Wicked and Wonderful by Valerie King Read Free Book Online Page A

eyed him in some hostility while the shorter snatched his card and said hastily, “We are that grateful fer the use of yer pasture, m’lord. Isn’t that right, Henry?”
    “Fer use of the pasture, aye,” Henry said, but he breathed fire through his nostrils.
    “I will return forthwith,” the shorter fellow said cheerfully, flourishing a grand bow.
    Judith was standing near her stool and workbox, untangling a long piece of thread when she saw Freddy hurrying in her direction.
    She turned toward him. “What is it?” she asked.
    “Kelthorne,” he said dramatically, waving in the air what she could clearly see was a calling card.
    Judith had been expecting something of this nature but seeing his name printed on the white card set her fingers to trembling again. She spoke the words she had been rehearsing from the moment her performance on stage ended. “I beg you will offer my apologies, but I do not wish to see Lord Kelthorne. You may tell him, if you like, that I have the headache.”
    “He seemed quite anxious to see ye, Judy,” he said, frowning. “And we are staying on his lands. Maybe ye ought not to refuse him.”
    John was quickly beside her. “Treat him as we do all the gentlemen,” he stated firmly. “Judy has said, no. ‘Tis enough.”
    When Freddy hesitated, he added, “And should his lordship dare to require Judy or any of the ladies as payment fer the use of his land, then we will leave Somerset. Fer now, though, we took a vote this morning. ‘Tis all settled. We stay in Somerset.”
    Freddy lowered his voice. “‘Tis your own fault, Judy,” he said, but he was smiling. “Were ye not so pretty there would not be half the trouble.”
    Betty came running up. “Oy just heard that Kelthorne is asking fer ye, Judy. Ye do mean to go to him. Are ye not excited?”
    “I have no intention of doing so,” she said quietly. John smiled his encouragement but moved away to help Horace tend to the removal of some of the props.
    Betty’s eyes seemed to pop in her head. “Oh, la, Judy, what a fool ye be. I heard he was worth nine thousand a year. Think o’ the diamonds and pearls he could buy fer ye. He could even pay fer yer cottage.”
    “Thank you very much, but I had greatly prefer to purchase my cottage with my own funds.”
    “Well,” she said, breathing a heavy sigh, “I think ye be daft.” The smell of onions hung heavily in the air.
    Judith wished she would chew the fresh mint leaves Mrs. Marnhull was in the habit of giving her each morning, but the lively actress rarely remembered to do so. Inspiration suddenly struck. “Betty,” she said. “I have just had such a notion.” She took the card from Freddy and extended it to her. “How would you feel about tending to Lord Kelthorne in my stead?”
    Betty grabbed the card, her eyes popping once more. “Oh, la, would I not,” she said, expanding her breath over both Judith and Freddy.
    Freddy took a step backward, turned away from her and groaned.
    Judith’s eyes began to water. “May I suggest that you pretend to be me? Freddy can tell him that I have decided to meet with him and since you and I are of a size, and if you wore a shawl over your head, he would not know at first ‘twas you.”
    Betty’s eyes gleamed. “Ye intend fer me to play him a trick?”
    “I do, indeed, after which I have little doubt you will be able to take full advantage of the situation. Are you willing?”
    “By Aphrodite’s eyelashes, Oy am.”
    Judith turned to Freddy. “Pray tell his lordship that I will meet him beneath the large oak near his drive in an hour when all the crowds have dispersed.”
    *** *** ***
    An hour later, Kelthorne waited alone by the great oak just east of his property. The camp was visible in the distance where many of the actors and actresses had already retired. The wagon that carried the numerous props and costumes was just turning into the pasture. He marveled at the skill, execution, and pleasure the troupe took in all