Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

W hat a bloody dull evening.

August hadn't even spoken to her. Nor glanced at her over Maria's dining room table. His gaze had never once settled on Hazel with anything more than passing interest.

If she hadn't known better, wasn't still picking off bits of sand from her skin, Hazel would have assumed she hadn't spent the better part of the day rolling about on the beach with August. Finally, as the night had drawn on and August had partnered with Lady Coraline in whist, Hazel had found herself in an unending game of chess with Garland.

"Did you enjoy your day, Miss Dartmont?" Garland took in the bits of red on her cheeks. The layer of powder she'd applied had done little good in hiding the explosion of freckles across her skin.

"I did, my lord. How was Appleton?"

"Splendid. I escorted Lady Coraline about the shops. The duke was not in evidence." He eyed her cheeks once more.

"How fortunate for you, my lord."

Garland squinted down at his glass of brandy. "I don't think it has furthered my suit." He nodded towards Coraline leaning into August as they played cards. "Can she not see Courtland isn't interested in her, only her dowry? He is in dire straits, I'm certain."

Hazel moved one of her pawns. "You don't know that to be true, my lord. Lady Coraline might wish to be a duchess." The words pained her to say.

"More her mother, Lady Leek. If given the chance, Coraline would choose me. But I have it on good authority that the duke will offer for her." He shrugged. "I overheard a conversation between Lady Eliza and Lady Leek."

Hazel struggled to keep from showing his words bothered her. The idea of Coraline and August was becoming ever more unpleasant.

"It is a foregone conclusion that they will announce their betrothal upon the return to London. Unless…" Garland paused. "Something is done to stop it."

Hazel arched a brow at him. If he meant to ruin Coraline, she wished him well in his efforts. Lady Leek may have allowed Garland to escort them around Appleton, but there was little chance of anything else.

"Do you propose to stop it, my lord?" Everhurst reappeared at Hazel's side, for which she was grateful. Garland hadn't been the wisest choice of chess opponent.

"I'm not certain," Garland huffed. "But I must get her away from that libertine."

"I must tell you, my lord, that I have seen Courtland in battle. You would not survive a duel with him. If that is your intent."

"I seek no duel with the duke." Garland paled.

"He'll seek one if he hears you disparaging him." Everhurst shrugged.

Garland drained his glass and shot Everhurst a scathing look. "Please excuse me, Miss Dartmont. I'll return in a moment. I require something from the sideboard."

Everhurst shook his head as Garland stomped away. "Miss Dartmont, I leave you for a few moments and find you playing chess with Garland. What have you done to endure such punishment?"

"For one, my lord, I insulted you." She looked up at him. "I am truly sorry."

"You've already apologized."

"Not enough," she said, thinking of the scar on August's back once more. "I was incredibly rude and horribly judgmental. I am truly sorry."

"You are forgiven your prejudices, Miss Dartmont. I assure you." Everhurst considered her for a moment. "You may not think highly of Courtland, but his bravery that day cannot be disputed. He saved my life. And my leg." He tapped one thigh. "They wanted to take it, but Courtland refused, screaming at the surgeon from his cot beside me, burning up with fever, as was I. I'm still not sure how we both survived when so many did not."

Hazel cast a discreet look in August's direction, wanting more than anything to go to him. Hold August in her arms and stroke that terrible scar with her fingertips.

Everhurst cleared his throat. "In speaking of Courtland when he first arrived, I may have given you the wrong impression. Contributed, accidentally, to your opinion of him."

Her brows drew together in confusion. "I'm sorry, I don't recall?—"

"When I said the duke was upset at my manner of addressing him," Everhurst interrupted her. "I called him as Your Grace and he wasn't ready, you see, to be a duke though I didn't realize it. He always detested all the deference and fawning that surrounded his uncle and Edward. He preferred to be nothing more than a careless libertine." Everhurst shrugged. "Though he hasn't been that man for a very long time. But I had reminded him he was the Duke of Courtland."

Hazel ran a finger over the edge of the chessboard, unsure how to respond. So many of the assumptions she'd made about August had been proven untrue.

Garland returned, glass full of brandy once more, and Everhurst took his leave, taking Hazel's hand and wishing her a good evening.

When Garland won the game due to Hazel's inattention because she was far too occupied with her thoughts, she pled a headache and withdrew. She didn't care to spend the rest of the evening watching August and Coraline play whist. And if she had to sit with Garland much longer and listen to his endless tirade against the Duke of Courtland possibly wedding Coraline, she might well scream.

Because he wasn't a bloody dalliance. She'd finally admitted that much.

"You should have borrowed one of my bonnets." Maria caught Hazel before she could escape the drawing room. "Cheeks like a tomato. Did you swim? I assume that is what you set out to do." She linked their arms and whispered, "Or perhaps you caught a big fish."

Hazel pulled Maria out of the drawing room. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't even own a rod or a net."

"A ducal fish." Maria waggled her brows. "I'd venture to guess your backside is as red as your cheeks."

The skin of her back and bottom were indeed both tinged with red. That's what comes of being naked on the beach with the sun beating down on you while straddling a splendid duke.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, my lady." Hazel continued down the hall, dragging Maria well out of hearing range of the other guests.

"Both you and Courtland appear to have been in the sun for the better part of the day while the rest of my guests accompanied me to Appleton." Maria gave her a pointed look. "I find it a bit suspicious."

"Perhaps Courtland was walking about the gardens," Hazel offered.

"Lady Leek was beside herself that neither of you were in evidence. Distressed enough to allow Coraline to be escorted into the tea shop by Garland," Maria scoffed. "Though she doesn't care for him at all."

"I'm sure she calmed down after speaking to Lady Eliza." At Maria's questioning look, she said, "She as much as said to Lady Leek that Courtland means to offer for Coraline. Garland overheard them."

"The thought distresses you." Maria touched her arm. "Because there is something between you and Courtland."

"Don't be silly, Maria." The words stuck in Hazel's throat. "What would a duke have to do with me? I'm an on-the-shelf lowborn spinster with nothing to recommend me but my fortune. Just ask Lady Leek."

"Her opinion is less important than you imagine, Hazel. Not everyone in society shares it. And I include Courtland in that number."

"You've had too much ratafia," Hazel scoffed. "Or you are muddled by the attentions of Lord Balwyn."

"Balwyn is incredibly attentive." Maria turned slightly, waving vaguely in the silver-haired lord's direction. "I like him quite a bit." She frowned. "Stop trying to distract me with the delicious Lord Balwyn."

"Go back to your guests, Maria." Hazel's eyes drifted to the far corner of the drawing room, where August's hair shone brightly at the card table, Lady Coraline by his side. "My temples ache from far too much sun today."

"Or too much duke," Maria said under her breath, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'll see you in the morning."