Page 79 of Last Night with the Duke
When Josephine’s screams and crying finally quieted, Esmeralda loosened her hold.
“I’m going to get him back now!” Josephine said and tore away from Esmeralda’s arms. Sparks reached for Josephine but missed as she swung open the door and went flying out.
“Josephine! Come back!”
Esmeralda hurried after her sister but Josephine was already down the steps and out to the street. The man was nowhere to be seen but that didn’t stop Josephine. She simply started running down the road.
Esmeralda picked up her skirts and rushed after her.
Chapter 25
Don’t let sudden anger rule your actions. Do be sedate in all reactions.
MISSMAMIEFORTESCUE’SDO’SANDDON’TSFORCHAPERONES, GOVERNESSES, TUTORS,ANDNURSES
Griffin hopped up onto the seat of his curricle and picked up the ribbons. He clicked the strips of leather on the rumps of the horses a couple of times and they took off with a rattle of harness and rumble of wheels.
The visit with Sir Welby hadn’t yielded anything new, except maybe that he’d been more guarded with Griffin. He really couldn’t blame the man. It was the third time Griffin had been to see him about what he’d overheard that night at White’s. And for the third time Sir Welby had remained firm that he’d heard the young bucks suggest that someone needed to teach Griffin a lesson and ruining his sisters seemed a good way to do it. Griffin was doubting the truth of Sir Welby’s tale because there’d been no trouble, and the gossip about it had almost dried up. It wasn’t that Griffin wasn’t grateful that nothing had happened. He was, but he didn’t like the thought of being the center of a hoax either.
The Season would be over in a couple of weeks and Griffin couldn’t wait. Whether or not either sister would be off the marriage mart was anyone’s guess. Vera certainly had her hankie set for Lord Henry, and Mr. Lambert could hardly leave Sara alone in the evenings. Neither sister seemed to be making much progress in that area, but several engagements had already been announced from the new flock of debutantes.
There was no one ahead of him on the street, so he flipped the ribbons again, forcing the horses to pick up their pace. He wanted to see Esmeralda. No, he wanted more than just to see her. He wanted to hold her, feel her soft body in his arms again. Tightly. He wanted to kiss her thoroughly. He desired her. No question about that. He desired her to the point it distracted him from all the things he needed to be doing. All he could think about was being with her. Often. No question about that either.
And, he’d finally come up with a plan on how to make that happen.
Vera had finally accepted a ride in Hyde Park with Lord Henry so he didn’t have to worry about her being at Mayfair. Lambert was visiting with Sara at Mayfair, but what young blade could resist the opportunity to be seen in a brand-new curricle? Griffin was going to suggest Lambert take the curricle for a jaunt around the neighborhood and have Lady Sara accompany him. That would give him a few minutes alone with Esmeralda.
A young buck on an older curricle went racing by Griffin. The horses kicked up a cloud from a road that hadn’t seen rain in several days. Griffin smiled and muttered an oath. He slowed his horses so he wouldn’t have to breathe in the dusty air as it settled on his hat and shoulders. It amused him to think he used to be just as careless and reckless. Now, instead of thinking about how fast his horse could run or if he’d win the next wager, he was thinking about Miss Esmeralda Swift.
Somehow, for the past few days, he managed not to seek out Esmeralda when she was alone. It’d been damn hard, though, and he’d finally reached his limit of endurance. He was counting the days until she was no longer in his employ. At the parties, he continued to engage with Miss Froste, Miss Waldegrave, and other young ladies by dancing and talking with them. They were all lovely, acceptable, and available, but not a one of them interested him.
Esmeralda was the only one who consumed his thoughts, and left him aching to see her again. Every evening he’d watch other men looking at her. Some, like Rath, had even tried to get her to dance with them. She always declined. Was she doing that because she was as intent on Griffin as he was her, or was she merely saying no because of her position in his house?
Griffin stopped the curricle in front of his Mayfair house and jumped down. After tethering the horses and securing the ribbons, he reached back onto the floor of the small carriage and picked up a bouquet of flowers for his aunt. He would see her before he left.
Griffin opened the door of his home and stepped inside. The day had been warm enough he hadn’t needed his cloak, but he left his hat, gloves, and the flowers on the vestibule table. Usually Sparks could hear the front door open and come running, but all was quiet in the house.
He walked down the corridor, rounded the entranceway to the drawing room, and stopped dead still. Sara was wrapped in the arms of Mr. Lambert and they were kissing madly. Her dress was off one shoulder. Griffin glanced around the room. Esmeralda was nowhere in sight.
“What the devil is going on here?” he asked striding into the room.
The two separated like a rock shot from a sling.
“Griffin?” Sara gasped, pulling her dress back onto her shoulder.
Anger rose up in Griffin. It was Lambert all along. He was trying to ruin Sara’s reputation. Where was Esmeralda? He’d hired her just so this wouldn’t happen.
“Your Grace,” Lambert said. “We—we’re glad you’re here.”
If Griffin hadn’t been so angry at the moment, he would have laughed. That was about the stupidest remark the man could’ve made. “You’re glad I’m here. Well, that’s good because I’m glad I’m here too.” He glanced at Sara. “And it looks like I got here just in time.”
“Don’t be upset, Griffin,” Sara said, nervously working the neckline of her dress. “It was just a little kiss.”
“Little?” He inhaled deeply, thinking he wasn’t nearly as upset with Sara as he was with her chaperone. “Where’s Esmeralda?”
“She went to find Josephine,” Sara answered with tears pooling in her big blue eyes.
Josephine?
