Page 30 of His Duchess' Wicked List

CHAPTER 13

Once I have possessed Maddie, this intense desire shall pass.At least, it has always done so in the past, when I have been mad with lust for other ladies.

As he walked into his study, Daniel was teetering on a razor’s edge, indeed. He was already sick of playing host, and it was only the first evening of this infernal house party.

A game of snapdragon was being played in the parlor. Lord Acton had suggested it, even though it was usually played in winter, and everyone had seemed eager to play. The candles had been dimmed, and a bowl had been filled with brandy and raisins and set alight. Daniel was quite certain that someone was about to lose their eyebrows to the dangerous game.

I had forgotten what passes for entertainment amongst this crowd.It is a far cry from the more sophisticated antics on the Continent.

He sighed heavily, pouring himself a tall glass of whiskey and then picking up the entire bottle, taking it with him to the upholstered chair by the fireplace. He sat down, staring moodily into the flames. He was deluding himself, of course. His frustration had nothing to do with the house guests and everything to do with Lady Madeline Cole.

He sipped his drink, feeling the liquor seep into his bloodstream like fire. She had slipped through his fingers like an eel. And she had stealthily managed to avoid him for the entire evening.

When he had left the parlor, she had been talking animatedly with Christopher in a corner and hadn’t even glanced in his direction. They were the only guests who had refused to play the game, apart from himself, and they seemed as thick as thieves. He didn’t think she had even noticed he had left the room.

A pang of jealousy pierced his heart. He frowned.Another one. Clearly, he needed to scratch this itch with Maddie sooner rather than later, to purge himself of this mad lust he had for her before it drove him to the nearest asylum.

He stretched out his legs, taking another long sip of his whiskey. He might as well stay here and drown his sorrows. At least it might temporarily dampen his fervor for her.

His frown deepened. He actually couldn’t recalleverfeeling this level of jealousy over a woman before. It was quite disconcerting. He really didn’t like it. Not in the least.

The door opened. It was Selina, looking a little out of breath. Her eyes were bright.

“What are you doing?” she asked in a censorious voice. “Why did you skulk out of the parlor so early?”

Daniel shrugged indifferently. “They were all having a fine time without me.”

She eyed the bottle of whiskey. “You will be rolling around in your cups soon if you are not careful, Brother.” She walked into the room, standing over him, her hands on her hips. “You must help. One of Lady Darnley’s puppies has gone missing on the grounds. A servant took him and his siblings outside, and he has vanished.”

Daniel gaped at her. “What the deuce has a missing puppy got to do with me? Surely the errant servant can search for the beast and enlist help from the other servants?”

“Everyone is out looking for the pup,” Selina said, frowning. “Well,almosteveryone. The older ones, like Mama and Lady Ollerton, are still in the parlor, comforting Lady Darnley, who is having a conniption. But the younger guests all threw their hat into the ring. Christopher, Augusta, Maddie…”

Daniel sat up straighter, staring at his sister keenly.Thathad gotten his attention. “They are all wandering the grounds, searching for this puppy?”

Selina nodded. “Yes. And you must help as well! Lady Darnley is truly distraught, Brother. Her puppies are like her children.”

Daniel jumped to his feet. He really didn’t feel like trawling the grounds in the dark, searching for a missing poodle, but if Maddie was out there… well, the search forherwould be another matter entirely.

“I am at Lady Darnley’s service.” He slipped on his jacket. “Tell her the pup will be found in no time.”

Selina looked pleased. “What a good sport you are, Brother.”

“What direction did the others go in?” he asked casually. “Just so I know and can look elsewhere. We do not want to be searching the same area, do we?”

“Christopher and Maddie have already headed towards the lake,” Selina replied. “Augusta and I are about to search around the folly. Perhaps you could check the rose garden?”

“Done,” Daniel said, knowing he had no intention of going in the direction of the rose garden at all. “May the best man find the pup. Tally ho!”

Selina gave a bark of laughter. “It is not a treasure hunt, Daniel! But, yes, let us hope the poor pup is found safe and well. I do not think Lady Darnley will take it well at all if he is lost forever. She is already suffering from the vapors. Mama had to send for her smelling salts to revive her.”

Daniel just managed to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Lady Darnley’s histrionics were legendary. The lady had an attack of the vapors when she cut her finger.

He tried to look sympathetic.

“The poor lady,” he said, sighing. “Yes, let us find her pup, and all will be well.”

“You do not fool me for a moment, Brother,” Selina drawled, looking amused. “You do not care either way about that pup. But thank you for joining the search, anyway.”

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