Page 20 of One Night of Surrender
“Afriend.Who is sleeping in the chamber next door.Are you going to behave yourself?”
“I must.She’s made it clear she is not interested in resurrecting the past.She is completely focused on finding new employment.You know everyone—who is in need of a governess?”
Cole cupped his hands around his mug.“Just to clarify, one that doesn’t teach, what was it you said—lady stuff?”
“Will that be a terrible hindrance?”
Cole shrugged.“What do I know of it?I’ll see what I can find out.”
Someone yelled “Eastleigh” from the main salon, and it was followed by a chorus of laughter.Both Val and Cole turned their heads in that direction.
“Is someone impersonating you?”Cole asked.“It sounds like you just came in, but they all know you’re back here.”
“Let’s investigate.”Val stood, and Cole followed him back to the main salon.
“Eastleigh.”Middleton waved them over, and they took the seats they’d recently vacated.
“Jack has just come from Brooks’s with some news.”
Jack sat next to Cole, his tankard already in front of him.“You know I don’t truck in gossip or follow the foolish wagers at White’s.However, I was at a meeting at Brooks’s when I heard mention of a new wager and felt certain you would want to know.”He looked straight at Val.“Now that Colehaven is to be wed, you are apparently the most sought-after bachelor of the Season.Someone wagered you will be next to wed.”
“Who would take that bet?”Middleton asked.“The wagerer is an imbecile.”
“At last count, there are at least a dozen wagers.”Jack cast a sympathetic eye toward Val.“You will undoubtedly be besieged at the very next Society event you attend.”
“It’s to be a sport, then.”Middleton shook his head.“Barbarous.”
“I determined it was better to warn you,” Jack said.
“Thank you?”Val contemplated a trip to Scotland.Or perhaps India.Maybe Australia.Yes, living with convicts might be preferable to the circus he was about to be subjected to.
“You may never attend a Society event again,” Cole murmured.“But you’re not missing my wedding or the breakfast.”
Of course he wouldn’t.“I’ll come in disguise.”
Cole grinned.“Please do.That would amuse Diana greatly.”
“It would not amuse my grandmother.None of this will.”
“Has she given up on pressuring you to wed again?”Cole asked.
“Not at all.In fact, she’s redoubled her efforts.But you know how she is about notoriety.She won’t like it, and I pity the gentlemen who placed those wagers if they are ever in Grandmama’s vicinity.”
Cole shivered.“Indeed.”He took a drink of beer as the conversation around them moved to other topics.Keeping his voice low, he said, “You do plan to marry again, don’t you?I realize we’ve never definitively discussed it, but given the title and your responsibilities—”
“You’re really going to lecture me about ducal responsibilities?”
“There’s no call to be obnoxious.I know this is a sensitive subject, as it should be.My apologies.”
“No need to apologize,” Val muttered.Because Cole was right.Again.Val did have responsibilities, which meant he had to marry again.The mere thought of it turned his blood to ice and made his insides swirl with nausea.
Logically, he knew the likelihood of him marrying another woman like Louisa was nearly impossible.But sometimes logic was overpowered by base emotions like fear and self-doubt.He’d chosen Louisa of his own free will.And it had been the worst mistake of his life.
Would he marry again?Yes, right about when the gates of Hell were coated with ice.
If yesterday’s lessons had been challenging due to the girls’ excitement about their impending shopping trip, today’s were positively painful.Between the awkwardness of Isabelle sharing her duties with Miss Shipley and the girls’ overwhelming sadness and anger—Beatrice was more sad, while Caroline was petulant with anger—it was a truly excruciating way to spend a morning.
After lessons in science and Latin, during which Miss Shipley was unable to keep up with either, Isabelle turned the teaching over to the older woman, who introduced both girls to wielding a needle.They removed from the table to a seating arrangement near the hearth, where a cozy fire heated the large room.
