Page 48 of Betting on a Duke
“Greyson?”
“Well, I’d be lying if I said he didn’t because he said something like, ‘Those two look relaxed and satisfied, don’t they?’”
“How will I ever look Greyson in the eye again?” Clarice moaned.
“I’m sure you will.” Letitia sighed. “Oh, to have been in your shoes tonight!”
“What?”
“Calm yourself,” she laughed. “Not with Stanton, but with Greyson.I miss it.”
“Your time will come soon, I just know it.” Clarice had a feeling about Letitia and Greyson and wished them the best. When the carriage pulled up to the Red Lion Inn, a footman opened the door and helped them as they exited the coach. They entered the inn’s main entryway and made their way to their rooms. Clarice knocked on the door, and a sleepy Penny unlocked the door and opened it, rubbing her eyes. “My ladies.”
“Please take care of Letitia first, Penny. I will wait.”
“Thank you,” Letitia said.
Letitia never let on that she was uncomfortable on the ride home, but she kept hugging her stomach, so Clarice knew she was in pain. It was the kind thing to do to let her prepare for bed first. Especially since she was spending the day tomorrow with Greyson and his sisters.
It didn’t take long for Penny to enter her room, close the connecting door to Letitia’s room, and help Clarice get ready for bed. When she climbed beneath the soft coverlet, she sighed and realized just how exhausted she was. As she relived her night with Samuel, she fell asleep with a contented smile on her face, dreaming of a future with Samuel.
Sooner than she could have believed possible, it was morning again, and Penny was entering the room carrying her breakfast tray. It felt as though she’d just gone to bed.
“Good morning, my lady,” Penny said, putting the tray on the bedside table. “If you don’t need me for anything right away, I’ll help Lady Rutherford prepare for her outing today.”
“I’ll be fine. Go take care of Lady Rutherford.” Clarice’s day was free until afternoon tea when she and Samuel were meeting Lord and Lady Kendall. So she relaxed in bed, taking her time sipping her chocolate and nibbling her toast covered with cream and jam.
When Penny did return, she helped her prepare for her day. Then Clarice left her room and, for lack of anything better to do, sheexplored the inn’s library, found a book of poetry on a shelf, and settled into a large wingback chair with a matching ottoman for her feet. She asked Penny to have luncheon served there, since she didn’t want to go to the dining room and eat alone.
It seemed as though she had just settled down when a maid brought her a tray of food—a fried chicken leg, carrots, mashed potatoes, and a roll with sweet cream. There was also a delightful slice of apple pie and tea. Clarice could hardly eat it all, but she managed to eat quite a bit. Feeling sleepy, she closed her eyes, and the next thing she knew, someone was shaking her shoulders and calling her name.
“Clarice, my love, wake up.”
“Hmmm. Samuel, is that you?”
“Yes, sleepyhead. Lord and Lady Kendall are in the salon waiting for us. Should I reschedule?”
“No, no. Give me a moment.” She stood and stretched to work out the stiffness from falling asleep sitting up. “I can’t believe I dozed.”
“You must’ve needed the rest. Are you ready?”
“Almost.” She smoothed out the skirt of her dark blue day dress, then patted her hair, hoping it still looked presentable.
Samuel kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful and perfect.”
“Perfect is really hard to achieve, and you keep telling me I look perfect.”
His face lit up with a wide smile that twinkled in his eyes. “To me, you will always be and look perfect.” He held out his hand. “Shall we?”
“We shall,” she said as she took his hand. They needed to go before she did something scandalous.
The inn’s large salon, where guests could mingle and enjoy tea, was just down the corridor. It was a spacious, bright room, cheerfully decorated in yellow and blue, and they found Lord and Lady Kendall seated on the settee there, just as she and Letitia had sat yesterday afternoon. After exchanging pleasantries, Samuel and Clarice sat in chairs facing the settee.
“I hope we didn’t disrupt your afternoon rest,” Lady Kendall said, looking concerned.
“No. I’m embarrassed to admit that I fell asleep in the library while reading.”
That brought a smile to Lady Kendall. “I do that sometimes, as well. Were you reading anything interesting?”
