Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
Janice turned back to her bowl in relief. She could read through her father’s words and really hoped that Arthur hadn’t. Her father was alluding to her talent for collecting strays. It would seem she was not the only one who had noticed just how lost the duke seemed.
* * *
Her cheeks heating slightly, she bent over her food and ate.
CHAPTER 15
“Shall we retire to the parlor for a digestif?” Lord Benjamin proposed to general agreement around the table. Arthur was glad that the men were not to have separate cigars and brandy in the library. He was enjoying everybody’s company.
* * *
Janice was just as witty as always and her sister Anne was sincere, while Emily was direct and honest. They all catered to their aunt’s tendency to have the vapors with seemingly endless patience. Frederick was quite amusing when he relaxed, though clearly vigilant about his sisters, while Lord Benjamin was well-read and intelligent and could hold his own in seemingly any topic of conversation.
* * *
The friend of the family, Rhys, didn’t say much. He smiled at Anne a lot and was attentive generally to the needs of the ladies but only interjected an opinion now and then when he could add to what Lord Benjamin was saying. Keith was voluble and opinionated as well, uncaring of whether that opinion was actually based in fact, but a pleasant fellow, nonetheless.
* * *
It surprised Arthur how truly at ease he felt with them. He was not usually so relaxed in company – always waiting for something to go wrong somewhere or for someone to lose their temper.
* * *
They all stood up and trooped out, not bothering with protocol as to who should go first. A decanter of brandy as well as a carafe of coffee was already waiting in the parlor along with hot chocolate, sugar cookies, and marzipan.
* * *
Lord Benjamin rubbed his hands. “Excellent,” he murmured before sitting down in the armchair. Arthur found himself sitting in the loveseat, with Janice by his side, feeling her warmth all down his left side.
* * *
He found it difficult to focus even when the butler asked what he would like. “Er, some coffee please, with just a splash of brandy.” The butler nodded and proceeded to fill his cup before handing it to him with a plate of cookies and marzipan. He moved on and Arthur took as sip, appreciating the delicate balance of the drink.
* * *
They talked of generalities, but all Arthur could see were Janice’s fingers, a few inches from his own. All he had to do in order to touch them was flick his thumb out very slightly. After a time, he decided to do it, just to see if she was as aware of him as he was of her.
* * *
He stretched his thumb out so that it just caressed the back of her knuckle. She jerked slightly, not enough to be noticeable to anyone but him, and flicked him a glance. He made sure he was looking back when she did, and her eyes widened. Her gaze traveled downward to where their hands lay on the seat, close to each other but not touching, and then she looked back up at his face.
* * *
Her bosom rose and fell as she took a deep breath, a delicate tinge of pink staining her cheeks. He wanted to stare openly but instead, he picked up a sugar cookie and stuffed it almost whole, into his mouth. He needed to do something with his hands before he gave in to his very foolish urges.
* * *
“Do you enjoy the theater, Your Grace?” Anne asked. “There is a play at the church on the weekend. They are to have pirates I understand, but no one seems interested in attending.” She turned her mouth down sadly even as a chorus of protests rose around the room.
* * *
“You didn’t ask anyone,” Keith said.
* * *
“I would go in an instant,” Lord Benjamin declared.
* * *
Arthur gave Janice a private smile. “I do admit that the prospect of pirates has me excited. I too would like to see this play.”
* * *
“Let us all go,” Leticia said, her voice uncharacteristically excited.
* * *
“Yes, let’s,” her husband agreed, smiling.
* * *
“Hear hear,” Janice said, raising her fist.
* * *
Everyone burst out laughing. It was admittedly the most fun that Arthur had ever had.
Janice was surprised when Lord Benjamin allowed her to take leave of the duke without hovering. She escorted him to his carriage, arm in arm, careless of the surrounding darkness. She knew every inch of her home by heart and knew there was nothing to be feared.
* * *
They came to a stop by his carriage door. “I feel as if we have this backward. You should not be escorting me to my carriage. I should be escorting you to your door.”