Pride and Retribution by Lyndsey Norton Read Free Book Online Page A

carriage pulled away from number five Beauchamp Road, in the direction of Clarendon Avenue. The coachman carefully negotiated crossing over this busy road into the top of The Parade and then they merely followed every other carriage heading for the Pump Rooms.
    ‘Timothy, you must keep an eye on Lucy tonight.’ Evelyn looked hard at her son. ‘Mind not so much whom she dances with, but who endeavours to get her alone.’
    ‘Will somebody try to get her alone?’ Timothy looked at his mother in confusion. He was a younger version of Robert and Evelyn wondered if he would grow up to look like his father, as all his brothers had. There were subtle differences between each of them, but essentially they all had Rufus’s dark brown hair, his hazel and green eyes and his tall, broad shouldered physique. Each face was slightly different, with Robert having no dimple, but Tim did, Richard had a square chin that the others didn’t and Benjamin had Evelyn’s fine cheek bones.
    ‘The Duke of Markham will be sniffing around.’ Evelyn explained and Timothy suddenly displayed understanding.
    ‘Yes, Mother. You can rely on me.’
    ‘Don’t you trust me?’ Lucy asked in a hurt voice. ‘I’m perfectly capable of saying no.’
    Evelyn speared her with a piercing look. ‘Make sure that you do.’
    ‘Yes, mother.’ Lucy remained calm.
    ‘If your father were here I wouldn’t ask Timothy to do it, but he’s not and men only listen to men.’
    ‘I’ m sorry mother, but I’m only fifteen. Someone like the Duke of Markham is not going to take any notice of me.’ Timothy said deprecatingly.
    ‘It will make him think twice, if he’s likely to get called out by a minor.’ Evelyn smiled and stroked her palm over his cheek. ‘Try not to think about it, but just remain alert.’ She demanded seeing the doubt on her youngest child’s face.
    It took a little while for their carriage to arrive at the front doors and then the footman had the steps down. They were out, the steps back up and the carriage moving off before Lucy had time to sigh and look up at the coat of arms over the doorway.
    Sir Roger was waiting just inside the doors and helped Lucy off with her cloak. ‘I must say you look delectable, tonight Miss Hastings.’ He said gallantly. He shook hands with Timothy and bowed to her mother then offered his arm for Lucy to collect her dance card. She was astonished to see that the card resembled a fan, opening out in a half moon shape with each dance allotted to each individual vane. The outer vanes were gilded with gold leaf, the wrist strap was a gold chain and the pencil was attached with a length of gold ribbon. As she admired it, she realised it would fit nicely with her collection of unusual dance cards that her mother had encouraged to collect when she was younger. Lucy carefully slipped the chain over her wrist and lifted the delicate lace and sarsenet gown as Sir Roger took her elbow in a gentle manner and escorted her up the stairs to the Assembly Rooms. For all his popinjay dress, Sir Roger had exceptional manners. Tonight he was dressed in a peacock blue waistcoat under his severely cut-away black silk jacket, black silk britches, black silk stockings and dancing slippers. His white silk shirt and cravat with a large ruby stickpin finished it off nicely.
    ‘You look very colourful tonight, Sir Roger, considering this is supposed to be a black and white ball.’ Evelyn said evenly. She was wearing a stunning black Moiré gown that shimmered in the candle light, with a delicate silk shawl in white.
    ‘Well, I thought a little colour would liven things up, nobody likes dressing as if they are in mourning, what?’ Sir Roger said blasély.
    ‘Quite.’ Her mother murmured.
    As they reached the top of the stairs, Lucy could see how crowded the b allroom was. She knew there were a drinks room, a card room, a supper room and the retiring rooms on the periphery of this main ballroom. Timothy escorted his mother to