Page 44 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
To celebrate, their party rode to a local tavern also owned by Lord Charter that stood at the edge of his property in a small nearby village.
“To a wonderful day of sport with wonderful company!” Lord Charter led the first of many toasts with his stein of beer held high in the air. “Here’s to many more!”
“Please tell me there won’t be any more,” William grumbled from a bench at the back of the tavern. “My head cannot survive another night of endless inebriation. I also cannot hold my tongue for much longer in front of Weasel Phillips.”
Edward laughed. “A perfect nickname, Your Gr … ah, Mr Black. But I don’t think you’ll have to wait another minute as the weasel approaches now.”
William looked up to see Mr Phillips’ signature greased-back hair and sinister sneer. As he passed their table, the duke spoke loud enough to ensure the weasel would hear.
“If he knows what’s best for him, he will leave the Whitfield family alone.”
Cecil stopped and turned around. “Was there something you wanted to stand up and say to me, Mr Black? Or do you feel safer in the shadows with a face like that?”
William kicked his chair away and stood with his nose close to Cecil’s face. He had to look down into the scoundrel’s eyes since the duke was at least a few inches taller than the viscount’s son.
“I would think these scars on my face would make you nervous, Mr Black. I’ve survived much worse than whatever you think you could unleash on me. But, since you asked, I do have something to say to you. How about we take a walk and discuss it?”
Cecil’s eyes shifted for just a second, but it was enough for William to see he’d made the man think twice about his next move.
“Lady Whitfield and I have an understanding. And you’d best remain a polite bystander who knows his place, Mr Black. Or you will face the wrath of the Whitfield family, not me.” Phillips straightened his coat, then picked something from his teeth with a dirty fingernail. “I’m merely doing what I’m told, and so should you.”
“Is there a problem here?” Lord Charter wrapped his arm around Edward’s shoulders and smiled. “Lady Charter will have my head if we cause a scene in this quiet village, so let’s head back to the house for some respite before dinner. Load up, boys! Tonight, we feast and dance!”
The other men in their party raised their glasses to Lord Charter’s orders, then guzzled the rest of their ale.
“This isn’t over, Phillips. Unless you do the right thing and disappear,” William said with as much malice in his tone as he could muster.
“Then it’s not over, Black. You and I are just getting started.”
Cecil walked out of the tavern as Edward held William back from taking a swing at the weasel’s skull.
“In good time, Will. In good time. Right now, there are two beautiful ladies with whom we have the privilege of dining and dancing. I’d say that’s a much better way to end this day, would you agree?”
William nodded and followed his friend to mount the last two horses waiting outside. The most important thing was that Eleanor and Regina were safe, and to ensure that goal, Cecil Phillips had to be removed from their lives.
The duke silently vowed to make that happen soon.
Chapter 18
Eleanor, Regina, and Lucy were in the library with their heads bent over the guest list. After many hours of helping Lucy search high and low for the missing jewellery in the common rooms, they’d decided to switch focus.
“These are the guests and their assigned rooms. Lady Wattington was certain she left her brooch on her dressing table, but she remembers now that she wore it to dinner, so it may have been lost in there,” Lucy said as she scanned down the list with her index finger.
“Eleanor and I searched every corner of both dining rooms, Lady Charter. Perhaps the cleaning staff found it and haven’t reported it to you yet?” Regina asked.
Lucy shook her head and sighed. “No, I spoke with them. I helped them examine the table linens and shake out every napkin. It hasn’t turned up yet.”
Eleanor touched her friend’s hand. She knew that Lucy took her hosting responsibilities very seriously and felt bad for the theft that had probably happened under her roof.
“Also, my husband hasn’t worn his father’s ring in months. The fact that it disappeared from the cedar box where he keeps his pocket watch is a clue that cannot be denied. Somebody took that ring. The trouble is, he isn’t sure when it was taken. He noticed its absence last evening, but it may have been missing since before our house party began.”
Eleanor wished she knew where Anthony was so she could get his input. She’d missed him at breakfast and ached to be near him again.
Yet she was also glad to be available for her friend in distress. There would be time enough this evening to reconnect with Mr Black. And hopefully, sneak away for another intimate rendezvous.
For one night with a pirate could never be enough!
Her body tingled and ached today. She felt like dancing and yet craved more rest at the same time. There was no doubt that her rite of passage into this side of womanhood had a profound effect on her physically and emotionally.
