Yet, in Cleveland, Ohio, little had changed at the Hollenden Hotel. After Laura’s visit, the duchess thought to run and considered several places where she might be safe. In the end, she realized the room she was in was the last place anyone would look for her. She even went so far as to pretend to leave, taking a bag and a hatbox with her, and boarding a train going east. She scrutinized every face and saw nothing at all suspicious, but she could never be quite sure. A day later, she came back, slipped into the hotel at night and went to bed.
Yet, the ex-duchess of Glenartair had a lot to think about.
Her plans, her marvelous and explicit plans for getting back in London society’s good graces were at best, postponed. Of course, passing Blair off as Lord Okerman’s daughter was now out of the question. Furthermore, with a generous inheritance from Edward Bayington, tempting Blair with the possibility of great wealth would never work either.
Still, there had to be something she could do…something brilliant, daring, and perhaps even fun. Indeed, there must be something she could do.
London was not the only city to have a fascinating high society. There was Sweden, France, Spain, and of course, she longed to meet Russia’s Tsar, Nicholas II. How she loved long, fur trimmed coats, hats and matching muffs, and what better place to wear them than in St. Petersburg?
She often indulged in pleasant daydreams, but at night, the duchess suffered horrible nightmares. One such nightmare was especially haunting. She was standing in the middle of the King’s ballroom, wearing diamonds and a spun gold Paris gown made just for her. Her hair was black, her eyes glistened and the gentleman who came to dance with her was the love of her life, Jedediah Tanner. The music was magnificent, the chandeliers made her dress sparkle, and just as before, she was admired by every man and the envy of every woman.
Suddenly, a single shot rang out.
In slow motion, the expression on Jedediah’s face turned from devotion, to shock, and then to an accusation. He clutched his stomach, slumped to his knees, and fell dead at her feet. When the duchess looked down, she had her hand on her stomach too, and when she moved it…blood gushed out of a large hole in her torso.
Her dream was so real, the second shot opened her eyes wide.
Outside her window, an automobile backfired for the third time. She huffed, turned over, and tried to go back to sleep. Why not? There was nothing else to do. The world hated her, she had no future plans, and… Slowly, she sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
Perhaps the ex-duchess of Glenartair had a plan after all.
~ The end ~
Coming Soon – Book 3 in the Viking Series.
MORE MARTI TALBOTT BOOKS
Marti Talbott’s Highlander Series: books 1 – 5 are short stories that follow the MacGreagor clan through two generations. They are followed by:
Betrothed, Book 6
The Golden Sword, Book 7
Abducted, Book 8
A Time of Madness, Book 9
Triplets, Book 10
Secrets, Book 11
Choices, Book 12
Ill-Fated Love Book 13
The Other Side of the River, Book 14
The Viking Series:
The Viking, Book 1 explains how the clan came into being.
The Viking’s Daughter, Book 2
Book 3 is coming soon.
Marblestone Mansion (Scandalous Duchess Series) follows the MacGreagor clan into Colorado’s early 20th century. There are currently 10 books in this series.
The Jackie Harlan Mysteries
Seattle Quake 9.2, Book 1
Missing Heiress Book 2
Greed and a Mistress, Book 3
The Carson Series
The Promise, Book 1
Broken Pledge, Book 2
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Marblestone Mansion, Book 8 Page 23