Chapter 46: Of Unfortunate Encounters and Missing Reason
The embrace was sudden.
Violent, even.
Duke Aurelgrave's eyes widened in utter shock as Lord Hawthorne's arms wrapped around him with the enthusiasm of a man greeting a long-lost brother rather than a mere acquaintance.
For one dreadful moment, Aurelgrave could neither speak nor breathe.
The force of the earl's greeting crushed the air from his chest.
In the midst of this chaos, the delicate napkin Aurelgrave had been carrying so carefully slipped from his fingers.
It drifted downward and landed upon the ground.
Hawthorne, entirely unaware of the small disaster unfolding beneath him, stepped directly upon it.
His foot pressed the linen deep into the floor as he continued enthusiastically embracing the duke.
"I say!" Hawthorne exclaimed with alarming cheer. "How fortunate to encounter you here!"
Aurelgrave's face slowly changed colour as different expressions took over his face.
