Page 39 of A Sinful Viscount's Mistletoe Affair
But it was all so easy for Lady Daphne and Isabella, too. She had seen the look of delight on her cousin’s face as she had made her way around the first clues in the house with Lord Ashford, and she saw how he looked at her, as if he were in awe of her beauty. Isabella and Daphne had everything, and she had nothing.
None of it was fair. And now she was saddled with the duke, who seemed determined to win the stupid treasure hunt at all costs.
“There is no time to rest, Miss Harrow,” he said urgently. “Come on, we must find this last one, then we will be the winners!” He scoured the shelves, looking for a particular book that he had deduced contained the next clue.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She thought that perhaps another young lady in a better temper than she was today would find his determination rather endearing, but in all honesty, she was finding it increasingly annoying.
And the duke’s company, on a more general level, was rather tedious and his conversation mundane. She could now see why Isabella was reluctant to be courted by him and preferred the company of Lord Ashcroft. For who would not prefer the company of such a dynamic and engaging young man as he?
She knew, though, that her father would not be pleased if there were any suggestion that she had been anything other than charming and accommodating towards the duke. She forced herself to smile. “Of course. Let’s give it our best shot!” She joined him next to the bookcase and began to search for the book.
After a minute or two, he grabbed it and let out a whoop of joy. “I have it!” He opened the book, and a clue fell out. He scrambled for it on the floor, then unfolded it and read the words contained on the card.
“The parlour!” he cried, grabbing her hand. “Come on, that’s where the stocking is, I’m sure of it!”
She couldn’t help smiling a little at his glee, after all, and she allowed herself to be led to the parlour, where Lord and Lady Evermere were waiting to congratulate the winners of the treasure hunt. Perhaps her father would be proud of her for being part of the winning team, if nothing else.
***
Later, in the drawing room, Felicity sat with a cup of cocoa in her hands and watched events unfolding around her. She felt as if she was on the outside looking in rather than taking an active part in the house party. Isabella and Lord Ashcroft were sitting cosily together in the window seat.
She had walked past them on the way to fetch her cocoa and heard them talking about Greek mythology. What Isabella found so fascinating about it all, she could not imagine, but clearly, she and the viscount had a shared passion for ancient history and civilizations.
Felicity wondered whether she should go to the library and find a book that would help her learn more about it all; then perhaps she could capture the viscount’s attention in the way that Isabella had done. But seeing the looks they were exchanging, she suspected that his attention would not be so easily diverted, and it probably wasn’t worth troubling herself with a load of dusty old books for nothing.
She inched a little closer to them, wanting to hear their conversation, even though it made her unhappy to do so.
Isabella’s sister Faith had joined them, too, with her husband, the marquess. How lucky Faith was to have made such a good match and now to be expecting her first child. Felicity knew she was being rather petulant and that she should be more social and go and join in the conversation, but she simply could not force herself to pretend to be cheerful when she was so consumed with envy.
The conversation had moved on to Faith and her husband’s extended honeymoon and all the wonderful places they had travelled to. Felicity could stand it no longer. She knew that Lady Evermere was planning a crafting session in the parlour for the ladies before dinner, but she did not even feel that anyone would miss her.
She decided to go up to her room to write a letter to a friend. Maybe she would feel better if she could offload all her feelings on paper. Then perhaps she could relax and enjoy the evening’s events.
She rose from her seat and walked towards the drawing room door, preparing to make her escape.
Lady Daphne looked up at her as she walked past. “Oh, Felicity, are you not staying for the crafting?”
Felicity shook her head, surprised that Daphne had even noticed her walking past; she had seemed so engrossed in her conversation with Mr Sterling.
“I have a headache,” Felicity lied. “I am going to rest before dinner.”
“Oh, you poor thing!” Daphne said, smiling sweetly. “I do hope you feel better soon.”
Felicity forced herself to smile back, then hastily left the room. She could not bear Lady Daphne’s kindness. Life was so easy for her and Isabella. They could afford to be nice and sweet to everyone. Things were different for her, and they always would be.
In her room, she searched around for something to write with and realized she did not have what she needed. She would have to go and see what she could find in her father’s room, which adjoined hers.
Her father’s desk was messy, and she had to rifle through his papers for quite some time looking for a blank piece that she might use for her own letter.
Her eyes fell on a half-written letter in her father’s scrawling hand, dated yesterday. She paused, her curiosity piqued, when she saw the nameJulian Ashcroftwritten upon it.
She knew she should not pry into her father’s business, but she could not help herself. The temptation was too strong. Who was he writing to about Lord Ashcroft’s family?
She picked up the piece of paper and began to read.
I do not think I shall be able to conceal it much longer. The young man seems determined to discover the truth. I can see it in his eyes. I did not intend to betray his father; it was never what I planned, but in the end, there was nothing else I could have done. Surely you will be able to see that?
“Felicity, put that down at once!”
