#DailyLines #MOBY #WRITTENInMYOwnHEARTSBlood #Book8 #OutMARCH25th #ahbutWHICHhusband ? #therestherub #YesLadyJohnisthecorrectformofaddress “You’re a relative of Lord John Grey’s,” I blurted, staring at him. He had to be. The man wore his own hair, as John did, though his was dark beneath its powder. The shape of his head—fine-boned and long-skulled—was John’s, and so was the set of his shoulders. His features were much like John’s, too, but his face was deeply weathered and gaunt, marked with harsh lines carved by long duty and the stress of command. I didn’t need the uniform to tell me that he was a life-long soldier. He smiled, and his face was suddenly transformed. Apparently he had John’s charm, too. “You’re most perceptive, Madam,” he said, and stepping forward, smoothly took my limp hand away from the general and kissed it briefly in the continental manner before straightening and eyeing me with interest. “General Clinton informs me that you are my brother’s wife.” “Oh,” I said, scrambling to recover my mental bearings. “Then you must be Hal! Er…I beg your pardon. I mean, you’re the…I’m sorry, I know you’re a duke, but I’m afraid I don’t recall your title, your grace.” “Pardloe,” he said, still holding my hand and smiling at me. “But my Christian name _is_ Harold, do please use it if you like. Welcome to the family, my dear. I had no idea John had married. I understand the event was quite recent?” He spoke with great cordiality, but I was aware of the intense curiosity behind his good manners. “Ah,” I said, noncommittally. “Yes, quite recent.” It hadn’t for an instant occurred to me to wonder whether John had written to tell his family about me, and if he had, they could barely have received the letter by now. I didn’t even know who all the members of his family _were_—though I had heard about Hal, he being the father of John’s nephew Henry, who— “Oh, of course, you’ve come to see Henry!” I exclaimed. “He’ll be so pleased to see you! He’s doing very well,” I assured him. “I have already seen Henry,” the duke assured me in turn. “He speaks with the greatest admiration of your skill in removing pieces of his intestine and reuniting the remnants. Though eager as I naturally was to see my son—and my daughter—“ his lips compressed for a moment; apparently Dottie had informed her parents about her engagement—“and delighted as I shall naturally be to meet my brother again, it is actually duty that called me to America. My regiment is newly landed in New York.” “Oh,” I said. “Er…how nice.” John plainly hadn’t known that his brother was coming, let alone his regiment. It occurred dimly to me that I ought to be asking questions and finding out what I could about the General’s plans, but it didn’t seem the time or place. The general coughed politely. “Lady John—do you happen to know the whereabouts of your husband at the moment?”
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 10:22:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015