A TRYST IN THE LIBRARY
Meanwhile, back in the Carlington House gardens
“Lord Norwick,” Anthony acknowledged, giving the ghost of Lady Dahlia’s father a slight bow.
“Breckinridge,” David countered with a nod. “Still having trouble with my oldest, are you?”
Anthony was sure his face was bright red with embarrassment. “Just a slight set-back is all, my lord,” he replied.
“Set-back?” David repeated. “At the rate you’re going, you’ll be in the last century before long.”
Wincing, Anthony had a mind to plant a facer on the arrogant late earl. He didn’t think his fist would make impact, though. “I thought to assure her we needn’t be married immediately,” he said.
“Turned it into a business dealing, did you?”
Remembering it had been the late earl’s idea that he negotiate the terms of a marriage with Dahlia, Anthony frowned at David and crossed his arms, imitating the ghost’s posture. “Aren’t most marriages?” he countered.
David scoffed. “These days? Hardly,” he replied. “It’s not like in my day,” he went on. “People are marrying for love. Or affection, at least. I had to learn that from my brother of all people.”
Anthony furrowed a brow. “You botched your proposal?” he asked, not at all concerned he might be offending the ghost.
“Oh, I managed to avoid that issue entirely,” David announced proudly. “I let my twin brother do the proposing. The courting. All those pink roses he bought for Clarinda? Saved me a small fortune. Then, when it was time for us to wed, I merely swooped in and claimed her as my own.”
Anthony’s mouth dropped open in shock as his arms fell to his sides. “Sir?”
“Daniel and I looked exactly alike. Clarinda couldn’t tell us apart, so...” He shrugged.
“How hard did he hit you when he discovered what you had done?” Anthony asked, his expression growing fierce.
Furrowing his brows, David shook his head. “As I recall, there was no violence on his part,” he replied. “He knew Clarinda and I had been betrothed since she was quite young...”
His words were cut off when Anthony’s fist impacted his left cheek. Stunned, the ghost of David Fitzwilliam seemed to wobble a moment before his legs went out from beneath him and he crumpled to the ground.
Shaking his arm while he flexed his fingers, Anthony quickly glanced around to determine if anyone had seen him punch the earl. Although a few had aimed curious glances in his direction, no one seemed particularly alarmed.
Then it dawned on him that the ghost of Dahlia’s father might not be visible to anyone else.
“What happened to your hand?” a male voice asked.
Anthony spun around to discover a fellow viscount, Sebastian Peele, heir to the Weatherstone earldom, regarding him from where he stood near a hedgerow. The rather tall man had been spying on the ladies seated at one of the wrought iron tables. “Ah, Lord Cougham. I heard you were back in town.” He noticed Sebastian’s look of concern and added, “Uh, I’m not quite sure. It suddenly just... hurt,” he said as he once again gave it a shake. He glanced down at the ghost, and then side-eyed the other viscount to discover if he was even looking down at it.
He wasn’t. Anthony relaxed some and shook out his hand again.
“Bee sting perhaps?” Sebastian suggested.
His eyes widening, Anthony nodded as he studied his hand. “Why, yes. Yes. I do believe you have the right of it. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be off to wash it.”
Sebastian merely nodded and continued his perusal of the young ladies beyond the hedgerow.
Glancing down at the still prone body of the late earl, Anthony decided it would be best if he wasn’t around when the ghost awakened. The last thing he wanted was to be haunted for the rest of his life.
He turned to make his way to where all the matrons were having tea but had to stop short.
Dahlia stood staring first at him and then her father. “I saw what happened,” she murmured. “Are you all right?” She stepped up close enough to take his gloved hand in hers.
Anthony blinked before he glanced first left and then right. “Better than him,” he replied. “Although I expect I’ll be haunted for the rest of my life.”
Dahlia afforded him a wan grin. “If it’s any consolation, he scolded me before he did you,” she said.
