A Lady by Chance (Historical Regency Romance) by Bolen Cheryl

Author:Bolen, Cheryl [Bolen, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Regency romance
Published: 2011-05-24T04:00:00+00:00

"Really, Lydia, your brother would be shocked if he knew you discussed such things with a man," Anna chided as they rode through Hyde Park in Morgie's curricle that afternoon. Lydia and Morgie had made a wager concerning the probability that Lady Rand, who was very much married, would meet with John Hancombe, her lover, in the park that afternoon.

"Morgie doesn't count as a man," Lydia said.

"Don't know that I like your line of reasoning, Lyddie," Morgie said.

A broad smile crossed Lydia's plain face. "I didn't mean it the way it sounded. What I meant is that you're like a brother, not a man with whom I have to act properly."

"Nice to know ladies don't have to act properly when I'm around," Morgie said mischievously.

"The fact is," Lydia continued, unflapped by his remark, "you're better than a brother. Charles has been an absolute ogre lately."

"I will accept that as a compliment, even if it is at the expense of my best friend."

"You must allow, Lydia," Anna said, "Charles is very tolerant of your wagering on horses even though it is not a ladylike pursuit."

"As well he should, since he led her down that unladylike road himself!" Morgie defended, nodding to an acquaintance who passed by.

"I have no complaint in Charles's treatment of me," Lydia said. "I could hope for him to be more amiable at home and to not stay away so much. When he's home, he's cross and tired and acts as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders."

"That he does," Anna lamented.

With smiling faces and a profusion of waves, they drove past Cynthia and Captain Smythe. When Captain Symthe's phaeton was well past them, Lydia turned to Morgie. "Has the expected union between my sister and Captain Smythe made it into the betting book at White's yet?"

"Indeed it has," he said, calmly reining in.

"Oh, please enter a wager for me, Morgie," Lydia said.

"'Pon my word, Lyddie, even your brother would draw the line at that."

She pouted. "But I know, as a gentleman, you will not disappoint me, Morgie."

"Very well, Lyddie. What bet do you wish me to place?"

"That Captain Smythe will make his offer by the end of the fortnight."

"It would not surprise me if Mr. Reeves did not offer for Kate by that time also," Anna said.

"Now I draw the line at betting for a marchioness," Morgie said. "Haverstock wouldn't like that one bit."

"I assure you, Morgie, I have no desire to wager."

Lydia's eyes narrowed. "I cannot like that match one bit. Kate positively detested the man two seasons ago, and now because she believes he will be duke, she welcomes his address with enthusiasm. It would serve her right if old Blassingame took a young wife and sired sons."

Anna refrained from commenting, though her thoughts matched Lydia's.

"Morgie," Lydia exclaimed, "you'll never guess where Anna and I were this afternoon."

"Let me think. Was it Bedlam?"

"No!" Lydia said with feigned irritation.

"Am I to enumerate all the sites in London, or do you enlighten me?"

"I shall enlighten.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.