Page 75 of A Lovely White Christmastide
Carswell inspected his work in the mirror.
“Do I pass, Captain?” Kaye smirked.
A smile pulled at Carswell’s lips. “I suppose it will do,Lieutenant. Probably should have thought of making you my batman long ago.”
Kaye clapped him on the back. “Too late now, my friend. Instead let's settle for being brothers-in-law.”
The smile fell from Carswell’s face. “Do not put the cart ahead of the horse. I do not even know if Beth wants to see me.”
“Oh, she does.”
Laughter danced in Kaye’s eyes but Carswell decided not to question it.
When they finally made their way into the drawing room, Carswell was stunned to see how many people Mrs. Waverly had invited. How were they ever to seat this many people in the music room? They’d have to bring every chair in the house.
Several officers Carswell had served with greeted him and he lost himself in catching up with old comrades. Beth had yet to appear, but Kaye insisted she would, if only to appease her aunt’s desire for her to play.
A quarter hour went by and still no Beth. Finally, she appeared resplendent in a fine red dress, Julianna at her side in a similar gown. But before he could approach them, the butler entered and drew everyone’s attention.
“His Grace, the Duke of Rothes.”
The whole room went so silent that Kaye’s groan could be heard by everyone. Carswell shot him a look but his eyes were glued to the door.
A smug-looking Mr. Caleb Waverly entered with a gentleman in a bath chair being pushed by a servant. His Grace was young; too young to be in such a state, but he seemed used to his condition.
Once inside the doors, the servant stopped. Without warning the walking stick in the duke’s hands swung over his shoulder as if he were wielding it like a soldier did a rifle. It hit the servant’s knuckles and pain creased his features. Whether the duke had meant to or not, Carswell did not know, but the servant paid it no mind and merely continued forward into the crowded room.
General and Mrs. Waverly approached hesitantly. As their quiet conversation ensued, the rest of the room slowly returned to normal activity.
“What the devil is he doing here?” Kaye hissed.
Carswell shifted toward Kaye. “You cannot expect Mr. Caleb Waverly to stay away forever. This is his uncle’s home. If he behaves himself, there is no reason he should not be here.”
“Not him. The Duke of Rothes.”
“Oh no!” Julianna exclaimed from Carswell’s right.
He spun to look at her, only to lock eyes with Beth. His breath caught in his throat. She was even more lovely than he remembered. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks rosy, whether from embarrassment or the warmth in the crowded room he did not know.
Kaye nodded. “He is my friend’s worst enemy, and by extension must be mine as well.”
“Is this the dastardly duke that tried to ruin Mr. Bailey’s life?” Julianna asked, her eyes wide.
Carswell glanced between the pair. This was a story he’d not heard. “James Bailey, your friend from your days at Eton?”
Kaye nodded. “The very one. And it seems Rothes is well acquainted with Mr. Caleb Waverly.”
Beth spoke up for the first time. “Caleb helped on a case for His Grace a few months ago, but he was not the primary barrister as he’s still in training. I am unsure how he garnered such good will.”
“I am not sure any attention from the Duke of Rothes can be considered good,” Kaye said, just as His Grace’s gaze fell on Beth.
The man’s eyes raked over her figure, not a hint of remorse in how thoroughly he ogled her. Hot anger rose up and nearly choked Carswell as he stepped between her and the duke,blocking his vision. Rothes glared at him before his attention pulled to Carswell’s left.
The duke's glare from seconds before seemed almost happy compared to the pure hatred pouring out of his eyes when he caught sight of Kaye. Then slowly, a devilish grin spread across his lips.
“I think he may have made a bargain with ol’ Scrat himself for my soul.” Kaye’s murmured words drew confused glances from all of them.
“Do you mean Caleb?” Julianna asked.
