A Chance Encounter Read Online Free PDF

that the viscount was not behind in doing equal justice to the humble fare of meat pies and braised carrots, shallots, and peas, topped off with a peach tart.
    Joan finished before the viscount, and while she toyed with her after-dinner wine, she managed to watch him in an unobtrusive fashion. She took note again of the strength of character in his face, obvious despite his inebriation. He had shed his elegant beaver upon entering the parlor. The hat’s shadow had served to disguise him to a certain extent and, she realized, had granted to him more years than he could actually lay claim.
    Lord Humphrey was a rather young gentleman and definitely an attractive one, at that. His dark hair was cropped close and crisped about his ears; and his eyes were large and handsomely set above his aquiline nose and firm mouth. The width of his shoulders complimented the perfect cut of his coat and the broad front expanse of white shirt and embroidered waistcoat. Most pleasing of all, whenever his lordship’s eyes chanced to meet hers, his gaze, though shadowed with pain, was remarkably steady.
    Joan unconsciously sighed and turned her eyes to the fire on the hearth. There was little point in contemplating on what could never be, she thought.
    Lord Humphrey looked up at the soft sound. He discovered a pensive expression on Miss Chadwick’s face and a sad droop to her mouth as she gazed into the fire. His conscience smote him with unpleasant force. He swirled the remaining wine in his glass. Though he was still possessed of a throbbing head, he had become reasonably sobered by the time he had finished with his repast.
    He had indeed had ample time for the reflection that Miss Chadwick had so earnestly wished upon him, and he now rather grimly acknowledged to himself that he had made a pretty coil of it all.
    Lord Humphrey was acutely aware of the advantage he had taken of Miss Chadwick. Nay, call it honestly and admit that he had compromised the lady, he thought in self-disgust. He had literally abducted her and carried her off without a regard for the inevitable ruin of her good name.
    There was but one way to make amends, he thought.
    It was ironic that his honor required him to do the very thing that in his drunken state he had fully intended to accomplish.
    Even the Earl and Countess of Dewesbury would find it difficult to dispute the purity of his motives once matters were explained to them. Lord Humphrey grimaced to himself at thought of that particular necessity. And there would still be the issue of Miss Ratcliffe’s expectations.
    Lord Humphrey’s lips twisted. His dilemma regarding that particular lady must take care of itself, he decided. He had not, after all, formally offered for Miss Ratcliffe’s hand. If he had already done so, the present situation would have been thrice the contretemps that it was and certainly not so easily solved.
    The daughter of a viscount, Miss Ratcliffe was a member of the same society as he, and she was aware of that society’s rules in matters of honor. He simply had no alternative but to pursue the course that he had so unthinkingly dealt for himself and Miss Chadwick.
    Nevertheless, he had a very good suspicion that Miss Ratcliffe would not see it in so reasonable a light. He did not look forward to his reception at the lady’s hands when they next met.

Chapter Four
     
    Lord Humphrey set down his wineglass in a decisive fashion. “Miss Chadwick.”
    She turned her large brown eyes on him, her expression one of mild inquiry. “Yes, my lord?”
    It crossed Lord Humphrey’s mind that Miss Ratcliffe would have reacted to the present circumstances in a somewhat different manner man had Miss Chadwick. He found it astonishing that there was no hint of anger or disapprobation in either Miss Chadwick’s glance or her voice. Such forbearance on her part made it all the more imperative that he put right the rare mull that he had made of things.
    “Miss Chadwick, I most humbly beg your pardon. I