A Scandalous Lady by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

But even as Camilla was penning his direction on the folded letter Nicholas was bidding farewell to his sister.

‘Why are you rushing off like this, Lovell? I thought you were staying at least another week.’

‘No, I only said I might.’ Nicholas edged towards the door of Georgiana’s bedchamber. ‘That is a prodigiously fetching nightcap, my dear.’

Lady Forres patted the lace confection complacently. ‘Mechlin lace, the finest. But do not seek to divert me, Nicholas. What are you about? Is this anything to do with Miss Knight?’ Her clear blue eyes, so like his own, appraised him from amongst the pile of pillows heaped against her immensely fashionable Egyptian headboard. ‘A nice girl, as far as I can tell.’

Nicholas gritted his teeth, but produced a convincing air of uninterest. ‘Nice enough, I grant you, but the family is hardly what one would call the best match for a Lovell.’

Georgiana put down her chocolate cup upon the night-stand with some emphasis. ‘I have never heard such specious nonsense! Since when have you cared for rank? There is breeding there, and sense. You have no need to marry for money or land, let alone connections! Miss Knight is as charming as she is beautiful.’ Infuriated by her brother’s silent resistance, she warmed to her argument. ‘You complain when I introduce you to débutantes, saying that they are shallow and vapid. Just what are you looking for in a woman, Nicholas?’

Nicholas tightened his lips and regarded his sister through narrowed lids. ‘I know precisely what I want in a wife, Georgiana, and I will know it when I see her.’ As in fact he had already done, not that he had any intention of confiding that error of judgement! ‘You seem to forget, sister, that I am not twelve years old. I will thank you not to meddle and to leave me to arrange my own affairs.’ Lady Forres said nothing, but from the speculative gleam in her eyes Nicholas knew he had done nothing but arouse her interest. ‘Now, I must be on my way. I have to call upon Freddie Corsham before I leave Bath. I will write to you from Town.’

Half an hour later Nicholas found Freddie just risen from his bed, sitting at the breakfast table and eyeing the roast beef with a queasy eye. ‘Morning Lovell. Sit down—quietly, damn you!—and help yourself to coffee. Evans, a cup for his lordship.’

‘Hung over, Freddie?’ Nicholas enquired unsympathetically. He had had a fractured night himself, but at least he had not got over-indulgence in brandy to add to his troubles. He helped himself lavishly to bread and beef and fell to with sudden appetite.

Freddie watched him liverishly. ‘What are you doing here anyway? Thought you were going up to Town before coming on to Abbotsford.’

Nicholas waved away the proffered coffee and accepted a tankard of ale from Freddie’s man. ‘That’s why I’m here. I’m not coming to Suffolk, I’m afraid. Pressing business.’

‘What?’ Freddie exclaimed, then winced. ‘But I promised my mama that you’d be there! Can’t let me down now, old boy.

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.