Miss Richardson Comes Of Age (Zebra Regency Romance) Read Online Free Page A

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of gentlemanly play, but this is ridiculous.” He paused, letting his words sink in as he deliberately shuffled through some of the papers again. Finally, he held Luke’s gaze and said, “Very well. I shall pay them—but if you perform another such idiotic stunt, I swear, Luke, I’ll see you rot in debtors’ prison before I do so again. Now—to whom do you owe all this blunt?”
    “Some to Rhoads. A bit to George Ferris. Mostly to Viscount Beelson.”
    “Who?” Thorne fairly shouted the word. “Did you say Beelson?”
    “Y-yes.”
    “You idiot! You confounded idiot. That sorry jackanapes was probably cheating you right and left without your even knowing it!”
    Luke leapt to his feet. “Here now, Thorne. I ain’t such a flat as all that.”
    Thorne gazed at his brother and tried to control his anger which, in truth, was directed more at Beelson and even himself than at Luke. Finally, he softened his tone. “No, I doubt you are. But Beelson is clever—he rarely gets caught in his knavery.”
    “He . . . he has been a capital fellow to me,” Luke insisted, beginning to pace in agitation. “I did not know you were even acquainted with him. ’Taint like you to judge another on hearsay.”
    “Nor do I do so now. He was only a year ahead of me in school.”
    Luke halted in mid-stride, a look of surprise on his face. “Is that so?”
    “You thought him younger?”
    “Um ... well . . . yes. As a matter of fact, I did.” Luke abruptly sat down again.
    “You might ask yourself why a man of his age and experience would choose to befriend someone with whom he has so little in common.”
    “I am sure you are eager to enlighten me.”
    His brother’s resentment was clear and Thorne wondered how he might have presented his own views differently. Lord! Had he no recollection of the tender sensibilities of youth?
    “You are not the first young buck to be fleeced by someone older and less scrupulous than you. And certainly not the first to be had by Beelson! But I would surmise that he took special satisfaction in subjecting my younger brother to his schemes.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?” Luke’s resentment was overwhelmed by curiosity.
    “Let us just say there is bad blood between the two of us.”
    “But you are not telling me the whole of it—is that it?” Resentment was back in full force.
    “No, I am not, for it involves another as well.”
    “Until you can offer a more substantive reason for me to cut the connection, I see no reason to give up Ralph’s friendship.”
    “Ralph is it?” Thorne was silent for a moment. “Well, I have no intention of choosing your companions for you. However, Beelson is not welcome in my house. I will thank you not to invite him here.”
    “As you wish,” Luke said stiffly. “ ’Tis your house and you hold the purse strings.”
    “Yes, I do. And know this, Luke—” Thorne held his brother’s gaze. “I will advance you the money to pay all these debts—including your gaming debts—this time. You will repay the exact sum when you come into your own fortune.”
    Luke sneered. “And when might that be? You control that, too.”
    “You know very well the terms of Mother’s will. When you are twenty-seven or when I deem you responsible enough to handle your own affairs.”
    “And I suppose you find it to your advantage to prolong that event.”
    Thorne drew in a deep breath and struggled for patience. “No,” he said with studied calm. “At the moment, though, it would appear to be to your advantage.”
    “Hah!”
    Thorne’s patience snapped. “Believe what you will. But know this, little brother—I will not advance you another farthing after these debts are paid.” He waved the sheaf of papers at Luke. “You will learn to live within your rather generous income.”
    “And if I do not?”
    The peevish bravado of this response annoyed Thorne even further. “Then I shall simply cut your allowance entirely