Never Miss a Chance by Maureen Driscoll Read Free Book Online Page A

from the gaming
tables and join me at the dower house,” said Lizzie, warmed by her brother’s
teasing.  “Then you could reflect on the evils of gaming and spirits and
illicit affairs.”
    “Illicit affairs?” said Hal.  “You shouldn’t even know of
such things.”
    “Oh, please,” said Lizzie.  “It’s impossible to be your
sister and not hear of the many women you’ve had liaisons with.  I even heard
you had your eye on Lady Willoughby.”
    At the mention of Lady Willoughby’s name, Riverton glanced
up to find Lizzie looking at him while Hal sputtered something about females
being seen and not heard and wondering why Lynwood had never locked their only
sister in a dungeon. 
    “While I appreciate the suggestion, Hal,” said Lynwood, as
he sat in a chair by the fireplace and stretched out his long legs.  “I’m
afraid any dungeon would have to be large enough to hold all three of you,
since none of you have lived blameless lives.”
    “And you have?” asked Arthur with an easy grin.
    “Of course not,” said Lynwood.  “Although I do think I’ve
perhaps learned the art of discretion a bit better than any of you.”
    “Just because you’re better at covering your tracks, doesn’t
mean you don’t have tracks to cover,” said Lizzie.
    “As you say.  And I am quite familiar with lessons about
casting stones.  However, regardless of who is to blame for the current
situation, a solution must be found.  We must come up with the best way to
proceed.”
    “What if I do go to the country for a while?” suggested
Lizzie, hoping “a while” would turn out to be a few weeks at the most.  It
would give her a chance to work on the next treatise.  Not that she’d breathe a
word of that to anyone in the room, of course.  “Not the dower house – it’s too
dreary by half.  But there’s much I can do at Lynwood Manor.”
    “Do any of those activities include writing?” asked Lynwood.
    “Well, of course,” said Lizzie with her best look of
innocence, perfected by two decades of mischief.  “I shall write to all of you
and Aunt Prue and Mariah.”
    “I wasn’t referring to letters, as you are well aware.  If
you think you can continue your political activities you are much mistaken.”
    This was exactly as she’d feared.  “You can’t deny me,
Lynwood!”
    “My dear, not only can I, but I must,” said Lynwood the
disciplinarian once again.  “While it isn’t solely your fault, your reputation
has been damaged irreparably.  Were I to allow you to continue down this road
of activism, I’d be a party to your permanent ruin.”
    “But some things are more important than reputation,” said
Lizzie, tears once again flooding her eyes.  Apparently this was her evening to
masquerade as a watering pot.  “I’m serious about these reforms.  It’s not some
whim of mine.  I can’t stop now and I won’t be a coward.”
    “No one could ever accuse you of cowardice,” said Riverton
so quietly that all eyes turned to him.  “But any great campaign requires not
just passion and commitment, but strategy and efficiency, as well.  Because of
tonight’s events – regardless of your innocence – you’ve lost the respect of
some members of the ton.  Unless you can regain your standing, your words will
be wasted.  The only way you can be an effective voice for change will be to do
exactly as your brothers say.  Restore your reputation, even if you have to
grit your teeth as you do it.”
    Lizzie wiped the tears from her eyes.  “It’s unfair.”
    He nodded.  “Such is the way of the world.”
    She considered his words.  “If the only way I can make a
difference is to restore my reputation, then it must be done.”
    “Can’t we just restore your reputation and leave it at
that?” asked Hal.  “Why stir up the females of London any more than you already
have?  There are so many other, more enjoyable ways to while away the hours
with them.”
    “Refill our drinks,