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

mouth.
    ‘I suppose all those Spanish Senoritas ate like
pigs did they?’ she said haughtily.
‘On the contrary,’ Charles replied. ‘The Spanish
Ladies are called Donna’s and believe me; their manners
are as impeccable as ours.’
‘So what were the Don’s like?’ Kitty asked with
raised eyebrows and it was obvious to Richard that it
was sibling byplay. Probably for his benefit.
‘Gaudy ponces.’ Richard muttered under his
breath, making Agatha snigger behind her silk glove.
‘You wouldn’t have liked the Don’s, Kitty. Most
of them were older than father and looked just like a
painting by Rembrandt!’
‘I seem to remember quite a few good looking
Don’s in Portugal.’ Richard said cheerfully.
‘I remember that you were busy servicing the
Donna’s while their husbands were dying in Corunna.’
‘Well, Wellington wouldn’t let us out to play, so I
had to keep busy somehow!’ Richard said jovially and
Charles laughed heartily.
‘Gentlemen!’ Thomas said loudly. ‘There are
ladies present and that kind of chatter can be resumed
during port!’ He eyed his son firmly.
Charles looked down at his plate, ‘Sorry, Kitty.
You forget the basic niceties of life in a war. Dinner is
cooked in a Billy can and the nearest you get to a dinner
service, is the metal plate the sergeant brings your
dinner on.’
‘Didn’t you have your own tents and things?’ she
asked curiously.
Richard shook his head slowly. ‘Without an army
of servants to put them up and take them down, there
was no point. I didn’t have a tent until we arrived at
Badajoz.’
‘Do you mean to tell me that you were sleeping
out in the open in winter?’ Kitty asked in horror.
‘I’m afraid so, my Lady.’ Richard said softly.
‘I woke up with my hair frozen to the ground
more than once.’ Charles said distantly.
‘The frost wasn’t so bad. It was the rain that
could make the men unhappy.’
‘Does it rain a lot in Spain?’ Kitty asked
innocently. ‘I thought it was a hot country.’
Charles and Richard bellowed with laughter at
that comment. ‘Only in the summer my sweet sister.’
Charles said. ‘Then it’s as dry as the Sahara and as hot as
Hades!’
‘Rain and mud, dust and flies!’ Richard intoned
like a litany. ‘On the road to Talavera!’
‘Amen!’ Charles said and raised his glass. The
two soldiers drank deeply. ‘I think I should refrain from
throwing this fine crystal goblet in the fire, don’t you?’
Richard nodded.
‘Good god.’ Kitty exploded. ‘This is supposed to
be a celebration of Daddy’s upcoming nuptials. Can we
get away from the depressing war?’
‘Well said, Kitty.’ Victoria intoned from the other
end of the table, looking divine in an emerald green silk
gown.
‘A little less blasphemy, if you don’t mind?’
Thomas said and raised his glass. ‘To my future wife.’
After the toast Richard sat back and again
appraised Lady Amelia. She was stunning in a rich
burgundy velvet gown. The bodice was fairly revealing
and he could see the gentle slope of her breasts. With a
classical square neckline and puffed sleeves, her ivory
silk gloves were a distinct contrast. Around her throat
glittered the most stunning emerald necklace he’d ever
seen, each stone was oblong and set in a silver V,
ending with an oblong stone that nestled in her
cleavage. On her gloved left wrist was a matching
bracelet and on her right hand was a matching ring.
‘I wonder who will drop something on my new
gown tonight.’ She murmured to her brother.
‘You’ll just have to avoid everybody, Kitty.’
Charles said sotto voce .
‘The only way I can do that is to stay at home.’
She said petulantly.
‘Well, maybe Richard and I can act as foils.’
Charles said. ‘If I stand one side and Richard the other,
nobody should be able to drop anything on your gown.’
Eventually dinner was finished and the
gentlemen stood as the ladies retired to the drawing
room for tea and gossip. Havers trundled around the
table with the