“They’ll never forgive me.”
“They will eventually, Gabriella, I’m sure of it, but even if they don’t . . .” Her aunt drew a breath and raised her gaze to the sky. “They would kill me if they heard me encouraging you like this, but the time has come for you to think of your future. Who do you want to live your life for, Gabriella? Your parents, or yourself?”
The question had only one answer. “Myself.”
“So then?”
“I want to marry Huntley more than anything else in the world.” Saying the words out loud felt empowering. It filled her with immense satisfaction, a feeling that followed Gabriella upstairs as she went to find some paper and a quill. She would send Raphe a note and ask him to meet her that evening in the garden. And then she would tell him. She would open her heart and reveal the depth of her feelings for him.
A smile played upon her lips as she entered her bedroom, where Eleanor had been laboring over an intricate web inside her glass case. She would set her free again soon she decided as she carefully lifted the lid and dropped a couple of flies inside. No insect ever stayed with her too long—just enough for her to study their behavior and make a few sketches. Crossing to the windowsill, she tore a few leaves from a potted mint she’d recently acquired and dropped the greenery into the box where the beetle Raphe had given her now lived.
Satisfied that the creature was well taken care of, she took a seat at her desk, pulled out a clean sheet of paper and was just about to set the tip of her quill to it when there was a soft knock at the door. Anna entered upon her command. “This just arrived for you, my lady. I think it might be from your sister. It looks like her penmanship.”
Taking the letter, Gabriella tore open the seal and read with haste, her eyes flying across the words. And as she absorbed the message, her heart plummeted, crumpling like the piece of paper she held, scrunched in the palm of her hand.
Chapter 24
“I must confess that I was surprised to hear from you, more so to receive an invitation to this fine establishment,” Raphe told Coventry when he met him at White’s that evening. He was of a similar height to Raphe, with sand-colored hair and a welcoming expression, though perhaps a few years older.
“You haven’t been here before?” A waiter arrived to take their orders, returning shortly after with two glasses of brandy.
“I don’t get out much due to my unpopularity.”
Sipping his drink, Coventry leaned back against the leather armchair he occupied, crossed his legs, and studied Raphe with a sly smile. “You’re different from the norm, I’ll give you that. Unlike most aristocrats, I find that intriguing, rather than horrifying.”
Raphe raised a questioning eyebrow. “I don’t belong to any clubs, scholastic or otherwise.”
“I know. It makes your story—this sudden acquisition of a duke’s title and wealth—even more fascinating.” He must have seen Raphe clench his muscles, for he immediately waved his hand dismissively and added, “I don’t judge. In fact, I’m sure you’re more deserving of it than anyone else.”
“You have me at a loss.” He couldn’t possibly be serious.
Coventry carelessly shrugged his shoulders. “The fact that you’ve put Society on edge is telling. I quite admire it, in fact—especially since I’m of the opinion that it could do with a bit of a shake.” He flicked a piece of invisible lint from his trousers. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to speak with you at greater length the other evening during the ball, but my attention was in high demand and—well, here we are.”
“I’m still not sure of why you invited me to join you,” Raphe said. There had to be an angle. “Surely, a man like you doesn’t lack company.”
“True. But it’s the quality of the company that’s important.” He sounded bored. “The men and women of my acquaintance are mostly the same—paper cutouts who shop at the same shops, exchange the same gossip, and think the same thoughts. They’re completely unoriginal.”
“So—” Raphe took a second to ponder this new piece of information. “You seek a change of pace, and you hope that I might provide that?”
“Partly.” He tilted his head. “For starters, I’d like to know more about where you grew up, because rumor has it that it wasn’t where you claim it was.”
Raphe stilled, his eyes pinned on Coventry’s. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“Because if you do, I’ll help you end the engagement between Lady Gabriella and Fielding.” With a grin, he tossed back the rest of his drink and refilled his glass. “I hear you’ve some interest there.”
“You certainly hear a lot,” Raphe murmured.
The duke shrugged. “Word gets around.”
“What I don’t understand is how cordial you were with Fielding when you were last at his house for dinner. I mean, if you dislike him so much that you wish to ruin his engagement . . . it just seems a bit odd.”
“Perhaps, but then again one does have a greater advantage over one’s enemies when they remain unaware of one’s true feelings. I plan to catch Fielding by surprise, you see, but I also intend to take something from him—something he values.” He gave a crooked smile. “Your desire to win Lady Gabriella for yourself is something of an opportunity.”
Still hesitant, but increasingly intrigued, Raphe leaned forward and set his half-empty glass on the table. “I’m not a simpleton, Coventry. Don’t think you can take advantage of me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He studied Raphe for a moment. “Why don’t you start by telling me a bit more about yourself. You said you’ve never received formal schooling, but you didn’t claim to lack an education.”
“I’m self-taught,” Raphe explained before listing the subjects of his interest and telling Coventry how he’d traded old books for new ones in order to learn as much as possible.
