Pride and Retribution by Lyndsey Norton Read Free Book Online

eldest.’
    ‘I intend for Robert to choose his own wife. If he wants a brainless idiot, so be it. Many men have done just that.’ Evelyn sighed. ‘Just some brood mare to get the heir off and then their mistresses give them what they need.’
    ‘Did father have a mistress?’
    Evelyn looked sharply at her daughter. ‘No, he did not. I made sure he never needed one.’ She sighed and her expression softened. ‘What brought on this subject?’
    ‘I was introduced to the Earl of Buxton, he’s Sir Roger’s cousin and Si r Roger mentioned a disagreement between him and the Duke of Markham over his mistress Harriet Saunders.’
    Evelyn sat up straight and looked keenly at her daughter. ‘I know you like to unravel mysteries, Lucy, but do my heart a favour and stay away from Markham and his damned mistresses.’
    ‘Yes, Mother.’ Lucy lapsed into silence and tried to not to think about how handsome both Buxton and Markham were, in different ways. Markham was a golden angel and Buxton was a dark devil, with devil’s eyes.
    Evelyn slowly lay back in the water and hoped her wayward daughter wouldn’t look too deeply into the Buxton/Harriet Saunders affair. I could do without her finding out Harriet Saunders is my cousin! She thought. Mind you, I wouldn’t mind Buxton as a son in law. She smiled softly at that thought and sighed.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
    The Assembly Rooms above the Pump Rooms held a ball of one sort or another most evenings. Tonight’s was a black and white ball, men had to dress in black evening wear and ladies had to dress in either black or white.
    Lucy sat at the dresser watching Betsy secure the diamond tiara in her dark russet hair and gently place the small white flowers. Lucy surveyed the finished article and smiled. ‘Betsy you are a miracle worker. You take the ordinary and make it beautiful.’
    ‘Look at what the good Lord gave me to work with.’ Betsy smiled and curtsied.
    Lucy looked over her gown again and wondered if it was a little too risqué. Her décolletage was definitely exposed, but she was sure there would be ladies with even more showing. She gently straightened the long silk gloves that almost reached her armpits. The diamond necklace draped around the base of her throat sparkled in the candle light. She picked up the silk reticule to match her silk gown and her ivory fan. She smiled at Betsy again and left to go down stairs. Betsy followed with her dark red velvet cape over her arm. She met Timothy on the landing. ‘Sweet Saviour!’ burst from him. ‘You look positively beautiful, Sis. I shall be the envy of every buck there!’ He offered his arm and Lucy smiled coyly.
    ‘And I shall be the envy of every debutante, Timmy. So make sure you don’t dance more than two dances with any girl otherwise her mamma will expect an offer!’ She appraised her brother and found him completely dashing, as all her brothers were , from his dark hair to his fine black silk dancing slippers.
    Evelyn was waiting in the hall. ‘Come along, you two, we shall be late.’ She admonished them as the butler draped her midnight blue cape over her shoulders. Lucy knew that she was in a full length corset complete with steel back brace, to ease her discomfort for the night ahead.
    Timothy took the cloak from Betsy, draped it over Lucy’s shoulders and as she fastened the clasp, he accepted his cloak from his valet and placed his bicorn hat on his head, adjusting it to the right angle, and then pulled on his white evening gloves.
    The footman opened the door at a signal from the butler and revealed the glossy black five panel landau waiting outside the door with its carriage lamps gleaming in the dark. Another footman stood ready by the carriage to help the ladies inside and he offered his gloved hand to Evelyn Hastings. Timothy was last in and he sat with his back to the horses, as decorum dictated. The coach started with a jerk that made Evelyn suck in her breath.
    The