman will not intrude here again. Unless I am sadly mistaken,
she will be so informed shortly.”
Madame Lafitte could not have been more correct, for at that very moment the Viscount was mounting the stairs two at a time
to Tessa Von Hoffman’s boudoir. Without knocking he flung open the door and strode into the room. A startled cry sprang from
the flimsily clad woman reclining on the settee. She rose to a sitting position, clutching the diaphanous garment about her.
“Valentin, thank God! I thought you might be dead.”
“Damn you, Tessa,” he lashed out at her and crossed the room.
“What?” Her head flew back to meet the angry blue eyes. “I am frantic with worry for you,
mein Herz,
and you come storming in here to‘damn’ me!”
“How dare you go to my mother?” he roared.
“How dare I?” She rose from the settee, allowing her dark tresses to fall over her silken shoulders.
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