An Unexpected Countess. Laurie Benson

beautiful blue spencer said it all. ‘What now?’ she pleaded, her cheeks turning scarlet.

      The carriage jerked to a halt. They looked at each other with wide eyes. Just as the door began to open, Sarah shoved her white cotton bag containing her new beautiful pink silk slippers against Katrina’s chest.

      Sarah had eyed those lovely slippers through the shop window for weeks. She really didn’t need another pair—her dressing room contained more shoes than any woman should own—but this pair was so beautiful—so perfect. They were in the Grecian style, with square toes and open tops that laced together with delicate pink satin ribbons. Her favourite part was the wider deeper pink silk ribbons that tied around her ankle.

      She had waited weeks for them. When she’d finally tried them on an hour ago, it had felt as though she was wrapping herself in the finest present in all of London. They had cost a pretty penny of her pin money, but they were absolutely undeniably worth it. Or they had been before she had sacrificed them for her friend. She looked out the window, unable to watch Katrina clutch those exquisite ruined shoes to her milk-soaked spencer a minute longer. Sarah wasn’t certain who wanted to cry more, her or Katrina.

      The moment the carriage steps were lowered, Katrina sprinted inside the house in a manner not at all befitting a duchess. ‘Do come inside,’ Katrina called from over her shoulder. ‘There’s something of great importance I need to discuss with you.’

      Reynolds, Katrina’s very proper butler, held the massive door to the majestic house open. It was obvious it was taking all his self-control not to stare after his mistress. He gave a respectful bow to Sarah as she entered the house. ‘Good day, Miss Forrester. Would you care to wait in the Gold Drawing Room?’

      From past experience, Sarah knew Katrina would be a while. She handed her bonnet and spencer to Reynolds. ‘Might I wait for Her Grace in the library, Reynolds?’

      ‘Of course, miss. Shall I show you the way?’

      Walking past him, she waved him off. ‘There’s no need. I know where it is.’

      There was no sense sitting idly in a drawing room where she was sure to begin worrying about how she was going to get Lady Everill’s bracelet. It would be much better to be curled up with a book in the enormous library. Within minutes she was standing on the threshold, eyeing the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that covered all four walls. At the far end of the room, a massive carved fireplace and two bookshelves jutted into the room. For all its grandeur, it was still cosy and Sarah understood why it was one of Katrina’s favourite rooms in the house.

      Floorboards creaked as she began to walk beside the shelves. There had to be books on interesting topics somewhere in the vast collection.

      ‘Is that my tea, Reynolds?’ From the far end of the room, behind a wall of books, the voice of the Duke’s grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Lyonsdale, rang out.

      ‘Forgive me, Your Grace, but it’s just me.’

      A small head with grey hair visible under a fine white lace cap peaked from the edge of the bookshelf. Her diamond earrings sparkled in the sunlight. ‘Do you have my tea, Miss Forrester?’

      Sarah curtsied. ‘No, Your Grace.’

      ‘Than why are you here?’

      Sarah bit back a smile at the woman’s familiar, direct nature. ‘I am waiting for Katrina. She is attending to Augusta. I thought I’d find a good book with which to occupy myself until she is finished.’

      Lyondale’s grandmother resided in Lyonsdale House during the Season and had kindly taken Katrina under her wing, becoming a grandmother to her as much as to the Duke. She was smart, direct and frequently appeared to be up to mischief. When Sarah’s hair turned grey, she wanted to be just like the Dowager.

      The woman’s petite form moved from behind the shelves and she hobbled with a regal air towards Sarah. ‘Were you shopping?’

      ‘We were indeed.’

      ‘Did you have success?’

      An image of the perfect pair of slippers almost made Sarah sigh. ‘A pair of slippers I ordered were finished and Katrina accompanied me to fetch them.’

      ‘A woman can never have too many pairs of slippers.’

      ‘I couldn’t agree more.’

      ‘If you’re searching for novels, they’re at the far end of the room, my dear. Once you find one, I suggest waiting for her in the Crimson Drawing Room. The light in there is lovely this time of day.’

      Sarah knew the comment was more a direction than a suggestion. As long as she had something to occupy herself with during the wait, it didn’t matter what room she was in. ‘Thank you. I know it well.’

      ‘Capital.’ A smile brightened the Dowager’s face and made her eyes sparkle. ‘I need to see what is taking so long with my tea. I’m beginning to wonder if I must to sail to China myself to retrieve it.’ She walked to the door and tugged on the tapestry bell pull.

      It didn’t take long for Sarah to find Waverley. The novel proved so engrossing it was a wonder she didn’t walk into a wall on her way down the hall. Upon entering the drawing room, she took the nearest chair and turned the page.

      The sound of a throat clearing from her left made her jump. At the far end of the room Hartwick stood before the windows, a glass in his hand. He was dressed in his usual black attire, save for his snowy white shirt and cravat.

      Oh, lud! She should have never left the library.

      He strolled towards her until his shiny black Hessians almost touched the tips of her white kidskin boots. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been standing in the moonlight with his chiselled features glistening with drops of rain.

      They stared into each other’s eyes, challenging the other to break the silence that stretched between them. He caved first.

      ‘Miss Forrester.’ It came out almost as a scold, as if he was annoyed she had interrupted his solitude.

      ‘Hartwick.’

      ‘I almost did not recognise you without your trews. Should I be concerned you’re developing a habit of showing up at unexpected times?’

      ‘No more so than my concern that you’re taking far too much pleasure in startling me.’

      ‘Touché.’ He tipped his head respectfully and motioned to the chair next to her. ‘May I?’

      When she nodded her consent, he sat down and picked up her wrist with his ungloved hand to read the spine of her book. Tingles ran up and down her arm.

      She pulled her hand away. ‘I’m waiting for Katrina.’

      ‘I gathered as much.’

      ‘This is an odd location to find you at this time of day...alone.’

      ‘I, too, am waiting for my friend. He’s attending to matters with his secretary. I imagine he will be returning shortly.’

      ‘Returning? I always thought you and Lyonsdale met in his study.’

      ‘Apparently he no longer wants me in that room.’ He took a sip from the amber liquid in his glass. ‘I believe banned was the word he used.’

      His nonchalant manner made her smile. ‘I can’t imagine why.’

      He looked off into the distance, then focused back on her. ‘Some nonsense about brandy.’

      That was not what she’d expected to hear and she glanced pointedly at his glass.

      ‘He accompanied me to purchase a horse today at Tattersall’s. I’m imbibing as a celebration of sorts. And you, Miss Forrester, what brings you to this stupendously decorated room today?’

      ‘Katrina and I were shopping. She’s attending to Augusta. I suppose she will not be long.’

      He