Lizzie Tempest Ruins A Viscount (Felmont Brides Series Book 1)
Page 24
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“Did Lady Felmont object to your presence?” Jim asked from his prime seat with his back to the horses after Dace had returned from ushering Gladys to the berline.
Dace swore under his breath. “Get out, Jim. You can hire a gig to take you back to the Folly.”
“Why am I going back there?” Jim asked, as he obeyed Dace’s command.
“Because I am tired of my wife running to you every time she has a problem.” Dace climbed in to sit next to Molly.
“I got Lady Felmont to go to London, like you asked,” protested Jim.
“For which I thank you, but you are really too pretty for your own good. If you catch some dread disease in town due to your love of barmaids, I’d never be forgiven. She is still complaining about that blasted doll—and we all know who removed its eye.” Dace tried to quell Mollie’s laughter with a fierce glare. It only made her laugh louder.
“Molly, my love, hush before my wife hears your cackles.”
Molly snuggled up next to him. “This is cozy. If Lady Felmont finds out I’m in here, she’ll be right upset, our Dace?” She patted his knee.
Jim gave a warning cry. “Lady Felmont!”
Lizzie peered around James to see Molly remove her hand from the Beast’s leg with a guilty start. Of all the debauched, depraved, disgusting, despicable men! After last night he was game for more, taking his whore to London just like his father.
“Dearest Felmont,” she sneered the endearment, “you will ride with me.” Why had she said that? Why not just let him flirt and whore all the way to London?
She saw James retrieve his bag from the back of the carriage. “James, what are you doing?”
“It seems I am needed at the Folly, my lady. His lordship thinks Gordon is too old to be left in charge and Ma might need a hand running the Priory.” James gave her a reassuring smile as he lied to her. They were plausible lies, but lies all the same. If those were the reasons, James would never have set out with her.
Before she could protest, the Beast appeared to tower above her. “Come with me, dear wife.” He dragged her along with one arm around her waist. “You can berate me in private.”
“Don’t touch me!” Lizzie marched back to her berline. Her attempt to slam the door in his face ended in failure. He followed her inside to take the seat next to her facing the horses.
A short while later Gladys looked up from her book. She peered out the window. “Here we are at Kings Midden. That nasty Consideration Felmont is doing very well with the captain, I hear. Quite sobered up, he has.”
Lizzie knew why. “Only because I paid extra for tea and coffee, and he was banned spirits.”
The Beast gave a crow of laughter. “Well done! I wonder if he recognizes himself sober?”
It was all Lizzie could do to keep her countenance when Gladys joined in with a merry laugh and a knowing wink at the viscount. Her companion said, “He fortified himself to get the courage to talk to you, Lizzie. Love is the fatal affliction of Felmonts. He should have listened to his father. Mr. Bertram Felmont always told him you were a lost cause, but maybe that’s why the young man took to drink.”