Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance by Miriam Rochester Read Free Book Online

contradict her. It was certainly not the behaviour
she should expect from a gentleman but there again Thorndale was no ordinary
man.  According to her brother, he was not overly concerned about the opinions
of others and if he wanted something, he would do what was needed to acquire
it.   Well he was wasting his time with her she thought to herself as she
gathered her wits.
          ‘Do you dare to
call me a liar sir?  I am affronted.’
          Thorndale just
laughed. ‘Oh it is a ladies prerogative my dear but if you are in so much
demand perhaps you can show me your dance card.’  Thorndale watched as she
tightened her grip on her reticule. ‘I thought so,’ he grinned unabashed. ‘But
I will succeed in my quest madam I always do, a waltz perhaps, if not tonight
then perhaps another.’
          Felicity was torn,
she was annoyed at his arrogance but on the other hand, her treacherous heart
wanted to accept.  She was strangely attracted to him and she was annoyed at
the realization. She wanted to know what it would feel like to be held in his arms,
to feel the heat of his body close to her own, yet at the same time she was
incensed by his impertinence and his self-assurance.  In the end, her impetuous
streak betrayed her. ‘I shall never dance with you sir!  Ever! You are a...’  She
hesitated searching for a tactful word. She could hardly call him a thief and
her sentence hung in mid air.
          ‘A what?’ he
enquired curiously. Her words escaped her and before she knew it, she blurted
out cryptically. ‘A David!’
          Thorndale looked
momentarily perplexed. ‘A David?’  Felicity defiantly raised her head. ‘Do not
pretend to misunderstand me sir.  You know exactly what I mean.’
          As Thorndale came
to an understanding, he frowned. ‘Do you mean King David in the bible, as in
the story of David and Bathsheba?’
          Felicity gave an
affirmative nod. ‘Exactly Sir!’
          ‘As far as I am
aware ma’am I have never taken another man’s wife at least not knowingly and I
do not intend to do so. What do you mean by it?’ he demanded.
          Felicity sniffed.
‘Perhaps not sir but you fail to consider the whole of the account.’
          Thorndale’s humour
was beginning to desert him. ‘Remind me my dear please do.’
          ‘If you read your
scriptures as often as you should you would know.  It is not for me to remind
you,’ she blurted out already regretting her rash words.
          Thorndale’s face
looked dark. ‘Oh I know the account well enough,’ he countered. ‘I am not as
ignorant as you would have me.  The prophet Nathan likened David to a rich
Farmer who owned flocks of sheep.  Yet the farmer took the only sheep of a poor
neighbour to slaughter for a feast, but I fail to understand your application. Are
you calling me a thief madam?’
          Felicity bit her
lip and remained silent.  She had not intended to let the conversation get so
out of hand but her impetuous heart had led her into trouble again and she bit
her lip in self-admonishment.  Her face told him what he wanted to know. ‘I do
not know how you have come by such an erroneous impression of me My Lady but
you are under a serious misapprehension.’
          Felicity turned
to walk away but his hand shot out, grabbed her forcefully by the arm and
detained her.  She felt the strength of his touch, which was not for the first
time and trembled for she knew she had said too much.  ‘Kindly explain yourself
madam,’ he demanded.
          At that moment,
Richard walked toward them.  At most times, Richard was a nuisance but at this moment,
she was thoroughly glad to see him. He stepped up just in time to catch Thorndale’s
last words. ‘Good Lord,’ Richard muttered to himself, what indiscretion had Felicity
committed now.
          Richard looked
critically at Thorndale’s hand still clutching Felicity by the arm and gave