The Way to a Duke's Heart: The Truth About the Duke Read Online Free PDF Page A

Her fingers still dug into Tessa’s arm, and it took some effort to pry her off and lead her to a chair in the corner. “Oh, my . . .”
    “I’m sorry,” said Tessa, abashed. “I never dreamed he would overhear, but I was wrong to say it out loud. But Eugenie, he won’t remember. Or if he does, it will be some amusing story he tells his friends about the shrewish lady at the York Hotel.”
    “What if we see him again?” whispered Eugenie in anguish. “He might remember, Tessa, he might ! And your sister, so hopeful about her new life in London! He’s quite an established member of the haut ton; he could ruin her!”
    “I will hide my face if he approaches,” she promised. “You know I would never deliberately upset Louise—and you shouldn’t either. Telling her about this will only send her into a spell and cause her to worry needlessly.” It would also unleash a flurry of letters to Tessa, full of despair and blame. She prayed Eugenie wouldn’t set her sister off. “And really, I am very, very sorry. It was badly done of me, and I won’t make the same mistake again.” She did so hate it when her temper got away from her, and this time it could leave Eugenie on the verge of a fainting fit for the duration of their stay in Bath. Seen in that light, the coming week seemed endless, and she applied herself to reassuring her companion.
    Once the earl’s retinue had proceeded up the stairs, someone finally remembered them and came to conduct them to their rooms. Tessa helped Eugenie up the stairs, still patting her hand as the porter led them to a lovely suite and carried in their luggage. When she finally coaxed Eugenie to lie down with a cool cloth on her forehead, her first instinct was to leave. She could slip out of the room and soothe her cross mood with a short walk before dinner. If she happened across a new novel or delicious confection in Milsom Street, so much the better. Eugenie would be immensely cheered by a small gift, and a novel would keep her occupied for several days. Tessa hadn’t wanted anyone other than Mary, her maid, to come with her, and already she was chafing at Eugenie’s presence.
    She pulled the door of the bedroom gently closed and quietly crossed the sitting room. “I’m going out for a walk,” she told Mary softly, throwing her shawl around her shoulders and picking up her reticule. “See to Mrs. Bates; she’ll likely have a headache.” Eugenie was very prone to having headaches when Tessa had done something she disapproved of. Mary might as well be forewarned to have her favored remedy, a good bottle of sherry, at hand.
    Some instinct made her pause at the door. Instead of just leaving, she opened the door a few inches and took a quick look out. The first person she saw was Mr. Lucas, the hotelier. The second person was the Earl of Gresham. He had shed his long greatcoat and hat by now, displaying a figure that didn’t look the slightest bit soft or lazy. His dark hair fell in thick waves to his collar, and somehow up close he didn’t look like a languid fop at all. Tessa froze, hoping to remain invisible by virtue of holding very, very still. Mindful of her recent promise to Eugenie, she all but held her breath as the men came nearer, just a few feet away from her door. Her prayers seemed to be answered as they passed without looking her way, but only for a moment. When she cautiously inched the door open a bit more and peered around it to see that they were gone, she beheld a door only a few feet down the corridor—almost opposite her own—standing open, with Mr. Lucas ushering the odiously keen-eared earl through it.
    Tessa closed the door without a sound. Well. This was a dilemma. How could she leave her rooms if he might be passing in the corridor at any moment? She could ask for a new suite, perhaps, in another part of the hotel, but that would be a terrible bother. On the other hand, having to sneak in and out of her own hotel room was the height of