The Wagered Heart: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Rhonda Woodward
off from us, there was a spot of trouble.”
Aunt Beryl snorted at this remark and laid the letter aside. “As if it was anyone’s fault that cad accosted Julia. Really, John! It might do Julia a bit of good to be away from Chippenham for a while. It has been much too dull here. This last year, she has done nothing but help me in the garden or tutor some of the village children. Besides, Bath is not far—we could easily visit Julia and Caroline this summer. I certainly would not mind taking the waters.”
A frown still creased her uncle’s forehead, but he did not argue further with his wife or niece.
Sitting back in her chair with her steaming cup of tea, Julia’s smile grew. Bath did indeed seem to be the perfect escape from unwanted suitors and nosy tabbies. She could not wait to send a note to Mariah Thorncroft with the news.
Chapter Two
T he Duke of Kelbourne flicked aside another invitation, eyeing with distaste the growing pile on his desk. His secretary would be kept busy writing regrets, he mused. Leaning back in his leather chair, he gazed up at the hunting scene painted on the ceiling of his library for a moment before closing his eyes.
He found it curious, in a detached way, that though spring had arrived, he had not the least desire to go to his London townhouse and partake of the usual round of revelry with the other sprigs of the
ton.
He let this thought settle, lifted his legs, and placed his booted feet on his large desk, crossing his ankles.
For the last few weeks, he had been steadfast in his refusal to examine his reasons for not making any plans for the Season. Claiming that he had too many pressing issues to attend to at his country seat had sufficed for a while. But now his friends were beginning to badger him about going to London. After all, Mattonly had stressed in his most recent missive, the huge estate was constantly going through some sort of change or renovation and probably always would.
Some of his other friends had written to say thatthe air in London was already crackling with the excitement of Princess Charlotte’s impending wedding to Prince Leopold. Many amusements were set to honor the heir to the throne’s nuptials, and Kel had invitations to every sort of soiree, levee, breakfast, and ball. He declined them all without a second glance.
However, Kel did find this avoidance of Town a shade out of his character. Since reaching his majority, the delights of the Season had always caused his pulse to quicken. Though he loved Kelbourne Keep, after a long winter he was usually so restless he could not wait to go to Town and kick up his heels. Even during the war, there had been enough excitement in Town to keep him there for the whole Season.
But not this year. Even his duties at Parliament could not compel him to leave his home. Shifting in his chair to a more comfortable slouch, he tried to bestir himself into some sort of interest for the allures of Town. All his friends were there. Racing, boxing, and fencing kept him busy. He waited for a reaction. Nothing. Not even the slightest lifting of this dashed ennui.
Puckering his brows, he tried again. He enjoyed the opera and the theater, and every Season there was at least one amusing bit of muslin that held his attention for a while. Again, nothing.
How about gambling? High stakes were sure to liven up an evening. Ah, finally, his pulse stirred at the thought of gambling. A good wager never failed to get his blood up. He had not had a good gamble since the beginning of last Season.
Last Season. It was not the thought of gambling that caused his pulse to stir; it was the thought of that last wager in particular.
With a quick movement, he lowered his legs,pushed himself up from his desk, grabbed his walking stick, and headed for the French doors in the main salon. He strode out onto the terraced balcony that led to the garden and parkland beyond.
With long strides, he ambled over his land, eating up yards without any real
Aunt Beryl snorted at this remark and laid the letter aside. “As if it was anyone’s fault that cad accosted Julia. Really, John! It might do Julia a bit of good to be away from Chippenham for a while. It has been much too dull here. This last year, she has done nothing but help me in the garden or tutor some of the village children. Besides, Bath is not far—we could easily visit Julia and Caroline this summer. I certainly would not mind taking the waters.”
A frown still creased her uncle’s forehead, but he did not argue further with his wife or niece.
Sitting back in her chair with her steaming cup of tea, Julia’s smile grew. Bath did indeed seem to be the perfect escape from unwanted suitors and nosy tabbies. She could not wait to send a note to Mariah Thorncroft with the news.
Chapter Two
T he Duke of Kelbourne flicked aside another invitation, eyeing with distaste the growing pile on his desk. His secretary would be kept busy writing regrets, he mused. Leaning back in his leather chair, he gazed up at the hunting scene painted on the ceiling of his library for a moment before closing his eyes.
He found it curious, in a detached way, that though spring had arrived, he had not the least desire to go to his London townhouse and partake of the usual round of revelry with the other sprigs of the
ton.
He let this thought settle, lifted his legs, and placed his booted feet on his large desk, crossing his ankles.
For the last few weeks, he had been steadfast in his refusal to examine his reasons for not making any plans for the Season. Claiming that he had too many pressing issues to attend to at his country seat had sufficed for a while. But now his friends were beginning to badger him about going to London. After all, Mattonly had stressed in his most recent missive, the huge estate was constantly going through some sort of change or renovation and probably always would.
Some of his other friends had written to say thatthe air in London was already crackling with the excitement of Princess Charlotte’s impending wedding to Prince Leopold. Many amusements were set to honor the heir to the throne’s nuptials, and Kel had invitations to every sort of soiree, levee, breakfast, and ball. He declined them all without a second glance.
However, Kel did find this avoidance of Town a shade out of his character. Since reaching his majority, the delights of the Season had always caused his pulse to quicken. Though he loved Kelbourne Keep, after a long winter he was usually so restless he could not wait to go to Town and kick up his heels. Even during the war, there had been enough excitement in Town to keep him there for the whole Season.
But not this year. Even his duties at Parliament could not compel him to leave his home. Shifting in his chair to a more comfortable slouch, he tried to bestir himself into some sort of interest for the allures of Town. All his friends were there. Racing, boxing, and fencing kept him busy. He waited for a reaction. Nothing. Not even the slightest lifting of this dashed ennui.
Puckering his brows, he tried again. He enjoyed the opera and the theater, and every Season there was at least one amusing bit of muslin that held his attention for a while. Again, nothing.
How about gambling? High stakes were sure to liven up an evening. Ah, finally, his pulse stirred at the thought of gambling. A good wager never failed to get his blood up. He had not had a good gamble since the beginning of last Season.
Last Season. It was not the thought of gambling that caused his pulse to stir; it was the thought of that last wager in particular.
With a quick movement, he lowered his legs,pushed himself up from his desk, grabbed his walking stick, and headed for the French doors in the main salon. He strode out onto the terraced balcony that led to the garden and parkland beyond.
With long strides, he ambled over his land, eating up yards without any real
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