Page 33 of The Duke’s Rejected Mate

Alessandra slides a delicate hand over her lips to stifle a chuckle. No doubt he means the nefarious acts they partake in at the Rose and Thorne. One could only hope my intended would be part of such a group. But then, I’m sure Charles would have said something, mentioned it to take me out of my misery.

“Tell me,” Henhaven says in an attempt to steer the conversation. “Did you receive my invitation to the opera?”

I dab my mouth with my napkin, stalling for time. “I did. Many apologies that I did not respond with a letter. I would be delighted to go.”

“Oh?” Alessandra asks, her interest piqued. “Which one?”

“La Clemenza di Tito at the King’s Theatre,” Henhaven says with a smile. “I’ve already secured my box.”

“Mozart!” Alessandra cries out, her face flushing with excitement. “Oh, dearest. I would love to go. Can we as well?”

Redleigh rolls his eyes as he turns to his wife. “You never allow me to surprise you with anything. How can I spoil you when you seem already two steps ahead of me?”

Again, I look over at Charles, who stabs his meat with his fork before cutting and drawing a bit of it to his lips. He will be there. Same as the triplets. Will I be able to survive knowing he will be so close?

The others talk around me, but I barely hear them. All I can do is keep holding Charles’s gaze as he continues to cut his meat. There’s promise there and a threat of retribution.

Chapter 15

Charles

I watch Cynthia from across the table, studying her smile, the way her eyes refuse to light up. Her addictive scent calls to me, embeds itself in my brain until it’s all I can think about. There’s no arousal there, no happiness. Just a heaviness about her, a heaviness I mirror as well.

Another day, another damned note. No end in sight, no chance to escape this hell. Henhaven sits there next to her and laughs like he’s already won. But Cynthia is too important to give up so easily.

From the other side, Lewis sits with Anne, both talking in soft, low tones. He’s changed, transformed. No longer is he the hard, rigid man who holds this family together.

Love does that, I suppose. When he turns to give me a smile, I simply nod and go back to my food. No sense making a scene in front of my friends.

Finally, as we finish dessert, Alessandra stands and motions for the women to retire to the drawing room. They file out, most giggling behind their hands. Rather, my sisters laughing with glee to finally be included in more adult gatherings.

The men gather, huddling together. All the friends under one roof, save Joseph. It makes sense, though, seeing as he would want to stay with Teresa and their son.

They all make small talk, mostly political, but I drown it out. No one has anything to say that I’d want to listen to. As I sit there, Henhaven comes closer, his expression guarded as he sits down across from me.

“Miss Campbell said you are to attend the opera as well? With your sisters?”

“Yes. They are soon to come out, so it’s best they begin making small appearances in controlled settings.”

“Three at once,” he muses. “And here I fretted about my eldest sister. She’s only just the one.”

“Do not fear, Henhaven,” my brother says as he claps him on the back as if they were old friends. “We have more than enough practice wrangling those three. We can be of assistance if needed. Isn’t that right, Charles?”

The look he gives me sends a shard of fury down my spine. The arsehole knows how I feel about Henhaven’s betrothed. To offer my name as help is simply cruel. Since he did it in front of an audience, to deny his plea for help would be seen as improper, and, of course, reflect badly on the Barrington name.

“We are at your service,” I mumble, doing my best to keep my tone in check.

“Thank you. I might take you up on that offer. I dare say this might all be a bit much for her. She’s never set foot out of Henhaven.”

Lewis gives him one of those saccharine smiles that makes me want to throw him to the ground and pummel him. “Miss Campbell will certainly be up to the task. She has made a great many friends with the duchesses and knows what’s expected of her place and station. Just as we all do.”

“Yes,” I cut in. “But isn’t there something to be said about the heart leading where station does not follow?”

“Why, Charles,” he laughs, his voice coming out in a harsh rasp. “She is the sister of a viscount. Of course she would keep station in mind.”

I turn to Henhaven. “Six sisters, was it? Do you expect them all to marry into nobility? I dare say there won’t be very many more Alphas here to accommodate such a need.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of Alphas with rank and title that can do for any one of his sisters,” Lewis hisses.