Chapter Six
The Duke ofCoventry had thrown a snowball at her heart.
Surely it held significance?
Surely not.
Or did it?
With each step, she changed her mind.
It meant something.
It did not.
It meant something.
It did not.
Of course it did. He had proposed to her two days ago in the west wing. Not that she wanted to marry him. For of course she did not. She was meant to marry a wicked rake, not a man who had never before kissed a lady. Then again, for a novice at kissing, he had certainly learned enough to rob her breath…
Christabella sighed as she tramped to the breakfast room the next morning. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not see the lady rushing down the hall from the opposite direction until it was too late. They collided, the impact sending them both to their rumps. Christabella attempted to catch herself and twisted her ankle quite viciously on her way down.
“Oh,” was all Christabella could think to say, rubbing her smarting bottom as her gaze settled upon the lady she had crashed into. “I am so sorry, my lady.”
Lady Adele Saltisford was a shy, quiet wallflower.
The daughter of a duke.
Rather the sort of woman Christabella imagined would suit Gill. Aristocratic, pretty, and with an ice to rival his own. The thought had her grimacing as she rose to her feet and offered Lady Adele a hand. Not just grimacing. It sent an unwanted pang to her heart. Something akin to pain.
But then another pain entirely shot straight through her. Beginning with her ankle and shooting, white-hot, up her leg.
“Forgive me, Miss Winter,” Lady Adele said, looking flustered. “The fault is all mine, I am afraid. I was not watching where I was going.”
“I was not watching either, my lady.” Christabella felt guilty for her lack of circumspection, even as the pain throbbed. She had been every bit as responsible for what had happened as Lady Adele.
She had been gadding about like a whirlwind, thinking only of herself, after all.
And Gill.
Of course, Gill.
Er, the Duke of Coventry.
Lady Adele gained her feet as well and brushed at her skirts, wincing. “Are you in pain, my dear? Have I injured you with my thoughtlessness?”
“I am perfectly fine, Lady Adele,” she lied, gritting her teeth. “Please, do not allow me to keep you from your destination.”
Lady Adele frowned at her. “But you look rather pale. And I do believe I saw you limping, just now.”
“Nonsense.” Christabella forced a smile. “I was not limping at all. You have nothing to fret over, my lady. I shall be fine.”
Lady Adele had been traveling somewhere in haste, that much was certain. She had a twin sister, and an older, widowed sister accompanying her at the house party. But neither of those two ladies were in sight. Christabella was curious what was making Lady Adele run. But the insistent pain in her ankle reminded her she had far greater worries of her own to attend to.
“You are certain?” Lady Adele asked.
Christabella noted she seemed rather pale. Perhaps she was ill? Either way, Christabella had no wish for Lady Adele to feel responsible for her twisted ankle, especially since she was as much to blame.
