Page 19 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta
“I have and I daresay, Lord Peterborough, you are one lucky chap. She is a comely article.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Fair, dainty but a queer one, I am afraid.”
Ewan’s eyebrows arched.
“Queer how?”
“Well…” the Earl leaned forward to disclose his secrets, and Ewan could not help but move his head toward Averson’s lips to hear him better.
“Her father, as I am certain you are aware, is a general in the army, and I cannot say with conviction that he keeps her under lock and key, but it appears that way.”
Ewan’s eyes narrowed.
“How so?”
“She is rarely seen at social events for a girl of her standing. I do not know the family personally, but I have heard from Roger Carter that Aaron Oliver is quite rigid. He runs his home like the barracks.”
“That sounds…dismal,” Ewan murmured.
“I imagine Miss Oliver will be happy to be free of her father’s reign,” Averson chuckled, raising his glass in silent toast. “Marrying a noble, no less.”
“I wager we will see. What is that adage? The harvest is always more fruitful in another man’s field, is it not? She may be relieved for a short while to be here, only to find she longs for her family.”
“Then you must make her with child to keep her occupied,” Averson chuckled. “It has worked wonders for Lady Averson.”
The words filled Ewan with dread. Perhaps he had deliberately cast the idea of having children from his mind, but the mere thought of fathering a brood with anyone other than Patricia caused him panic.
“Oh, I see Vickers gesturing for me to join him at the card table. Will you play a hand?”
“I…no,” Ewan replied, his words choked slightly. “Excuse me.”
Lord Averson did not seem to notice as Ewan stumbled away, desperate for air suddenly. The walls of the game room seemed to be closing in about him, and he could no longer bear the stench of cigar smoke and the sound of loud voices ricocheting through his head. He barely made it into the courtyard when he fell into the stone wall, using it to prop him up.
You must not lose control of yourself,willing his breathing to regulate. He remembered his promise to show absolute stoicism, no matter his feelings. Ewan had wasted enough time moping about Nightingale and he would not fall into that again, not when he could do nothing about it.
The sound of approaching hooves captured his attention and he turned his head to look toward the front of the house where a large coach approached. Servants ran forward to attend to the new arrivals and Ewan wondered who else had come to join the party which had commenced hours earlier.
The coachman opened the door as Ewan’s house staff stood by, awaiting direction, but the Marquess was fixated on the door, his neck tingling as he waited to see who might emerge. Inherently, he sensed that it was not simply a newcomer for the bachelor affair.
Have the Olivers come early?
He would not be surprised to learn that his parents had fibbed to him about the timing of his fiancée’s impending arrival. They would want him to enjoy his final night of freedom before marrying him off to a stranger.
A pant leg appeared first, followed by a man’s tall, solid frame. From the distance between him and the carriage, Ewan could see little other than the fact that the man was fair, and it led the Marquess to conclude that he stared at General Aaron Oliver from the shadows. A moment later, his suspicions were confirmed when the General led his wife out of the carriage. To Ewan’s amazement, the coachman closed the door. His betrothed was not inside.
His mother shuffled forward from near the walls of the manor where Ewan had not previously seen her and welcomed them, the lilt of the Duchess’ voice reaching his ears although the words were lost on him over the space. Ewan remained in place after they retreated into the house, expecting another coach to appear, but after several moments, he realized that Henrietta was not coming.
“You cannot hide at your own bachelor party,” the Duke chided him. “I have been seeking you for twenty minutes.”
“It is insufferable in there,” Ewan protested. “My lungs demanded air which was breathable.”
“Oh, and I thought you to be avoiding your peers.”
“They are more your peers than mine, Father.” Ewan sighed, turning fully to face him. “Why did you not tell me the Olivers were arriving tonight?”
Phineas’ face clouded, and he sighed deeply.
