Miss Richardson Comes Of Age (Zebra Regency Romance) by Wilma Counts Read Free Book Online

end of the following week, Miss Emma Bennet’s story, Innocence Betrayed, was the primary topic of conversation in London drawing rooms. Annabelle cringed whenever she happened to overhear others discussing it. She did not concern herself with the possible reactions of Beelson and Ferris, for she was still angry with their attempts to blacken her name in Society. She had forgiven Luke’s role and harbored no ill will toward him. Now she worried about how he had reacted to the piece. And—even more—she wondered how the Earl of Rolsbury might have taken it.
    Marcus reported that the story figured heavily in conversations in the gentlemen’s clubs as well.
    “Beelson and Ferris can hardly show themselves,” Marcus said one evening as he, Harriet, and Annabelle awaited the announcement of dinner. “Of course, Luke has not been seen so much in their company since his brother arrived in town.”
    “The story has become a much bigger sensation than I expected,” Annabelle said. “I ... I wish now I had shown it to you before sending it off to Mr. Murray.”
    “Well, the tone may be a trifle strident,” Harriet said, “but it is wonderfully funny—and those two, especially, deserved a comeuppance.”
    “That they did,” Marcus agreed. “But really, Annabelle, you were rather harsh on poor Luke Wainwright, were you not?”
    “Perhaps—in retrospect—I was,” Annabelle agreed. “But I was so angry at his going along with them, you see. And I did try to soften it a bit by showing that his innocence, too, was betrayed.”
    “I doubt either he or Rolsbury will see it that way,” Marcus responded.
    “Oh, once he gets over the initial shock, Luke will come around.” Annabelle tried to believe this was true. “He does have a good sense of humor.”
    “Yes, but does his brother?” Harriet asked.
    “We shall see,” Annabelle said, but she felt an inkling of apprehension. Rolsbury did not strike her as the sort to ignore a direct insult.
    “We had best not ‘see’ too closely,” Marcus warned.
    “Why? What do you mean?” Annabelle looked worriedly at Marcus.
    But it was Harriet who answered, “Let us hope that Miss Emma Bennet remains the anonymous entity she has been heretofore—at least for a while. If it gets out now that you wrote that story, the gossip will be renewed a thousandfold.”
    “And,” Marcus added, “there is no telling what Beelson might take it in mind to do.”
    Throughout dinner, though they talked of other matters, Annabelle’s mind kept returning to the concerns Marcus and Harriet had expressed—and to her own second thoughts on the matter.
    Well, there was little that could be done about it now.
     
     
    In another part of the city, the Wainwright brothers sat in their own drawing room, each with a glass of wine at hand, and considered Miss Bennet’s tale. One was embarrassed; the other was furious.
    “Who is this Bennet woman?” Thorne demanded, waving the pamphlet under his brother’s nose. “Are you acquainted with anyone named Bennet?”
    “N-no. At least . . . that is ... I don’t think so. Jeremy Kenton says ladies often take a false name when they write stuff.”
    Thorne snorted disdainfully. “And rightly so with this sort of drivel.” Trying to calm himself, he took a fortifying sip of wine. “Hmm. Well, we know this much— she knows you fairly well—and she is sympathetic to Miss Richardson.”
    “It could be a man writing under a woman’s name,” Luke ventured. He clenched a fist on his knee. “And would I ever welcome a chance to give him a facer!”
    Thorne gave this conjecture serious thought, then said, “It could be a man, but somehow I doubt it—it seems so definitely a female viewpoint.”
    This appeared to take the wind out of Luke’s sails. He slumped back in his chair, a picture of dejection. “I think maybe I should return to the country for a spell. Just until this thing blows over.”
    “You will do no such thing!”
    “But, dash