Julia London Read Online Free Page A

cause he ain’t allowed in any
reputable
establishment.… Why, he probably ain’t even allowed in
here
.”
    Abbey started to tell the stupid woman that she had clearly confused Michael Ingram with someone else, but Mrs. Petty shook a fork at her and continued. “The whole town knows his father ruined the family name with all his gambling and drinking. Drank himself to death, he did. They say the devil set those debts to right by
pirating
—”
    “Mrs. Petty! You are mistaken—”
    “I ain’t mistaken about a bloody thing, you stupid gel! He
stole
his wealth, he did! Oh, that family lived in a high and mighty style to be sure, but in shame! He didn’t care. He kept right on pirating!”
    “Mrs. Petty!”
Abbey gasped with outrage. “How could you say such a vile thing!”
    “Then his no-good sister got with child by some scoundrel and ran off with him, and his mama, she was so distraught she
hanged
herself out there at Blessing Park. And what did he do? Took to the seas and pirated some more, till he couldn’t go nowhere. He’s an outcast all right! I’m surprised he ain’t been dragged off to Newgate by now.” Mrs. Petty stabbed a piece of potato and thrust it in her mouth and eyed Abbey with a look that dared her to disagree.
    Abbey’s initial shock quickly gave way to fury. How dare this woman remark so bitterly on the most generous man in the world? She leaned slowly toward Mrs. Petty, who had gleefully resumed eating her pie. “You are very sorely mistaken. The marquis is an honest man, a gentleman, and a noble soul. The good deeds he performs in a single year would put both our lives to shame!”
    Mrs. Petty snorted contemptuously and reached for her ale.
    Abbey grabbed the tankard before her fingertips could touch it and pulled it toward her until she had the woman’s full attention. “I know how such awful rumors start. I think people naturally become a little envious when a man of such character and ability lives modestly among them. It’s almost as if one perceives their own inadequacies to be somehow pointed up by the unique qualities of someone such as Lord Darfield. But I assure you, he is not deserving of your malicious gossip. He is more of a man than the sum of those in the common room, and I will not allow you to defame him!”
    Mrs. Petty growled and lunged for her ale. “Well, ain’t you a Miss Know-All? Look at you, fresh off the boat from America with those pretty eyes and that pretty hair, thinking you know all there is to know about the scoundrel! You are naive if you think your
noble
marquis is going to marry you. Hedon’t believe in legitimate bonds! If he got you here by telling you he was going to
marry
you … well, then you’re a bigger fool than I took you for, and you’ll soon be on a ship bound for America in ruin, mark my words!” With that Mrs. Petty drained her tankard and slammed it down on the table for emphasis.
    Abbey angrily gripped the side of the table and glared at the woman. “If you think so ill of him, Mrs. Petty, then I can only imagine you are escorting me out of the generosity of your own spirit, for
surely
you would not have accepted payment for services from such a scoundrel!”
    The remark obviously hit home and brought Mrs. Petty up short; her mouth puckered as if she were eating a lemon. She slowly leaned across the table so that her face was only inches from Abbey. “Why, you miserable, no good little American
chit
! You’ll get what you deserve with that no-account scoundrel!”
    Suddenly sickened by the sight of the woman, Abbey pushed away from the table and stood. “If you are
quite
through …” She was so furious she could not continue. She drew a ragged breath as she reached for her reticule and began to root frantically within it until she pulled out some coins, tossed them carelessly on the table, and leveled a reproachful gaze at her companion.
    “You may say what you will of me, Mrs. Petty, but I dearly hope I
never
hear you