Page 29 of The Earl Next Door
“How rude!” she exclaimed.
“I’d consider it an honor if you’d allow me to call out the duke’s man for his disrespect of you, my lady,” her driver offered.
“No, of course not,” she said emphatically. “Heavens, please don’t even think about doing such an uncalled-for action. I don’t want you in a squabble about this with anyone, but it does make me wonder what kind of friends the earl has.”
“Sounds like they’re important ones, my lady.”
Adeline smiled at the driver. She wasn’t really expecting an answer from her statement.
So, it appeared she now had two choices. She either had to walk in the slashing rain to her house where she could change into dry clothing and sit before a hot fire with a warm cup of chocolate, or stay in the cold carriage wearing damp shoes that weren’t going to dry out anytime soon while twiddling her thumbs for only heaven knew how long.
No one had to tell her that rain and card games could go on all night long.
What nerve the earl and his friends had to place anyone in this situation, she thought as she searched around the cushions and floor for an extra umbrella. Lord Lyonwood had barged into her house and the schoolyard thinking to tell her how she could use her home and then assumed he could do whatever he pleased around his own—with no concern whatsoever as to how it upset the lives of his neighbors.
Her search for an umbrella came up empty. Not even a fancy parasol had been left inside. Exasperated, she looked over at her driver and asked, “Do you have an extra umbrella?”
“Don’t have one at all, my lady. But the rain should let up soon.”
“Not soon enough for me,” she mumbled to herself; and then louder, she said, “I’m sure the rain won’t harm me and it might possibly cool my temper. I’ll walk. Help me down and then you can get the horses and yourself out of this weather.”
“It’s not for me to tell you what to do, but I suggest you wait out the downpour right where you are. It’s not fit for you out in this. The wind is fierce and the rain is cold.”
That would be the civil thing for her to do, but she wasn’t feeling civil. She was feeling quite fierce herself. Adeline reached to pull her hood over her head and realized the cape she was wearing didn’t have one. Oh, what rotten luck. And it was all Lyon’s fault. She’d have to rely on her short-brimmed bonnet to keep therain out of her face, but a freezing walk was preferable to spending another minute trapped in the carriage.
“I appreciate your concern and it’s kind of you to offer advice, but it’s not that far to my house from here, and I’ll probably run most of the way. Help me step down, please, and I’ll be on my way and you can be, too.”
Adeline’s foot hit the ground in an ankle-deep puddle. Inhaling deeply from the unexpected water, for an instant she rethought her assertion that she could hurry home. Wet feet had always chilled her to the bone, and for a moment she couldn’t have felt more vulnerable if she’d been wandering the dark moors alone at midnight. Wincing from the weakness of the feeling, she fought it down and shook if off. Lifting her shoulders, she thanked the driver.
A gust threatened to take off her bonnet. She held it on her head, dashed across the street, and started toward her house at a fast pace.
Without benefit of a hood, a trickling stream quickly seeped around her neckline and down the back of her dress. Wind blew open her cape and within seconds the front of her dress was soaked. She took her hand off the bonnet to close the flapping wrap. Her bonnet flew off and whipped madly at the back of her shoulders.
She ducked her head lower, worrying with bonnet and cape at the same time, when from the corner of her eye she saw a glimmer of light and lifted her head for a glance. It was the earl’s house she was passing. Her steps slowed. His stately home looked like a beacon of warmth, rest, and hope in the blinding torrent.It was brightly lit with what appeared to be a welcoming lamp glowing in every window.
Anger churned inside her.
Adeline took a few more steps past his residence and then abruptly stopped. What was she doing letting Lyon get by with such abominable behavior? She hadn’t been afraid to start a charity school for unfortunate girls even when her late husband’s brother refused to help her in any way. And by heavens, she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind now to this earl.
She turned around and marched back toward Lyon’s house. Wanting to be neighborly after the incident with the girls playing outside last week, she’d allowed the inconvenience of not being dropped off at her door the two previous times without saying a word. Perhaps she could understand the earl congesting the cul-de-sac with carriages for an important political meeting with members of parliament. He was a powerful man after all. But a card game! That was unacceptable.
That sort of pastime could be held at a club or the drivers of the coaches could take turns exercising the horses around the block. That was the polite, neighborly thing to do.
Flinging wide the tall iron gate that led up to his home, Adeline splattered through the puddles, not caring that the gate slammed shut behind her. After stepping onto the entranceway, she clanked the door knocker three times. Moments later a tall stout-looking butler opened the door.
Before she could think better of it, she swished past him without a word and headed down the corridordripping water as she went. She heard the man calling behind her to wait. To stop.
Adeline did neither.
She followed the sound of male talking and laughter. Her feet squished in her shoes with every purposeful step she took. Entering the lion’s den and facing his pride of debauched peers was easier than she thought it would be—until she rounded the corner of the doorway and stepped into the drawing room.
Pausing, she took it all in.
There were two white linen-draped tables with four men at each, holding cards in their hands, drinks sitting by their lace-covered wrists. A fire blazed soothing warmth into the room. From somewhere in the distance, she caught the inviting scent of bread baking in an oven. The entitled gentlemen fell silent. All of them were staring at her. Some with astonished expressions and others clearly annoyed that anyone, especially a woman, would be so bold as to charge in the earl’s home and disrupt their gaming.
And then she spotted Lyon. Their gazes met across the room. Adeline felt as if her stomach rolled over and her chest swelled. His silvery gray eyes were curious and questioning her.
Questioning?
