Murder At Rudhall Manor Read Online Free Page B

room. Her entire body was shaking in rage. "How dare you
accuse me of stealing? Rotten, am I? Let me tell you who is rotten, and as for
being a lady, I saw you squeezing the valet—"
    "Silence," Lady Sedley roared. "How dare you
accuse me of such things? I have never squeezed anyone in my entire life. Pack
your bags and depart this very moment."
    "Oh, I will depart this very instant. Give me my salary
and I shall be out of this horrid place. I would rather go back to the
orphanage than stay a moment longer in this pretentious house. "
    "You will not get a penny," Lady Sedley screamed.
    "Oh, yes, I will," Lucy yelled charging towards
Lady Sedley. "I am going to take every penny that you owe me, you rotten
woman."
    An iron hand clamped around her waist.
    "Blasted, blithering fools, crusty scabs, toad-eaters,"
Lucy howled. Her hands clawed the air and her body squirmed to get away.
"Let me at her, let me at the frosty-faced witch."
    "You dare call me a frosty-faced witch." Lady
Sedley howled back. "Blooming idiot—"
    "I bloom all right," Lucy broke in, "but I am
not an idiot. You are."
    "Why you miserable hag," Elizabeth moved forward a
step.
    Lucy struggled to free the hands gripping her waist.
"Why look, Lady Sedley," she said sarcastically, "your own
daughter agrees with me. I called you a witch and she called you a hag—"
    "You are the hag," Elizabeth said jabbing a finger
in Lucy's direction.
    "Well, Miss Sedley, I know you are talking to your
mother, but it seems you are now cockeyed. Your finger is pointing towards me
instead of Lady Sedley—"
    "I am going to break all her bones," Elizabeth
screeched.
    "Come and try." Lucy narrowed her eyes.
    The hand at her waist tightened. "Stay still, Miss
Trotter. Behave … Lady Sedley, sit down and, Elizabeth, put the poker back in
the fireplace. Now, let us discuss this in a civilized manner."
    Lucy took a deep breath, her hands were still trembling in
anger, but something in the tone of the man holding her made her close her
mouth.
    "I am letting you go now, Miss Trotter. I trust you
will behave?"
    "I will," Lucy bit out.
    "Lady Sedley, Miss Sedley, please sit down."
    They went and rigidly sat on the pink sofa.
    The hands slowly fell away from Lucy's waist, and the
stranger finally stepped forward and into her view.
    A familiar emerald green velvet robe edged with gold brocade
gleamed in the firelight. The rubies in the slippers sparkled, while dark eyes
peered at her from beneath long full lashes.

Chapter 5
    "Lord Adair!" Lucy gasped in shock.
    "You know me?" he asked in surprise.
    "I saw you arrive in the balloon."
    He winced.
    "You did not like the balloon ride?"
    "On the contrary, it was delightful."
    "You looked very cold when you alighted."
    "Currently it is you, Miss Trotter, who is
shivering." He offered her an arm. "Come, sit down near the
fire."
    Lucy's lashes flickered. Lord Adair was treating her as if
she were a lady. It was a novel experience after being seen as little better
than a scullery maid by the Sedley family.
    She eyed him suspiciously, but his bland expression left her
feeling muddled.
    She uncomfortably pulled the dress higher up her shoulder
suddenly aware of her dishevelled appearance and the screaming spectacle she
had made of herself a moment before.
    He ignored her discomfort and grasping her arm nudged her
towards a seat. He gently pushed her backwards until she collapsed back onto
the overstuffed chair.
    Her legs flew up, her wet petticoats slapped her ankles, and
her back sank low into the large seat of the chair where her behind should have
been.
    She hurriedly straightened herself, and the raging anger in
her bosom was replaced by embarrassment. She turned her face away from him
pretending to warm her frozen face in the heat from the fire.
    "Lady Sedley, perhaps you can ask for some coffee for
Miss Trotter?" Lord Adair requested.
    Elizabeth discreetly pinched her mother's arm.
    Lady Sedley reluctantly rang the bell.
    While they waited for the