"your sisters are talking about you"Belmont said
"how do you know that?"Missy glanced at them over her shoulder and caught them watching her , lips turned down at the corner"Don't answer that"
He grinned.
"I suppose I ought to circulate.Make small talk , fetch for a lady or two some Sherry or lemonade , flirt , dance"he sighed his face clearly expressing how much he found such duties repulsive.
"Has it been an two hours already?"Missy asked
Belmont dug out his watch fop and nodded"I guess time flies when we are together"
"indeed"Missy watched Lady Rogers flee from her sister's company .She was staring at Belmont as she walked away .
"say Jon , do you and lady Rogers know each other?"
"we have been introduced.i danced with her once last season.She didn't say much.Kept stuttering.Why?"
"The way she was staring at you"
"I'm extremely attractive if you haven't noticed"he winked
Missy gasped dramatically"oh I haven't noticed.Could you be a darling and point out your face beyond the huge ego masking it?"
"Drat, I'm making a quick escape.Here comes Julia"
"Julia, lady Redwood .Isn't she your mistress?"Missy watched the beautiful dark haired woman approach.Her Ruby red dress hugged her figure and the jewelry that hung off her made her sparkle.
"former mistress.She didn't take the lay off well"he replied "meet me at the drive way , my coach will be waiting in front"
"She's bearing down on us.Go"
Belmont slipped away , Missy nearly laughed when Lady Redwood stopped in her tracks and scanned the corner for Belmont.She narrowed her eyes at Missy but she got nothing but a perfectly composed haughty expression.As soon as the woman was gone , she looked around to make sure the countess 'nice eyes weren't on her then slipped away too , taking a different route to avoid suspicion.As much as she enjoyed her time with Jonathan.She didn't want to be caught stealing away with him.Jonathan would make a great friend but a terrible husband to her.If she was in the market for one , which she wasn't .They were too alike to be together.He was handsome and rich and adventurous enough but she didn't see herself ever getting romantic attachments towards him.The thought made her giggle.As soon as she got to the drive way , she saw the black coach pull up .Classic Belmont.Of course he'd use a black coach and not one of those with huge house stamps on the sides.The coach man held the door open and pulled down the steps.She stepped on surprised that Belmont wasn't already inside and waiting.
She didn't have to wonder long , she felt him slide in beside her .As the coach drove out , she began to giggle
"She was really pissed Jon.She'll surely hate me now.I think I've had enough fun for one week.Take me home Jon"
"Who the bloody hell are you ? And what are you doing here? And who's Jon?"
Missy froze and leaned forward then gulped .This man was broader , his voice hard and commanding.Not Jon.She was in the wrong coach .
"oh God.I'm sorry.This is just a simple mix up.If you'd just drop me off here I can-"
"a mix up.You saw my coach and just decided to hop in?"he huffed
She didn't like his tone at all .She folded her arms "I don't know who you are but Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot "
"you probably are"
"you are the idiot"she retorted
"the duchy symbol on this coach is as big and bold as the sun"
"I didn't see any duchy symbol"
"it's on the left side"
"oh"now she felt stupid.But she wasn't going to confess that to this man.Even if he was logically right , it didn't mean he had to be snappy and condescending.
"yes.oh"
"just drop me off here"
He tapped on the roof and the coach stopped "Go on then"
Missy stared at his figure in horror "You can't even pretend to be a gentleman.The streets are no place for a young lady to be loitering around.It's nearly midnight"
"You asked to be dropped off here"
"well I changed my mind"
"and I've decided I'd rather not have you in my coach.Out"
"No.if you want me out you'd have to throw me out yourself"
He gritted his teeth "I suppose if you can sneak away with a man you can clearly take care of yourself"he pushed the door open.The invading light illuminated him.Missy gasped
"Lord Chadwick"she exclaimed "you are that uptight Duke"
His head shot up, green eyes met hers "get out"his voice was low , frightening.Missy jumped out .Shivering when the cold night air touched her skin.She lifted her head high and looked him dead in the eye.The door banged shut in her face , then the coach was rolling away.How she hated the Duke!
Eunice gasped as Missandrei told her everything"I can't believe he left you on the roadside.You could have been hurt.Oh Missy.What if something had happened?"
Missy blinked as her friend's eyes watered"please don't cry.I can't abide tears"
"I'm scared for you , you little hellion.And angry on your behalf.What kind of a gentleman is that Duke anyways"
"a Duke kind of gentleman.People with that much power can do as they please"
A knock sounded at the door.Eunice went to answer.She came back to where Missy was sitting with a letter from Belmont.
'My escape from the estate was delayed by a giggling band of misses .By the time I got downstair, you were gone .I searched everywhere for you.The butler just informed me you were in bed.I decided not to disturb you.Walk with me tomorrow half ten.
Your very handsome friend,
Jon'
Missy groaned "I will give him a good tongue lashing tomorrow.I'm choosing to blame all of tonight's bad luck on him"
"I'd rather you didn't tell him about tonight Missy "Eunice advised as she combed out her lady's long curls.
"why?"
"men can be - er- weird.Lord Belmont might try calling out the duke on such a behavior.It won't go well I assure you"
"Jon Isn't that stupid to confront Chadwick.No laws apply to Chadwick.He's a mini god"
"Let the story end with him, you and I"
"but-"
"no buts Missy.You don't want this issue to be dragged out do you .How will telling lord Belmont help? You entered a wrong coach mistakenly.A good ol' gentleman , sir Surrey or something kindly dropped you off at the back entrance.You went to bed as soon as you got back.Sir Surrey didn't speak much and is old enough to be your grandfather.Case closed"
Missy sighed "I suppose you are right"
"I'm always.If only you'd listen to me"she winked "good night my lady "
"good night Eunice"