Nash's Niche (Behind Closed Doors) Read Online Free Page A

her. Now her beloved mama had passed away, and their period of mourning over, he was determined she would take her place in society. So, even if her demand was met, was London the place she wanted to be anyway? As a considerable heiress, any outing there could be fraught with problems. Fortune hunters were considerably thick skinned, and her bluntness rolled over them. However, she didn't have the chance to find out whether London would suit her now. Her previous request had been met with a straightforward no, followed by, "Your fiancé will expect to see you here." It didn't matter how many times Felicity said she had no fiancé, both Judith and her husband ignored her. Her father had decreed she was engaged, therefore in their minds she was. Felicity was beginning to think there was no hope. Even the letter she had asked an obliging tweeny to take to the one person she thought might help her hadn't been answered. She took a deep breath, and skirted the grave of one Philomena Messingham, spinster of this parish and devoted daughter. Would that she could hope for the same on her own gravestone. It seemed to be the perfect state to live in.
    "Lady Felicity, You have dropped your missal." An arm nudged Felicity and knocked the book out of her hands, before she had a chance to protest the speaker was mistaken. It bounced on the grave edge and landed opened on the grass that surrounded the stone. A tall , slim, blonde-headed girl a few years younger than Felicity bent down and picked the book up, just as Felicity did the same. They missed clashing heads by an inch and the girl giggled.
    "Sorry. I didn't know what else to do."
    "Felicity, come on." Judith's voice was shrill.
    "Coming, I dropped my hymnal ," Felicity called as the young girl took her arm.
    "I have a friend," the girl said rapidly in an undertone. "She says be at the old cottage on the edge of The Lydd estate as soon after everyone has retired as you can. She got your letter. It'll be sorted. You're not to worry." She raised her voice. "Here you are , my lady, it's not crushed." Before Felicity had a chance to answer the girl curtsied and walked away.
    Felicity smiled to herself as she walked back onto the gravel path and across the churchyard to where her cousin stood, tapping her feet. She allowed herself to be helped into the carriage by her cousin's portly husband, and wondered for the umpteenth time how Judith could stand him. He oozed pomposity and that awful aura of 'I know best.' He made her skin crawl. Once they were settled, Lord Welland got in and the carriage set off.
    "Now isn't it good to know next week your fiancé will be here?" he asked as the carriage drove toward his house. "Perfect timing."
    "If you say so," Felicity replied in an even tone. She didn't bother to ask timing for what. She knew Lord Welland wouldn't reply. He was of the 'tell them nothing unless you choose to, answer no questions' school. Felicity realized she despised him for his petty behavior and idiosyncratic ideas. Apart from which, she had every hope of not being there to greet her erstwhile swain.
    Welland muttered something under his breath, and Judith tutted. Felicity ignored them. With luck, she only had the day to get through. She would do it.
    She did but at times Felicity had to bite her tongue. Why had she never realized how stupid Judith could seem? She might be a beauty, and expect the adulation of every man who appeared in her orbit, but she really had little between her ears. Or did she? Every so often a sharp or irascible comment to her by Welland made her eyes flash, and once Felicity was sure she saw her cousin stiffen. However, Judith said nothing, and just agreed with every diktat he threw in her direction. It was a problem to worry about later. For the time being Felicity had enough to be anxious over without adding Judith and her husband to her concerns. She replayed the meeting with the young girl in her mind. Who was she? Felicity knew she didn't know her.