The Theft of a Dukedom by Lyndsey Norton Read Free Book Online

petrified
that Richard and Charles would do the same. She
followed Charles like a puppy for a month, before one
of the ordinary soldiers turned her head with an offer of
money. The last time he’d seen her had been at Cuidad
Rodrigo, when she was heavily pregnant.
‘The Earl of Rathbone. Luckily his wife was there
and she was beside herself with embarrassment for
Kitty. As I said to her last night, it was a good job it
wasn’t something hot.’ Both young men flexed their
back and shoulder muscles in a reflex action. ‘Still, how
long will you be with us?’ Thomas enquired.
‘Probably a couple of weeks, maybe a little
longer.’ Richard said evenly.
‘Fine. Did you bring your own valet?’
Richard nodded. ‘It seemed prudent.’
‘Good. Havers is the best, so he’ll sort it all out
for you.’
    Kitty wasn’t going to make lunch. Even at two
o’clock she was still standing on the stool with the
modiste fitting her fourth gown of the morning.
    ‘Ow!’ Kitty exploded again as the modiste
inadvertently stabbed her with a pin. ‘Be more careful!’
Agatha Stafford tried to distract her yet again.
‘So the beau monde didn’t live up to your expectations
again!’
‘No aunt, as you can see by the huge claret stain
on my gown!’ she said pointing at the offending item.
‘Your father says Derek Ponsonby lost his head
and tried to manhandle you to the ladies room?’
‘He did too!’ Kitty replied indignantly. ‘I actually
asked him who he thought he was!’
‘You should have gone out for your first season
two years ago.’ Agatha muttered. She was fifty two, but
didn’t look a day over forty. She had exquisite skin, her
hair didn’t have a single grey strand and her eyes were
the clearest blue. She sat in silken splendour and
watched her favourite modiste try to fit a gown to a
fidgeting twenty year old.
‘No aunt. And you know why I didn’t. I couldn’t
possibly go out into the town and sample the haute ton with my brother possibly dying in Spain. I just couldn’t
do it.’
‘So you waited until Robin brought so much
disgrace upon us that your father banished him abroad
and recalled Charles from Spain.’
‘Yes. After he was recalled I knew he wouldn’t
get killed, so I could then feel happier at having my
coming out season.’
Agatha sighed. She had told Thomas at the time
if he indulged her, it would be very difficult to find her a
good match if she was over twenty. Most men were
looking for the youngest wife, so that they could mould
them into the wife they wanted, they knew that the
older a girl was, the more likely she would be a handful
and Kitty was already a handful. But instinctively Agatha
knew it wasn’t only that. Something had happened
when she was younger. Something with Robin. It had
made Kitty standoffish and aloof at times, even with her
family.
‘Will you be going to the Henderson ball
tonight?’ Agatha asked changing the subject.
‘There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to,
because I don’t want any more beverages or food
dropped down my clothes. But I must admit to being
intrigued by Charles’s friend.’
‘You’d marry a common soldier!’ Agatha
spluttered.
‘There’s nothing common about Richard
Dunsmore. His father is the Earl of Rutland!’ She turned
abruptly and was stabbed again as she speared Agatha
with a very penetrating stare. ‘Is my father going to
marry the Duchess?’
Agatha eyed the modiste, who smiled softly.
‘Everything talked about in my fashion house is a secret,
My Lady.’ She murmured around the row of pins in her
teeth.
‘Yes. He asked her last night and she has agreed.’
‘Do you think Father will force her to live with
us, or do you think he will go there?’
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they spend their time
jumping from one to the other. After all Edward
Bertrand is the Duke of Wentworth and will take
possession of his house when he reaches his majority.’
‘But that’s a few years away yet, isn’t it?’ Kitty
asked.
‘Yes.