Tempting the Footman (House of Devon #5) - Lauren Smith Page 0,44

now watching her. “Lord Devon, may I speak to you?”

The duke nodded gravely and stepped into the corridor with her.

“Is it true that you’ve dismissed Mr. Montague?”

The duke’s face turned a ruddy red. “Er . . . Yes, unfortunately.”

“You should know that Mrs. Hamill attempted to coerce him into her bed, and she came to you to have him dismissed after he turned her down.”

This took the duke by surprise. “I was not aware of that. Then you deny that you had an indiscretion with the man?”

“I do not deny it.” Venetia wouldn’t deny it. It would be an insult to Adrian to pretend, when he’d already suffered the consequences of their secret love affair.

“Then I fear my actions must stand, and I suspect your grandmother will have much to say to you about this matter.”

In that moment, Venetia had a brilliant flash of clarity. She could see a future she had not been brave enough to fully envision before. A future where she spoke her vows in a church to the only man she knew was worth marrying. She saw amber-eyed babes. She saw light and laughter in her life. She saw Adrian.

“Has he already gone?” she asked Lord Devon.

“He is on a coach heading for London. Mr. Grimsby had to leave the party a day early.”

“I see . . .” Venetia was debating what to do, when the drawing room door opened and Mr. Sherman joined them.

“Lady Venetia, I sense that my sister has caused you some distress. Is there anything I might do to make amends?” The gentleman seemed completely sincere, and that gave her a spark of inspiration.

“Actually, yes. My ankle is still not up to riding on my own, but I desperately need to catch up with a coach on the road. Could you help me?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” She looked to Lord Devon. “I am bringing him back, and I would greatly appreciate it if you would treat him well until I’m able to pack and leave with him.”

“Leave . . . with him?” Lord Devon echoed uncertainly. “I’m not sure I understand.”

Venetia’s heart was beating wildly now. “I’ve decided to marry him.” She said this with a smile that made her feel like she was glowing from within. Marry Adrian—yes, that was what she was going to do.

For a moment the duke simply stared at her. “I . . . Yes, yes, you can come back, of course. I like the man, Lady Venetia. It upset me greatly to have to send him away, but your grandmother . . .”

Venetia didn’t have time to listen. She started toward the front door, Mr. Sherman at her side.

“So you have made a choice?” he said quietly. “I had rather hoped . . . But no matter. The best man won, and I am happy to help you.”

“You know, then?” she asked.

Mr. Sherman instructed a footman to go to the stables and have his horse brought round as quickly as possible. He smiled sadly. “It was hard not to see. It was obvious that you were in love—it just wasn’t with me.”

She put a hand on his arm. “I am sorry, Mr. Sherman.”

“Don’t be, Lady Venetia. I confess that there wasn’t as much of a spark as I had hoped for.”

“And there should be, shouldn’t there?”

“In the best marriages, yes. I had hoped that you and I might find a spark, but it seems you are destined for that footman.”

A groom walked up with a horse, and Mr. Sherman went down the steps toward it. “Allow me to mount you up first.”

Mr. Sherman handed her up. The saddle was already slick with rain, but Venetia didn’t care. She held the reins while Mr. Sherman got up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her to grasp the reins, and they took off down the road. Neither of them spoke, and the rain grew heavier. Venetia was soon chilled to the bone, and after nearly a quarter of an hour she was afraid that they might not catch up with the coach.

Mr. Sherman raised a hand. “There!”

The black shape that was visible through the rain was indeed a coach.

Mr. Sherman called out to the coachman as he moved his horse closer. “Hello there! Please stop!”

The driver jerked on the reins, and the coach rolled to a stop. A man on top, covered in a rain-slicked cloak, sat hunched forward, unmoving. The driver, lower down on the front of the vehicle, turned to look at them.

“What’s the matter, sir?”