The Sisters Traherne: Lady Meriel's Duty Lord Lyford's Secret by Amanda Scott

Author:Amanda Scott [Scott, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00CE34ZD4
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2013-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

Lord Lyford’s Secret

To William Douglas, M.D., his dozen doughnuts a small price for life

1

“OH, GWEN, F-FORGIVE ME,” stammered the young lady in lavender sprigged muslin standing uncertainly beside Lord Tallyn’s stately butler upon the threshold of the front drawing room at Tallyn London House.

“Pamela!” Slender, flaxen-haired Lady Gwenyth Traherne threw her book aside and leapt up from the glove-leather sofa in the window embrasure to move with light, quick steps toward her visitor, her hands stretched out in welcome. “My gracious me, what are you doing in town?” Without waiting for a response, she said to the butler, “Marwyn, bring refreshments at once. Miss Beckley looks ready to faint from hunger.”

Self-consciously pushing a shining raven lock back under her fetching lavender bonnet with one hand while she released the ends of the lacy shawl she had clutched to her generous bosom in order to take one of Gwenyth’s hands with the other, Miss Beckley said anxiously, “I know I ought not to have come to you like this, but I could not think what else to do.”

“Don’t be a goose,” Lady Gwenyth Traherne said, giving Miss Beckley’s small lavender-gloved hand an affectionate squeeze. “I have been bored to distraction, for my aunt has long since deserted me to visit her widowed mama-in-law in Berkshire, and the last gala at Vauxhall was rained out on Friday. Even the Italian opera has closed, so with nothing of interest to do until the new theater at Covent Garden opens for the king’s Jubilee celebration next month, I am very glad to see you. But how is it that you are here without so much as a word to warn us of your coming? I had thought you still fixed at Miss Fletcher’s school, though why you should be, in summer and at your great age, I’m sure I don’t know.”

Glancing over her shoulder and clearly taking courage at finding the butler gone and the drawing-room doors firmly shut behind him, Pamela said dramatically, “I have run away! I came up to town on the common coach, and I depend upon you, Gwen, to stand my friend, for matters have come to a dreadful pass. Cousin Marcus has said I am not to make my come-out at all this year, even in the Little Season, though Papa promised, and”—she dissolved into tears—“and, oh, Gwen, he has said he will not consent to my m-marriage!”

Gwenyth, three inches taller, looked down at her in bewilderment. “Marriage? But how is this? You have written of no one for whom you feel even the slightest tenderness.”

Pamela’s violet eyes grew wide beneath their heavy dark lashes. “Oh, no. Why, how should I have formed an attachment when Miss Fletcher never lets us near any gentleman to whom we are not quite firmly related? I never had the courage to sneak out of school like you and some of the others did.”

“Hush, goose,” admonished Lady Gwenyth, her light blue eyes atwinkle. “My brother Tallyn is at home and you will confirm his worst opinion of me if you prattle such revealing stuff to him.

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