The Belle Dames Club by Melinda Hammond Read Free Book Online Page A

noon.’
    ‘And what did I tell you?’ muttered Becky with gloomy satisfaction . ‘Never heard of such silly goings-on.’
    Clarissa ignored her.
    ‘We must find a hackney carriage, or—’ She stopped.
    To Becky’s amazement her mistress suddenly left the shelter of the umbrella, picked up her skirts and dashed across the road, not waiting for the crossing sweeper to make a way through the dirt.
    Clarissa reached the flagway before looking up at the driver of an elegant town chaise drawn up at the side of the road.
    ‘Is your master with you?’
    The rain poured from the broad brim of his hat as the coachman looked down at her. ‘Aye, madam. He’s here now.’
    Clarissa turned to see Lord Alresford coming out of the watchmakers. His head was bent against the rain and she was obliged to step in front of him before he saw her.
    ‘Miss Wyckenham!’
    ‘Good morning, my lord, I wonder if I might beg a favour of you.’ Clarissa ignored the mutterings of her abigail, who had by this time caught up with her and hoisted the umbrella once more over her head.
    ‘Of course, madam, I am at your service.’
    His prompt response was very encouraging. She gave him her sunniest smile.
    ‘My lord, I am desperate to get to Norwell House by twelve o’clock, but my carriage is at the far end of New Bond Street.’
    ‘Then let me escort you. It will be as quick if I take you there myself, rather than try to get you back to your carriage with all this traffic.’
    ‘Thank you, sir, you are very good.’ She looked round. ‘You may go and find our coach, Becky, and tell the driver to come on to Norwell House for me. Oh, and you had best keep the umbrella.’
     
    ‘It is very good of you to take me out of your way, my lord.’ Clarissa settled herself in the chaise and untied the ribbons of her chip hat, which had gone sadly limp in the rain.
    ‘It is no trouble, ma’am, I had finished my business. Your urgency – I hope Mrs Norwell is not ill?’
    ‘Oh no, nothing like that.’ Clarissa turned her head to look at him, reading the concern in his face. She said lightly, ‘I have an appointment with her, and I do not wish to be late.’
    She noted a very slight softening of his look, as though he approved of her diligence. She wondered what he would say if she told him the truth. She removed her bonnet and regarded the wet chip straw with a rueful smile.
    ‘I fear my poor hat will not recover from its soaking.’
    ‘You seem to have been out in the rain for some time.’
    ‘Yes. We started in Bond Street very early this morning. My maid was not at all pleased, but it had to be done.’
    ‘You mentioned that your carriage was in New Bond Street – so how did you come to be in King Street, Miss Wyckenham? Surely it is a long way to walk in the rain.’
    ‘We had several calls to make on the way … I have been collecting trade cards from the silk mercers, you see.’
    ‘Trade cards!’
    ‘Yes, the small cards they give out to advertise their wares.’
    Something like a growl escaped him.
    ‘I know very well what they are, ma’am. I am amazed that you did not wait for a better day.’
    ‘Oh no, that was impossible. It is for a wager, you see.’ The words were out before she realized she had said them: Clarissa risked a glance at his face and saw that the harsh look had returned. She tried to look contrite. ‘You will think that a trumpery reason for importuning you, my lord.’
    ‘Not at all, madam. It is, perhaps, a trumpery reason for being out in such weather.’
    That made her smile.
    ‘I shall not melt from a little rain, sir. Besides, gentlemen will go to much greater lengths for their wagers … or so I understand .’
    ‘I believe they do, Miss Wyckenham.’
    The humour in his voice surprised her, and she turned again to look at him, and noticed the reassuring twinkle in his hard eyes. She realized she was smiling up at him in the most idiotic way, and felt the blush stealing into her cheeks. She looked