Read To Love, Honor, and Obey... (Fated for Love) for Free Online Page A

would also fake interest for the sake of being kind. Yes, that was it. She should rescue him, but this is exactly what her mother had wanted to happen for the evening, and as long as it was happening, Obedience was not the target of her icy glares. She decided to let Chance take care of himself. After all, this was the sort of thing he must do all the time during society affairs. She turned to the duke and gave him a grateful smile. He nodded and sipped his wine, his eyes fatigued. She unconsciously reached over and squeezed his hand. He favored her with one of his rare, genuine, smiles, the ends of his wiry mustache lifting with his cheeks. It was the first time this evening she was actually enjoying herself. It suddenly occurred to her that the room was silent. She turned and found her and the duke the focus of the other occupants. Her mother looked intrigued, her sister looked confused, and Chance was smiling in a way she couldn’t interpret.
    “Patience, have you told Lord Willowton about your new kitten?” Obedience deflected the attention back to Patience, and Patience was eager for it. She chattered excitedly while Chance nodded and smiled politely. Her mother seemed pleased to watch them and sip her wine.
    The duke leaned closer to Obedience and whispered, “Are you throwing my son to the wolves?”
    Obedience stifled a laugh. “He can handle it, I think.”
    “You are encouraging them. Are you a traitor?” He smiled wickedly.
    “I would never betray you, but I have to pretend otherwise for the moment.”
    “Rather devious, I would say.” He sat back in his chair and the dessert was brought out.
    This time Obedience only took one bite under the watchful eye of the duke and the glare of warning from her mother. Every time Chance tried to speak to her, she directed his attention back to Patience. She was growing tired, her nerves waning under the volley of appearing normal and throwing Chance at her sister. She was devious and now feeling rather guilty. She felt no loyalty to her sister and yet here she was encouraging her, when in all reality , a marriage between her sister and Chance was the last thing she wanted. She would have to warn him. Not that he didn’t know how to dispense with marriage-minded ladies on his own, but a warning certainly wouldn’t hurt, and would go a long way toward soothing her conscience. She would apologize, as well.
    It was time to return to the drawing room. Chance stood and pulled out Patience’s chair for her. She smiled at him, batting her eyelashes again , and he had to stop himself from shaking her. This night couldn’t end any sooner. He went to help his father, but he raised his hand. “I think I will retire. Please enjoy the remainder of your evening without me,” he said.
    Chance could tell the evening exhausted him . He felt exhausted, too. For whatever reason, Obedience was trying to feed him to her sister, or maybe just avoid him. The duke said his farewells and a footman wheeled him from the room. Chance escorted the ladies back to the drawing room, praying they would depart soon. It didn’t seem likely the way Patience sat beside him on the sofa with her mother on the other side. He almost groaned aloud. He watched Obedience bolt for the sideboard, still determined to keep a distance from him.
    “I’m sorry your father couldn’t join us ,” Lady Wickenham said with a sympathetic smile. “Perhaps we can get to know each other better another time.”
    “He tires easily these days ,” Chance responded.
    “My dear Patience has endless energy . I’ve even let her take over the running of the house for me.”
    Obedience rolled her eyes and poured herself a sherry. Chance had been right about spirits making the night more tolerable . Her head felt pleasantly light. She held up a glass to catch his attention and he nodded. She poured him a liberal amount of Brandy and took it to him.
    “My, Obedience, you serve so well, maybe you should become a maid?”