At the click of the latch, Panthea spun around. “Oliver! No! Oliver, wait!” She tried to run toward the door, but her trailing skirts impeded her. Impatiently she kicked them free and ran to wrench open the door. “Oliver!” she shouted, real tears now streaming down her face, tears that twisted and blotched her features into ugliness.
Below, she heard the front door open and close. She screamed and slammed her bedroom door, then threw herselfacross the rose silk sheets and wept into the pillows, calling Stefton every abusive name she could think of. How could he casually cast her off like an old coat! She was not a simpering little nobody. She would reclaim his attentions and be the next Duchess of Vauden, or he would rue the day he trifled with her affections!
Copious tears dampened her pillows, and streaks of black from her artfully darkened lashes smudged the fabric by the time she fell into fitful slumber and dreamed of revenge.
CHAPTER 9
“Ah, Soothcoor, what brings you to my door? I’ve passed two entire days without seeing your ugly phiz. I feared you’d quite cut my acquaintance.”
“No more’n you’d deserve.”
The Marquis gave a short laugh, clapping Soothcoor on the back. “Well, come. I was just about to sit down to nuncheon. Join me. I know how you appreciate Gascoullet’s culinary skills. After all, I do not tease myself that you come for my company.”
“Better yours than Chilberlain’s. Faugh!”
“A falling-out with our Captain?”
Soothcoor snorted. “Canna talk to him to have a falling-out.”
“I’ll admit you have captured my interest, old friend. Perceive me all attention. I hang on your words.”
The Earl shot him a nasty look. “I’ll have none a your cozening ways. It were deferring to you which created this mess.”
“It must be serious. Your accent is pronounced. What you need is a mug of ale and a substantial meal. Kennilton!”
“Immediately, my lord,” said his soft-spoken butler. He took an ale pitcher from the sideboard and filled a tankard, setting it before their scowling guest. He placed platters and tureensof food on the table, serving the two gentlemen quickly and efficiently. There was little conversation between the two men, though the Earl’s scowl relaxed as he ate. When both gentlemen were replete, Kennilton directed that the dishes be removed, placed a large pot of coffee on the table along with a bowl of fruit, and bowed his way out of the room.
“Quiet blighter,” Soothcoor observed after the butler left. “No nonsense, too. I like that.”
“Now, I suppose you’ll be telling me that you’d care to hire him away from me. I should give you my household and be done with it,” Stefton said drily, humor underlining his words.
Soothcoor sniffed and his mouth twitched. A knuckle rubbed the side of his face. “Couldn't afford it and would not stand the press o’ people you deem necessary to run a household.”
“But vicariously you enjoy it.”
“There’s worse places.”
“Ah. I perceive we are about to return to the subject of Chilberlain. What is our Captain up to?”
“Smelling o’ April and May.”
‘‘Miss Susannah Shreveton?”
“Aye. There’s no being with him. He’s forever spouting about her.”
“Our Captain, a lovesick swain?”
“It is serious! And it’s all your fault, asking us to dance with her cousin at Lady Oakley’s, then dragging us to visit the next day and tricking us into agreeing to a confounded theater party that you declined. Unfinished business. Faugh!”
“It was unfinished. Now it is not.”
“Gave her the go-bye, did you?”
“Along with a very handsome diamond and sapphire necklace.”
The Earl grunted. “Well, you should o’ come. Save me from having to do the pretty and from Lady Iris making sheep’s eyes at me.”
“You could have given her a set down.”
