(1991) Scandal by Amanda Quick

Author:Amanda Quick [Quick, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, love_history
ISBN: 9780553289329
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1991-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Simon looked up from the papers on his desk at the sound of loud commotion out in the hall. Apparently his aunt and Emily had returned from their shopping expedition. Curious about the results of the foray to Oxford Street, Simon stood up and crossed the lair full of jeweled dragons. He opened the library door and smiled in amusement at the sight that greeted him.

The two footmen were hastening to fetch a vast quantity of parcels from the carriage that stood at the bottom of the steps. Emily, dressed in one of the pastel morning gowns she had brought with her from the country, was dashing about giving orders in an excited voice. Her red curls were partially concealed under a flower-trimmed straw bonnet and she had her spectacles perched slightly askew on her nose.

Lady Araminta Merryweather stood aside to watch the scene, obviously as amused as Simon.

“Please take it all straight upstairs,” Emily said, inspecting each package as it came out of the carriage. “Tell Lizzie she is to unpack everything immediately. I shall come up at once and just make certain all is in order. Oh, do be careful with that, Harry. It’s the most beautiful parasol you have ever seen. It’s got little green and gold dragons all over it.”

“Aye, ma’am,” Harry said, giving his mistress a broken-toothed grin that had been known to make grown men flee in terror. “No need to sass. I’ll look after it as if it were something I’d snaffled for meself.”

There were a few other things broken and missing on the beefy ex-pirate besides some teeth. The list included a broken nose that had never healed properly and a missing left hand that had been replaced by a vicious-looking hook. Due to the footman’s unpredictable effect on visitors, Greaves did not allow him to serve at the dinner table on the rare occasions when Blade entertained at home. But when the butler, on Simon’s orders, had cautiously assigned Harry to serve the new lady of the house, Emily had been completely unperturbed by the hook. Harry had been won over instantly.

“Thank you, Harry. That is very kind of you.” Emily gave the footman a brilliant, grateful smile.

Simon watched Harry blush and stammer like a schoolboy and wondered fleetingly if Emily understood that snaffled was thieves’ cant for stolen.

Emily turned a delighted face toward Lady Merryweather. “I have had an absolutely thrilling morning, Araminta. How can I ever thank you?”

“It was my pleasure, Emily.” Araminta stood back as an especially large box was brought into the hall.

“Gracious, do have a care, George,” Emily instructed the other footman as he carted a parcel up the steps and through the door. She hurried over to check anxiously on the condition of the box. “It came from Madam Claude’s and it is the cleverest little hat in the world.” She caught sight of Simon lounging in the doorway and her eyes brightened. “Wait until you see it, my lord. The hat is à la militaire, and I have ordered a beautiful riding habit to accompany it.

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