Page 34 of Betting on a Duke
“He is.” Letitia agreed. “He’s trying to ruin your life. Can you imagine me courting your father?”
Clarice shivered. “No.”
“Me either.” Pink stained her cheeks. “Greyson called on me right after your father left. Phew! That was a close call. After what you just told me about the earl, I’d rather he not find out about Greyson and his intentions.”
Clarice locked eyes with Letitia in the mirror and tilted her head in silent questioning. “And what, exactly, are Greyson’s intentions?”
Removing the brush from her hair, she swung it around. “Damned if I know.”
“Letitia,” Clarice exclaimed. “I’ve never heard you swear before. You really care for Greyson, don’t you?”
Letitia’s pink cheeks and dreamy eyes revealed it all. “Yes,” she huffed. “Unfortunately, it’s a bad time for us. His social calendar is booked solid all the way through spring and summer, with one house party after another as he escorts his sisters because his mother isn’t up to participating or won’t leave his sick father’s bedside. Not that I blame her for staying with her husband, except that the responsibility of chaperoning his twin sisters falls on him. And I’m being selfish and silly wanting him all to myself.”
“It is uncommon, but not unheard of, for a brother to escort and chaperone his sisters. Perhaps you are attending some of the same house parties?”
“Not really. I declined most invitations because I wasn’t sure how I would feel rejoining Society.”
Clarice turned around in the chair. “I know. Let us go to Newmarket for the races. Surely he would not miss an opportunity to watch Samuel’s horses race.” It would also give her an opportunity to watchSamuel from afar. She would have to be very careful when out in the open so as not to draw attention to herself. She would not want any news of her being seen with him to reach her father. She would prefer her father never know where she’d gone off to. It would be better for all involved if he believed she was holed up inside her townhouse.
A frown marred her face. How would she sneak away? Her butler had confirmed her and Samuel’s suspicions: Her father had men watching her house and each exit at all hours of the day and night.
“My father has men watching me. We need a plan if I am to leave the house and travel to Newmarket undetected. Samuel is a guest at Baron and Baroness Ramsburys’. I don’t dare send him a message until we arrive. I can’t risk it getting into my father’s hands.”
“Hmmm,” Letitia said as she returned the brush to its rightful place on top of the dressing table just as her stomach growled.
Clarice jumped up and exclaimed, “Where are my manners? Let’s go to the drawing room for tea and refreshments.” She didn’t bother trying to smooth the wrinkles out of her sage-green linen day dress. It was well-creased from lounging on her chaise longue for most of the morning and into the early afternoon. On the way to the drawing room, Clarice spoke with a footman and sent him to the kitchens to ask the cook to send in a tea tray.
Sitting together on the settee, the tea tray newly arrived, Clarice poured the tea and handed the fine china cup and saucer to Letitia, then picked up her own.
“I’ve been thinking, do you think it’s worth the risk traveling to Newmarket, knowing Stanton is there, too?” Letitia sipped her tea. “You definitely don’t want your father making good on his threats, even if you stay away from the duke.”
“Wonderful question.” One she would have said no to the day Samuel left for Newmarket. But after wallowing in self-pity and heartbreak for two days, she was willing to risk anything to see him again. Even if she didn’t have the chance to feel the warmth and safetyof his arms around her. To witness the amusement in his dark eyes when he was carefree and the desire that could come on instantly—her body tingled. It would be hard to keep her distance from him, but she believed Samuel when he said he would find a way for them to be together in marriage.
“I refuse to let my father ruin the rest of my life. He took years away from me, years when I was married to Chesterfield, and I won’t let him take any more. What we need is a plan. Will you come to Newmarket with me? And will you help me escape my father’s men?” She knew it was a lot to ask her friend. But she was hopeful. She also knew he wouldn’t be fooled for long and would eventually find out where she was. But if she had a week or so of freedom, she would be happy.
Letitia reached out and took her hand. “Of course. What are friends for? We’ll need some help from your servants, though.”
“They will help me.”
“Good. Let’s plan.”
*
Two mornings later,during a windswept rainstorm, Clarice paced her drawing room, waiting for Letitia and one of her young housemaids, who was close in height and weight to her, to arrive.
Last night was the longest night of her life, filled with worry about today and what might happen. She wondered if they could fool her father’s men with her escape. She panicked about where they would stay when they reached Newmarket. The Red Lion Inn would be their first hope, but with the racing season beginning, she imagined they were already booked solid. But she couldn’t stay here and do nothing. She’d been biting her nails until they bled ever since Samuel left, and the end wasn’t in sight. Not until she came face-to-face with him.
She and Letitia had a plan, but knowing how things could gowrong, they needed to be flexible.
“Marchioness Rutherford has arrived, my lady,” a footman said as he entered the drawing room with Letitia on his heels.
“Thank goodness,” Clarice said as she hurried forward to greet her. “I’m going crazy with worry and nerves.”
“I know,” Letitia replied, “So am I. And before I forget, tell you, thank you for indulging me with this excursion in the hope of running into Greyson.”
“You’re most welcome, even if I’m only going to feast my eyes on Stanton.”
“We are both doing favors for the other,” Letitia said. “It is ghastly outside, which should work in our favor. The man guarding your front door looks miserable, trying to stay dry, hunched in his greatcoat. He barely gave us a passing glance when we arrived. Today is a good day to slip away.”
