Free Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 04] - Love's Duet by Patricia Veryan Page A

much the
conquering heroine. A loud "Honk" tarnished her glory. Flushed, she
glanced back. Horatio's head protruded from beneath the drapes, the
folds wrapped like a great cloak around his long neck. The Marquis
stood, hands on hips, watching her, his teeth a white flash in his dark
face. He strode to the door and swung it open, and she fled, her cheeks
scarlet.
    At the stairs, she paused. How angry he had looked when he'd
discovered that Mrs. Hatters had given her the Duchess's room. His
temper certainly matched those eyebrows, and it had not been Mrs.
Hatters' fault. She retraced her steps. On the threshold of the music
room, she stopped. The Marquis was seated at the harpsichord, leaning
forward, his tousled head bowed onto arms that were crossed upon the
edge of the lid. He looked a man totally defeated. Confused and unable
to cope with such puzzling behaviour, she hurried away.
    Sophia's second awakening was scarcely more propitious than her
first. Her bed appeared to lift into the air, shake, and bounce back to
the floor again. She gave a gasp, sat up, and then quailed as another
crash shook the room. A sudden flood of sunlight blinded her, and she
threw up one hand to shade her eyes.
    "Good morning, m'lady," said a soft, husky voice.
    Charlotte Hilby's maid, wearing a cap over her soft brown curls and
with a welcoming smile lighting her blue eyes, placed a tray across
Sophia's knees and imparted that it was past eleven o'clock and the
workmen "hard at it." The tray held toast and jam, a soft boiled egg, a
pot of tea, and, beside the monogrammed serviette, a crystal vase
containing a red rose. She took up the rose and admired its rich
fragrance.
    "Lord Damon picked it special for 'ee," Nancy volunteered
    Instantly remarking that it was full of ants, Sophia requested the
bloom be removed. Nancy peered curiously at the antless rose, and while
pouring her tea, Sophia said a hurried "How very kind in Miss Hilby to
allow you to help me. Did Lady Branden and Mademoiselle de la Montaigne
bring their maids, also?"
    "No, m'lady. We was only thinking to stay one night, and Lord Bodwin
said he could be sure they'd go back if their abigails was at the
Hall." She frowned a little. "So here be I, and not a body to talk to
save for Mrs. Hatters and Ariel. And he…" She sighed and, searching
through the press, asked, "Will you be wanting your habit, m'lady? They
others has gone riding."
    Sophia declined the chance for a ride and chose a morning dress that
Nancy hurried away to iron. To the accompaniment of much pounding and
hammering, Sophia finished her breakfast, then got out of bed and
crossed to the windows. The wide lawns, bathed in bright sunshine,
sloped down to an enticing fringe of flower gardens, among which a
fountain played. Behind was a long line of birches, and beyond those
the countryside spread in low tree-rich hills, girded by the sparkle of
the river. Under her windows were the terrace and steps from which she
had watched the Marquis struggle to retrieve his music in yesterday's
storm. A drive path ran along the foot of the terrace, dividing at each
side of the house to continue to the front and also winding away on
both sides of the back lawn until it was concealed by the slope of the
hill to the left and vanished among some trees to the right.
    "Why," she murmured in surprise, "it's lovely!"
    From behind her, the returning Nancy agreed and, upon learning that
her ladyship had not visited the Priory before, confessed with a
meaningful giggle that she and Miss Hilby had been here "lots o' times."
    With a sudden and uncharacteristic streak of Puritanism, Sophia
decided that Nancy was given to making lewd remarks. However, the girl
was also pleasant, willing, and deft, and in no time Sophia was dressed
and her hair arranged into clustered curls beside her small ears. Her
lilac gingham was a pretty thing, if a little out of the present style,
the lowcut bodice having a set-in bib, a white froth of lace that
tapered to a