An Improper Lady (The Powder and Patch Collection) Read Online Free Page A

be anything other than kind to his young wife. And, after all, Bella herself had been married at Primrose’s age to a kindly, older man.
    “You do not have to return, if you do not wish it!” The words were out before she had time to think about them. She was aware of Sir Peregrine regarding her in some surprise. “Is there no-one you can turn to?” she asked, modifying her tone.
    Even in the gloom, it was evident that Primrose was blushing, “Well, there is Ned…” she murmured, and the change in her expression was quite remarkable. She seemed inclined to drift into a daydream, and was recalled to her surroundings by an impatient cough from Sir Peregrine.
    “Ned Smith,” she explained. “He was one of the officers stationed near my aunt’s home in Cheshire. We became friends and we found that, well, we happened to,” she collected herself and continued in a rush. “We fell in love!”
    “ And your aunt did not approve?” Bella asked.
    “ She did not know. We made a pledge to wed, but Ned’s regiment moved on and, although he promised to return for me, my aunt brought me to London before he could do so…” She reached for the handkerchief again.
    “ Come now! This is encouraging,” Bella said in a rallying tone. “All we need to do is get a message to him and I am sure, from what you have said, that Ned will come for you. Where did his regiment move to?”
    But here they found a fatal flaw in Miss Chorley’s powers of recall. She could describe in detail the blueness of her Ned’s eyes, and recount every one of the sweet nothings he had whispered in her ear. But, try as she might, she could not recall any of the details of her beloved’s military career. He was an officer, on that point she was adamant. No, she did not know his rank. Captain, perhaps? He was from Liverpool, she knew that much for sure. No, stay! Was it Leeds? Which regiment was he in? A frown of concentration furrowed her smooth brow. She did not think they had ever discussed it, but she was fairly sure it was a cavalry regiment.
    Sir Peregrine took charge of the situation. “Seems to me we have spent long enough debating the matter. It is late and I, for one, have no desire to have your aunt and Tunstall descend upon us. Not enough chairs, for one thing,” he pointed out, in a practical vein. “Tell you what, talk about it further in the morning after a night’s sleep.”
    He looked pointedly at Bella, who took her cue from him. “Yes indeed, my dear, you may stay with me tonight, and tomorrow we will discuss what must next be done.”
    Once Primrose had been assured, several times, that they did not intend to inform her aunt of her whereabouts, she made a remarkable recovery. It was a young lady with sparkling eyes and a winsome smile, therefore, who was handed by Sir Peregrine into his carriage some ten minutes later.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    There had been no opportunity for Bella to engage in private speech with Sir Peregrine on the carriage ride back to her house. But, as he escorted both ladies to the door of Bella’s elegant townhouse, his expression told her, very clearly, that he was remembering their earlier encounter.
    Much later, Bella had finally settled a somewhat overawed Primrose into a pretty guest chamber and ensured that she had everything she would need, including one of Bella’s own nightgowns and a hairbrush. Pausing as she removed her jewellery, Bella allowed herself a moment to dwell on the evening’s events. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that Sir Peregrine’s intentions had changed before Miss Chorley burst in on them. She was certain that something else had caused him to stop just as they were on the verge – they could not, indeed, have been any closer! - of consummating their lust. She wondered what it was. One thing was for sure, Sir Peregrine Pomeroy was, without doubt, the most frustrating, maddening and utterly adorable man she had ever