Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd Read Free Book Online Page A

appreciate that.”
    “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Harrington.” He bowed. “I hope to continue our acquaintance.”
    Robert waited until Andrew was out of earshot and then turned to Miss Harrington, who was looking rather wretched.
    “I’m sorry, Major. I won’t blurt out your good news like that again, I promise.”
    “No harm done. Stanford’s a lawyer. He’s used to keeping secrets.” He sighed. “The news will come out eventually. It always does.”
    Miss Harrington closed her fan. “He seems like a very respectable man.”
    “Who, Andrew Stanford? He is.”
    “I understand he is a widower with two small children.”
    “I believe that is correct.” He frowned. “Why are you asking about him?”
    “Why do you think?”
    Realization dawned. “You think he might make you an amiable husband?”
    “Don’t you?”
    “Well, as to that—”
    “Don’t turn around!” Miss Harrington hissed. “Oh my goodness, it’s too late, she’s seen you.”
    It was, of course, Miss Chingford. Robert rose and bowed.
    “Miss Chingford.”
    His former betrothed clutched a hand to her throat and stared at him as if he’d grown two heads.
    “You? Here?” She shuddered. “Am I to be hounded by your presence forever? After ruining my chances of marrying once, have you returned to London to ensure that if you can’t have me, no one else will either?”
    Her throbbing voice was attracting attention. Robert cast an anguished plea at Miss Harrington, who was watching the scene with great interest.
    “With all due respect, Miss Chingford, I have no desire to prevent you from—”
    “And yet you brought that creature to London with you to steal away another of my potential husbands!” She pointed back into the ballroom where Miss Anna was just concluding her dance with Broughton.
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Miss Anna Harrington.”
    “I did no such thing, I—”
    Miss Harrington stood up. “I can assure you that my sister was invited to London by our aunt and uncle, not by Major Kurland. And she may dance with whomever she pleases.”
    “I should’ve known you would all be in this together. You are determined to ruin my existence.” Miss Chingford looked distraught. “It was probably your plan all along, for you to marry my darling Robert and for your sister to marry his friend.”
    “I think you should go and lie down, Miss Chingford,” Miss Harrington said firmly. “I fear your imagination is running away with you. As far as I can ascertain, Major Kurland relinquished all interest in you and your matrimonial prospects when you decided you would not suit.”
    “So why has he followed me to London to blight my attempts to find a new husband?”
    Robert decided it was time to intervene. “I came to London to settle matters with my regiment. That is all. I have no intention of interfering with you or your matrimonial prospects. In truth, I wish you every success!”
    Miss Chingford recoiled from Robert’s rather biting tone and turned to Miss Harrington.
    “He is an unfeeling brute. I am glad to be rid of him. Perhaps you may deal with him better, but I cannot wish you well. I wish all of you had stayed in Kurland St. Mary!” She tossed her head and flounced away to where her mother and a group of young ladies were gathered just inside the door.
    “I wish I’d stayed there, too,” Robert muttered. “Silly woman.”
    Miss Harrington sighed. “She lives her life as though she were on the stage and everything is about her needs and her wishes. It must be so fatiguing.”
    “And if she considers Broughton her beau, him making sheep’s eyes at Miss Anna probably didn’t help.”
    “That was certainly unfortunate,” Miss Harrington agreed. “Perhaps now that she’s said her piece, Miss Chingford will keep away from us.”
    “I doubt that,” Robert said, his glance again straying to the door of the supper room where Miss Chingford was still talking and casting angry looks in his direction.
    Miss