The Wagered Heart: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) by Rhonda Woodward Page A
Authors: Rhonda Woodward
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gracious! Why ruin a perfectly wonderful evening by mentioning that man? I am prodigiously pleased that I have not laid eyes upon him since tea here. I hope he has taken himself off to London—or anywhere else, for that matter.”
“It’s possible. But I know my mother-in-law invited the Kelbournes.”
“‘Tis almost midnight, so I believe we have been spared his detestable company,” Julia stated with satisfaction.
“I confess I found his grandmother quite daunting, but his sister was charming. The duke certainly seems to treat them with great solicitude.”
Julia gave a little shrug in response. Truth be told, as much as she loved her cousin, Julia was hurt by her couched defense of the duke. After all, Caro knew better than anyone what the duke’s so-called lark cost her. It was above annoying to see how she followed her husband and mother-in-law in gushing over the duke—albeit not as obviously.
“When I think of how he smirked at me during tea, I still seethe. He must have won a large wager to still gloat over that kiss—such arrogant condescension is not to be born.”
Tilting her head to the side, Caro hesitantly cleared her throat.
“You have enough reason to dislike the duke, Julia, but I did not think he smirked at you. I thought he was trying to give you a reassuring smile. As if to let you know that he would never bring up the circumstances of your first meeting.”
Julia gazed at her cousin in hurt surprise. “I own I am very sensitive regarding the duke. But have you forgotten what happened last year? To this day, people in my village think that I must have done something scandalous to be sent home from London. I never attended a ball, or the theater. You said yourself that I was the subject of gossip after I left. Good heavens, men made wagers about me!”
The expression on her cousin’s face changed completely as Caro reached over and gripped her arm. “Julia, I am horrible! I have forgotten how awful it must have been for you! Forgive me, I have beeninsensitive and churlish. It is just so easy to be lulled by his charm. Don’t you think he is terribly dashing?”
“Not in the least—but let us not waste one more moment discussing him. I shall hate him even more if he causes any awkwardness between us.”
“Oh, my dear, that can never happen.” Caro gave Julia’s arm an affectionate squeeze.
In companionable silence, they watched the other guests from the relative privacy behind the pedestal. Dismissing thoughts of the hated duke, Julia took a moment to ponder the letter she had received earlier that day from Mariah Thorncroft. The missive had stated that Mariah and her mother would be coming to Bath in the next day or two.
Before receiving this news, Julia had almost decided to return home, despite Caro’s protests, but now she knew she must stay for Mariah’s sake. Besides, she had not seen the duke for days. Hopefully, the rest of her stay in Bath would be peaceful.
Catching sight of Lord Farren looking around the room, Julia turned to Caro. “I believe your husband is seeking your company.”
Caro sniffed. “Ah, his mama must be quite diverted to let him get away.”
“Oh, Caro, I hate to see you so upset.”
“Not to worry, I am not as upset as I seem to be. I have come to realize that Clive will eventually have to choose his mother or me. It is that simple. I have ceased to harangue him or pout. When he runs off to her side, I endeavor to enjoy myself anyway.”
“I believe you are wise in this plan. His attention seems to be on you even when he is at his mama’s side,” Julia said, trying to be encouraging.
Caro’s face brightened. “Oh, do you think so?” she questioned, peeping around the fern.
As they stepped out from their hiding place, Julia put her arm through Caro’s and drew her back to the main part of the room.
When Lord Farren saw them, he smiled and hurried forward. “There you are, Caro. Julia, I know you will forgive me if I take your
“It’s possible. But I know my mother-in-law invited the Kelbournes.”
“‘Tis almost midnight, so I believe we have been spared his detestable company,” Julia stated with satisfaction.
“I confess I found his grandmother quite daunting, but his sister was charming. The duke certainly seems to treat them with great solicitude.”
Julia gave a little shrug in response. Truth be told, as much as she loved her cousin, Julia was hurt by her couched defense of the duke. After all, Caro knew better than anyone what the duke’s so-called lark cost her. It was above annoying to see how she followed her husband and mother-in-law in gushing over the duke—albeit not as obviously.
“When I think of how he smirked at me during tea, I still seethe. He must have won a large wager to still gloat over that kiss—such arrogant condescension is not to be born.”
Tilting her head to the side, Caro hesitantly cleared her throat.
“You have enough reason to dislike the duke, Julia, but I did not think he smirked at you. I thought he was trying to give you a reassuring smile. As if to let you know that he would never bring up the circumstances of your first meeting.”
Julia gazed at her cousin in hurt surprise. “I own I am very sensitive regarding the duke. But have you forgotten what happened last year? To this day, people in my village think that I must have done something scandalous to be sent home from London. I never attended a ball, or the theater. You said yourself that I was the subject of gossip after I left. Good heavens, men made wagers about me!”
The expression on her cousin’s face changed completely as Caro reached over and gripped her arm. “Julia, I am horrible! I have forgotten how awful it must have been for you! Forgive me, I have beeninsensitive and churlish. It is just so easy to be lulled by his charm. Don’t you think he is terribly dashing?”
“Not in the least—but let us not waste one more moment discussing him. I shall hate him even more if he causes any awkwardness between us.”
“Oh, my dear, that can never happen.” Caro gave Julia’s arm an affectionate squeeze.
In companionable silence, they watched the other guests from the relative privacy behind the pedestal. Dismissing thoughts of the hated duke, Julia took a moment to ponder the letter she had received earlier that day from Mariah Thorncroft. The missive had stated that Mariah and her mother would be coming to Bath in the next day or two.
Before receiving this news, Julia had almost decided to return home, despite Caro’s protests, but now she knew she must stay for Mariah’s sake. Besides, she had not seen the duke for days. Hopefully, the rest of her stay in Bath would be peaceful.
Catching sight of Lord Farren looking around the room, Julia turned to Caro. “I believe your husband is seeking your company.”
Caro sniffed. “Ah, his mama must be quite diverted to let him get away.”
“Oh, Caro, I hate to see you so upset.”
“Not to worry, I am not as upset as I seem to be. I have come to realize that Clive will eventually have to choose his mother or me. It is that simple. I have ceased to harangue him or pout. When he runs off to her side, I endeavor to enjoy myself anyway.”
“I believe you are wise in this plan. His attention seems to be on you even when he is at his mama’s side,” Julia said, trying to be encouraging.
Caro’s face brightened. “Oh, do you think so?” she questioned, peeping around the fern.
As they stepped out from their hiding place, Julia put her arm through Caro’s and drew her back to the main part of the room.
When Lord Farren saw them, he smiled and hurried forward. “There you are, Caro. Julia, I know you will forgive me if I take your
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