Dangerous Escapade by Hilary Gilman

Author:Hilary Gilman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Pleasant Street Publications
Published: 2012-12-29T13:00:00+00:00

Seven

Lord Brabington had left his cousin's Ball feeling very much more hopeful. In common with the rest of the Polite World, he had been certain that the Earl would have lost no opportunity to attach the heiress to himself. That he should whistle away a fortune merely because of a previous engagement was quite out of Lord Brabington's understanding, and he had been pessimistic about his own chances of attracting the heiress. Now, however, he was very much inclined to think that she favoured him, not entirely to his surprise, for how could she resist so attractive a suitor as himself?

He reached his lodgings, still pleasantly daydreaming, but was jerked rudely out of his complacency by the news, hurriedly whispered by his anxious manservant, that a gentleman awaited him in the study.

He entered the room in some trepidation, for he was a nervous individual, nor was he reassured to find the room in darkness so that only the silhouette of his visitor was visible against the uncurtained window.

“Come in, you pathetic creature,” adjured his guest softly. “I have a good deal to say to you.”

Brabington swallowed and then said with an assumption of ease, “Oh, it's you, old fellow. I protest, you gave me quite a turn.”

“I am no fellow of yours, Brabington,” answered the visitor unpleasantly. “Sit down and tell me what happened tonight before I lose all patience with you.”

Brabington cast his interlocutor a look of acute dislike but obediently began to relate his progress that night. As he talked, the moon emerged from behind a bank of cloud and illuminated the familiar features of Mr Wellbeloved.

“You say she seemed pleased with you,” remarked this gentleman at the end of his companion's recital. “How strange! I had formed a higher opinion of her intelligence. However, her preference will no doubt assist us considerably.”

“I protest, Sir, your jests are unmannerly. I think I may say that my fair cousin will do as well with me for a husband as any.”

Wellbeloved favoured his confederate with an appraising stare but said nothing. Brabington moved fretfully under his scrutiny and then burst out with the request that had been upon his lips the entire interview. “I say, Wellbeloved, I'm devilish short just now and, you know, if I'm to court this wretched girl, I'll need to spend some money on her. Can't expect her to do without the odd posy, you know.”

“Very true,” calmly answered Wellbeloved and tossed over a purse. “But be warned, Brabington. If I discover that one penny of that has gone on the tables, I will assuredly break your neck.”

Brabington was affronted, “You have my word, Sir,” he declared haughtily. Wellbeloved smiled but made no comment. He merely proceeded to issue certain instructions to his confederate.

“You will continue to make yourself agreeable to the heiress in every way open to you. More important, you will eschew your former way of life totally and let it be widely known that you do so in the hope of being worthy of her affection.

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