Slowly, she tossed her remaining card, holding her breath as she waited for it to land on the table. It was all in the hands of fate now.
Chapter 14
Javenia’s card landed lightly on his, and Algenon’s heart skipped a beat. The queen of hearts sat in such a way that she appeared to be laying in the king’s arms. He slowly sucked in a breath.
“Roberts.”
Algenon jerked his hand away from Javenia’s knee at his father’s booming voice near his side. Had he seen the movement? Their chairs were seated rather close together.
He waited for the gauntlet to fall, his heart hammering in his chest for a whole different reason. If his father had seen his forward behavior, nothing he could say or do would save Javenia from utter humiliation and social ruin. He needed to defuse the situation.
Pushing back his chair, he rose to face his father. To his surprise, Lady Roberts was leaning heavily on his father’s arm.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“No,” his father said. “I believe we will need to retire early for the evening. Your mother is unwell.”
Algenon cringed at the use ofmother. Although his father had used it with every stepmother he’d had, it felt entirely wrong when he himself could have married Lady Roberts. They had danced together on multiple occasions before his father had taken interest.
“I am sorry to hear it. Would you like me to help her to the carriage or would you rather I gather Phillipa?”
His father glanced at Javenia and scowled. “The carriage, I think.” He nodded to himself as if solidifying the decision. “Yes, take Lady Roberts to the carriage. Your sister is with Miss Jacinda. When they finish their game, we will meet you.”
Did it not matter that his game was still in the middle of play? Algenon’s fingers curled.
It seemed this was an intervention, a way to get him away from Javenia. Then Lady Roberts lifted her head. Her cheeks were pale and her lips lacked their usual luster. Instinct had him reaching out to help her onto his arm.
All thoughts of his own wants vanished. Her steps were unsteady as he led her toward the front of the house, her breath coming out in short puffs.
“Please forgive me,” she said when they reached the front door, “but I must sit.”
“Of course.” He led her to a chair while a footman retrieved their coats.
When he turned around, Javenia was there, Lord Hamdon close behind.
“Is there anything I might do to help?” she asked.
Lady Roberts shook her head. “No, but thank you. I simply consumed something that disagreed with me.”
Javenia dropped to a crouch in front of her, heedless of the beautiful gown she wore. “I have a peppermint in my reticule. I could have the footman fetch it if you’d like.”
“That would be marvelous.”
Before Javenia even rose, Lord Hamdon stopped a servant and requested he fetch it. Algenon tried not to let his jealousy cloud his judgment. The quicker his stepmother found relief, the better. But why did it have to be at the hands of the one man who’d shown Javenia marked attention?
It didn’t help that Lord Hamdon commanded attention from half the ladies in London with his fine figure and boyishly handsome face. What the man lacked in charm, he made up for as the heir apparent to the Earl of Lincolnhurst. If titles meant anything to Javenia, she’d connect herself as soon as possible to this man.
But they didn’t, and Algenon clung to the hope that they never would. Not that he had much hope of ever being able to win Javenia’s hand. His father appeared down the hall with Phillipa on his arm. Even from this distance, his father’s eyes flashed with warning when they fell on Javenia.
If only the stubborn old man knew who was offering his wife relief. Narrow-minded, eccentric idiot. Why couldn’t he stop meddling in Algenon’s life? Some days he almost wished the man dead.
As soon as the thought came, Algenon’s thoughts came to a grinding halt. What sort of son wished his father harm? Guilt swarmed his chest like angry bees stinging him from the inside. He turned to look at himself in one of the vestibule mirrors, seriously wondering what sort of person he’d become. He’d let his anger drive him too far. It was time to regain control over his thoughts.
Yes, his father drove him to the brink of insanity by keeping him and Javenia apart, but that did not constitute such hatred. Even if his father used him to attend to all his estates, at least he trusted him enough to do so. And then there was the freedom he’d been given over the last four seasons. While Father hadexpressly forbidden him from courting Javenia, he’d been ready and willing to accept any other woman.
The footman returned with the reticule, and Javenia fished a small paper package from its contents. Lady Roberts took the mint gratefully, popping it in her mouth and breathing through her nose.
After a few moments, she rose. “Thank you, Miss Harris. I believe this is just what I needed.”
