Blame It on Bath Page 0,122

losing him didn’t make her heart break.

Keep reading for an excerpt from The Way to a Duke’s Heart,

the third and final installment of Caroline Linden’s

breathtaking historical romance series.

Coming soon from Avon Books!

Tessa Neville had never met the Earl of Gresham, but she hated him just the same.

She was not normally given to hating people. It was a waste of time and a rather indulgent emotion, in her opinion, and Lord knew there was enough indulgence and emotion in her family already. Had she encountered Lord Gresham under different circumstances, chances were she would have thought little of the gentleman, if she even noticed him at all. Earls, especially of his status and notoriety, were far out of her normal circles, and she was quite happy that way.

Awareness of him, however, was forced upon her, and not in the best way. She supposed there might be good reasons one could be forcibly aware of someone, but generally it was a bad reason. And at this particular moment, in this particular way, Lord Gresham managed to leave her annoyed, impatient, and disgusted with him and herself.

His first offense was not really a personal failing. By simple bad luck, she arrived at the York Hotel, Bath’s finest, only a few minutes before the Gresham entourage. To be fair, her mood was already on edge by then. Eugenie Bates, her elderly companion, had been in such a state of nerves over the journey that she hadn’t been ready to leave on time, and so had made them later than Tessa wished. It was a very warm day, making travel even more uncomfortable than usual as the heat and brilliant sun seemed to wilt everything but Eugenie’s ability to worry aloud. By the time they reached Bath in the late afternoon, Tessa was already tired, hungry, and heartily wishing she had defied her sister and left Eugenie at home. She’d told herself all would be better once they reached the hotel and she could change out of her wool traveling dress, have a refreshing cool drink, and stretch her legs. She’d all but leaped down from the hired travel chaise, so anxious was she to settle Eugenie into the hotel, not knowing there was another trial to come.

But no sooner had she walked through the doors and given her name than there came the rattle of harness and a clatter of wheels in the street, and almost immediately a hue and a cry rose. The hotelier, who had come forward to welcome her, excused himself in a rush and hurried out to see the commotion. The arrival’s title reached her ears in a whisper both delighted and alarmed: the Earl of Gresham!

When Eugenie, straggling in Tessa’s wake, heard the name, she gasped. “Oh, my dear! I did not know this hotel catered to such an elegant crowd!”

“It is a hotel, Eugenie,” replied Tessa, watching the staff rush past her without a second glance. “It caters to whomever can pay the bill.”

“Lady Woodall will be so disappointed she missed such a sight!” Eugenie’s fatigue had vanished. She watched in open fascination as servants bustled back and forth, bringing in luggage and carrying it up the stairs.

“I am sure my sister will be nearly as delighted when she reads your account of his arrival.” Tessa thought her sister would have stationed herself in the hall to look fetching, hoping to secure an introduction. Louise was anticipating her life in London with almost feverish eagerness, and being acquainted with an earl would have made her faint with joy. At least Eugenie was too shy to thrust herself forward that way.

“Oh, my dear, we must wait and catch a glimpse of the gentleman!” Mrs. Bates caught sight of Tessa’s wry smile and blushed. She was such a pink and white creature, Eugenie Bates. Tessa had been making her blush since she was a schoolgirl of ten, when Eugenie, a poor but beloved distant cousin of her mother’s, had come to live with them. All it took now was a certain look, because Eugenie had a vast experience of what Tessa’s looks might mean. “So I might relate it to Lady Woodall,” she protested. “Not to be rude, of course.”

“Naturally,” agreed Tessa. “It wouldn’t be rude at all, as we were standing here first, and because we simply have no choice but to wait until the hotel staff remember we exist.”

“Oh, I’m sure they haven’t forgotten us! Mr. Lucas will surely return at any moment. Are you tired, dear Tessa?