Page 86 of The Duke of Kisses
Chapter 15
After sleeping rather late, Fanny was eager to see David. Unfortunately, he was fifteen miles away at Huntwell. Unless he was in Clare purchasing their marriage license. Surely he would come visit.
Certain this was the case, she went downstairs to wait for him in West’s library where she would peruse her favorite book about birds in anticipation of sharing it with him.
Before she could get to the library, however, the butler intercepted her. “Miss Snowden, a note arrived for you.” He handed her the folded parchment.
Fanny opened it and quickly read the contents.
My dearest,
If you can get away to meet me alone, I will be at the hunting lodge all day. I hope to see you.
Yours,
David
Smiling, she held the paper to her chest. This was even better than coming here. He’d told her about the lodge as they’d traveled from Yorkshire. It sat on three hundred acres that adjoined Stour’s Edge and was approximately two miles northwest of the house.
She’d ride out immediately. Dashing upstairs, she changed into her riding habit and informed Barker where she was going.
“You’re going to take a groom, I hope.” Barker gave her a pointed look, then rolled her eyes. “Never mind. I daresay you won’t want a groom hovering about. Do be careful.”
Fanny suppressed a smile. “I will. Thank you, Barker.”
“Yes, well, don’t tell anyone that I’ve utterly failed as a chaperone.”
Fanny hurried to the stables, where a groom readied the mount West had given her last summer. She’d spent a great deal of time learning to ride more proficiently and getting to know the sweet mare.
After declining the offer of a groom—she said she was only going for a short ride around the house—she set out for the hunting lodge. She realized this was perhaps the only time they could meet like this. She couldn’t keep riding off alone for a few hours at a time. She and David would have to devise some other plan. Perhaps he could come stay at Stour’s Edge for a few days at a time. She missed him so.
When the hunting lodge came into sight, she rode a bit faster. His horse grazed in front of the small, two-story timber structure. It had a steeply pitched roof and a single chimney.
She dismounted and set her horse to graze with his. Surprised that he hadn’t come out to meet her, she went to the door. Should she knock? Should she just walk in?
Hewasexpecting her…
She unlatched the door and pushed it open. The ground floor was a large, rectangular room with a fireplace in the back left corner. A cozy seating area was arranged around a small blaze of a fire. To her right was a dining table, and a staircase marched up the far left wall.
But the room was empty.
“David?” she called. There was a doorway to the left of the center on the back wall. Perhaps David was in there. Or, maybe he was upstairs, where there was likely a bedroom.
Excitement stirred in her belly when she thought of him lying in wait for her in bed…
She moved toward the stairs, only to stop at the sound of an unfamiliar voice.
“Good afternoon, Miss Snowden! I’m so glad you’ve arrived.”
She slowly turned as her excitement changed to apprehension. The man looked familiar. Had she seen him with David in London? He certainly resembled David.
“I’m Mr. Langley,” he said, smiling warmly. “David’s uncle. I’m pleased to finally make your acquaintance. I sent the note for you to come here—I wanted it to be a surprise.”
What the devil was going on? “So David isn’t here?” she asked, not bothering to keep the disappointment from her voice.
“Oh no. He’s at Huntwell. This is my lodge, where I like to paint. I thought I would paint your portrait for a wedding gift for my nephew.”
Fanny relaxed. “What a lovely idea. How long will that take? I came without a groom, so if I don’t return relatively soon, I’ll be missed.”
