A Match of Hearts: A Regency Romance Read Online Free

had come to
Bath.
    While Margery and Miss Cholmondeley
plunged into discussion, and the Reverend gentleman beamed upon them both,
Zanthe stood clasping and unclasping her hands in her muff and wriggling her
toes in her little kid boots in a vain attempt to warm them. She would not for
the world have interrupted the conversation, however. It was such a pleasure to
see Margery happy and animated. She was staring up at the beauties of the west
facade of the Abbey when she heard her name and turned to find Paris at her
elbow.
    ‘Parry, Good Heavens, I had thought you
tucked up in bed still.’
    Parry was in a rollicking mood. His
breath smelled strongly of brandy and his pleasant voice was slurred. ‘Bed?
Haven’t been t’bed all night’. Had a capital time, kickin’ up a lark with some
very good fellers.’
    Zanthe took a step back from her
brother, wrinkling her nose. ‘You’re foxed—at this hour of the morning?’
    He blinked at her owlishly.
‘Devil-a-bit! This ain’t nothin’. You should ha’ seen me a couple o’ hours
ago.’
    ‘Well, you must go away. Margery has
just made some new friends, and I won’t have you spoiling things for her.’
    ‘Don’t see that. Introduce me! Happy to
make their acq—acq—happy to meet ‘em!’
    She thrust her hand in his arm and
dragged him to some little distance from the Cholmondeleys. ‘How odious you
are! Can you not behave yourself for my sake?’
    He pulled his arm away and staggered
slightly. ‘Well, it was you insisted I come with you to this cursed place. D’you
expect me to sit about doin’ the pretty with a lot of dowagers?’
    ‘Yes! That is exactly what I expect.’
She folded her arms across her breast and pursed her lips crossly. ‘Your
behaviour is quite irresponsible.’
    ‘You looked just like Mama when you said
that,’ he told her, grinning.
    She looked aghast. ‘No! Did I? Oh dear!’
    He giggled. ‘All girls grow to be like their
mothers. Seen it over and over, and—’ He stopped abruptly and clapped a hand
over his mouth.
    ‘May I be of assistance?’
    She turned swiftly to see Launceston
standing a little behind her. He was watching Parry with an expression of weary
forbearance. ‘I don’t know if you are aware of it, Ma’am, but judging from the
greenish shade of his complexion, your brother is about to be extremely unwell.
I suggest you allow me to remove him from this too-public locality.’
     Zanthe cast a look at her companions.
Margery and Letty were still in earnest conversation, but she caught Mr
Cholmondeley glancing in their direction. He looked away quickly as he met her
eye. ‘Pray, do remove him, Sir. If you would convey him home, I would be most
grateful.’ She hesitated a moment and then said, ‘Would you remain there until
I return? I would like to—to—have speech with you.’
    ‘It would be unwise.’
    ‘Please.’
    He bowed. ‘Of course, if that is your
wish.’ He turned to Parry and, with surprising ease, picked the boy up and
threw him over his shoulder. ‘I will find a chair in the High Street.’ He
strode off around the corner of the great facade and was gone.
     It was about half-an-hour later that
the Brookenby ladies were admitted into the house by a disapproving butler. A
maidservant was busy in the hallway with a mop and bucket, and when Zanthe
attempted a propitiating smile in her direction, she was met with an offended
sniff. She realised that only an offering of hard cash was likely to soothe her
affronted household.
    ‘Where is my brother, Billings?’ she
asked as she shrugged herself out of her light silk pelisse.
    ‘He has been put to—he is in his
bedchamber, m’Lady.’
    ‘Good, good—and—Lord Launceston? Is he
still here?’
    ‘In the morning-room, m’Lady. A cold
collation has been set out in the dining-room for your refreshment. After the
gentleman leaves, of course.’ Thus reminding his mistress that it would be the
height of impropriety for the Viscount to lunch with