Lord Scoundrel Dies Read Online Free Page B

really speak of it, surely.
I mean, it’s a sly kind of creature that would try anything of the
kind.’
    ‘Mary Fitzherbert did not pay up and
suddenly it was common knowledge that she wears wigs. She has no
hair, you know.’
    ‘Mrs. Fitzherbert has no hair?’ Aubrey
repeated, taken aback.
    ‘No, but her wigs are awfully good. They
come from Paris, I believe. You really can’t tell the
difference.’
    ‘Well sink me! And you’re saying Sutton put
the news about?’
    ‘Of course. Poor thing, she’s still in
Cornwell. I don’t think she has the nerve to come back.’
    ‘It seems to me,’ Aubrey said ominously,
‘that somebody should have a word with our Lord Sutton. I’ll be
damn… uh, deuced if he should be allowed to get away with this kind
of thing. I mean, I never liked the man but I never dreamed that he
was such a wrong ‘un.’
    ‘You can’t have words with
him. Edward would hear of it and then I really would be in a mess. He would want to
know why you had elected to… to… Good heavens Aubrey, never tell me
you’d call him out!’
    ‘Don’t be so dramatic,’ he begged. ‘I am
merely going to suggest that he never speak to you again. I am not
having that man threaten my family.’
    ‘You’re very sweet, Aubrey but –’
    ‘Sweet be damned. Sutton is going to receive
what appears to be a long overdue talking to. Don’t worry about it
Celeste, Edward need not know anything about it. You can leave the
man to me.’

Chapter Two
     
     
     
     
    Harry waited until eleven before she
ventured out. She had dressed for the evening ahead in breeches,
waistcoat and jacket with a hat covering her bright curls to
disguise their revealing glow. Her Aunt Margaret might find Harry’s
hair color to be delightful – possibly the only thing about her
niece she did appreciate – but her locks were far too vivid to be
allowed to see the light of day on such stealthy business as she
was about. Dressing as a lad was not unheard of for she had done so
at home for pantomimes and the occasional play and enjoyed the
freedom it afforded. Besides, nobody would be likely to recognize
Miss Harriet Honeywood in such a guise even if they knew her well,
which they did not as she was newly arrived in London. She had no
desire to generate censure so quickly after her arrival. It would
be nice to have a few weeks before anybody tumbled to the fact that
she was socially disastrous.
    Sarah had become increasing anxious as the
day had progressed and by the appointed hour was in a state of high
anxiety about the proposed escapade, despite the fact that it had
been her idea. ‘But what if you get caught?’ she had demanded, just
as Harry was about to leave.
    ‘I’ll try not to. Truly I will.’
    ‘Yes, but it’s awfully dangerous. Lord
Sutton is not a very nice man and if he were to catch you –’
    ‘Now you discover that the man is not very nice? Two nights ago he
was the most attractive man in London.’
    ‘Attractive, yes, but I really did know he
wasn’t a very nice man. That was half the pleasure of dancing with
him. To dance with a scoundrel felt awfully daring.’
    ‘And look where that got you.’
    ‘Don’t keep reminding me. I feel quite
dreadful.’
    ‘Idiot.’
    ‘That’s as may be, but if he finds you
–.’
    ‘Rest assured, I have no intention of
getting caught.’
    Sarah, to her credit, had looked both
miserable and guilty. ‘I should come with you. I can’t let you do
this by yourself.’
    ‘You jolly well can. You’re
not temperamentally inclined for this type of thing whereas
according to no less than three of my sainted aunts, I was born to be hanged. Or
at the very least, soundly whipped on a semi-regular basis.
Besides, it would be just my luck we’d get into the wretched place
and you’d have hysterics from being over stimulated.’
    ‘I would do nothing of the kind,’ her cousin
had said, offended.
    ‘Whatever the case, it is better I go alone.
Besides, I’ve only managed to