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

think I put you up to it and believe me a coward.’  
          ‘But please
Richard I will explain everything, he need not think you so.’
          ‘No Felicity it
is too late for that.  The meeting will go ahead as planned and mind you, you
are not to say anything of this to mother.’
          The short
carriage journey soon ended and Richard dropped Felicity off unceremoniously at
Upper Brook Street. He ordered the Coachman to continue on to Mount Street
hoping to find his friend Jeremy Leighton at home.  To his frustration, Jeremy
was not there so he climbed back into the carriage and ordered him on to St James
Street where he expected he would find him in one of the clubs. Jeremy’s
favourite haunt was Brooks so he made that his first port off call.
          Richard was in
luck.  Jeremy was there seated at one of the Faro tables.  His friend greeted
him with a welcome smile. ‘Why Richard you have come to join us.  I thought you
were escorting your sister to Almack’s tonight.’
          ‘No Jeremy I am
unable to join you this evening but I do need to speak to you on an urgent
matter. Can you spare a moment?’ Jeremy noting Richards serious expression
responded, ‘Certainly Richard just gave me a moment and I will finish off
here.’
          Richard waited
patiently while his friend finished his hand, paid his debts and bade farewell
to his company, and the two ventured out into the street. Once out into the fresh
air Richard turned to his friend.  ‘I am sorry to have dragged you out in the
middle of your game but something urgent has come up and I need your
assistance.’
          ‘Anything Ricky
old boy, always willing to oblige.’
          By the time they
reached Mount Street Jeremy was in full possession of the facts and he felt no
hesitation in obliging his friend, however he was puzzled. ‘Is your sister sure
of her facts. Thorndale has his faults but I find the accusations astonishing
and impulsive as she is, it is not like her to hurl accusations of such a
nature without reason.’
          Richard frowned.
‘No I do not understand it, but you know what she is like and she is quite
adamant that she is right.’
          Jeremy enquired.
‘An apology is out of the question then?  You know Ricky I must try to
encourage it.’
          ‘Good Lord Jeremy
yes,’ he expounded.  ‘Felicity is eager to apologise but I have forbidden it.’
          Jeremy frowned,
and you have chosen pistols did you say? That is not good Ricky old boy; you
should have picked swords for I have seen the man shoot a wafer out at 30
yards.’
       Richard grimaced.
‘You don’t have to remind me.  I am a fair shot myself but I do not fool myself
that the odds are even. It would hardly have mattered; I hear the fellow is a
fine swordsman as well.’
          Jeremy gave his
friend a reassuring pat.  ‘We are going to have to hold out for a longer
distance if we are to come about.  Did you say his second is Giles Kavanagh?  I
know the man; he is fair. I think I can get him to agree to a longer distance.
I will try to hold out for not less than 50 yards, a little irregular perhaps
but that way you may both have a chance of coming off unscathed. One more thing
Ricky, did you get the impression that Thorndale was wishing to make it a
killing matter.’
          ‘I don’t know
Jeremy.  I hope not, however I cannot take the fellow for granted, the charge
is serious and he is a damned unpredictable fellow.  I will leave you now.  I
need to get some rest if I am going to be fresh at 6 o’clock in the morning. 
Pick me up at 5.30am and make sure you do not sleep in.’
          Richard returned
home to Upper Brook Street.  It was not quite 11 o’clock and his mother had not
yet returned home.  He made his way upstairs and gently knocked on Felicity’s
door to see if she was still awake.  Felicity was sitting in bed looking quite
pale.  He had never