Candice Hern by The Regency Rakes Trilogy Read Free Book Online Page B

unfortunate history and had recounted the sad tale to me."
    "Good heavens! You're not about to tell me that she really is a royal by-blow?" Robert said, his speared beefsteak suspended halfway to his mouth.
    The dowager's chin dropped. "I beg your pardon?" she said, her voice cracking slightly as she stared at her grandson in slack- jawed astonishment.
    "Yes, well, I thought that story was probably a bit wide of the mark," Robert said, returning his attention to his beefsteak. "Luckett tells me your staff is abuzz with speculations as to Miss Townsend's background."
    "Good God," the dowager said as she settled back in her chair. "And they think she has royal blood?" She glared openmouthed at Robert for a moment and then burst into loud hoots of laughter. "Oh, that is rich, my dear," she said when she was able. "Strange. I have always given the highest credence to servants' gossip." She chuckled softly as she shook her head in amazement.
    "Emily is indeed wellborn, however," she continued after a moment. "Servants always do recognize quality. She is in fact the granddaughter of the Earl of Pentwick."
    Robert, curious at best to hear Miss Townsend's story, silently rose his brows in interest as he tackled a plate of eggs. The dowager proceeded to enlighten him with the tale of the runaway marriage of Emily's parents and the estrangement from her mother's family. She also told what she knew, sparing no poignant detail, of Emily's loss of her mother at an early age, and her father's disastrous addiction to the gaming tables, which had left Emily penniless upon his death.
    "I believe I met Townsend once or twice," Robert said as he stood up and moved to the sideboard to pour himself another cup of coffee. "Unbelievably reckless. I never joined his table, though. He seemed too pathetically desperate. Makes a man feel dashed uncomfortable. Didn't realize the man had a family."
    "Nor did he," the dowager snarled as she held out her cup for Robert to refill. "When Catherine died, I decided I would ask Emily to come live with me here in Bath as my companion. I admit it was impulsive. As you say, I've never had need of a companion. But I haven't regretted it. Emily has been a joy to have around. And, believe it or not, my dear, I really am getting older and unfortunately slowing down a bit. I have found that it is really quite helpful to have a companion."
    "It's a touching story. Grandmother," Robert said as he sipped his coffee. "But, I suspect, incomplete. No offense, my dear, but I have never known you to be particularly charitable toward your fellow man. In fact, I am sure I have heard you more than once tell me that your opinion of humanity was so low that—"
    "Oh, hush!" the dowager snapped. "Surely I can offer help to one well-bred but impoverished female without having my motives questioned?"
    "On the contrary. I know you too well, my dear. I believe you must have other plans for the lovely but impoverished Miss Townsend."
    "Hmph!" the dowager snorted in reply.
    Robert continued to glare at her in that piercing way he had often found to be most effective, and she finally sighed in resignation.
    "Well," she began slowly, straightening the lace at her sleeves, not daring to look at Robert, "I thought that being here in Bath would give her an opportunity to get out more in Society. Perhaps meet some nice gentleman .. ."
    "Oho! Now we get to the core of the matter," Robert interrupted. "You old fraud, you are acting as matchmaker!"
    "And so what if I am?" she cried defensively. "Emily is not meant for the lonely life of a paid companion or governess. She is lovely and intelligent and well educated and charming. She is not bred for the shelf, my boy. I declare, if her father had provided her a come-out Season, she would have taken on the instant."
    "You astound me, ma'am. You have deceived me all these years into believing that matchmaking games were beneath you."
    "And so they always have been, Robert. I find no joy in interfering