Pride and Retribution Read Online Free

foot, tore away from the bottom of her gown. She looked down with tears trembling on her eyelids, but indomitably she continued to walk away until the lace was left crumpled up around his feet.
    ‘What on earth did you say to Lucille Hastings?’ His lifelong friend Howard Cuthbertson, Baron Nairn asked indignantly. Wilfred picked up the lace and wrapped it around his fist.
    ‘I asked her to suck my cock.’ He said innocently and Cuthbertson looked at him in horror. Wilfred looked owlishly up at his friend and put the lace to his lips. ‘I don’t think she wanted to.’
    ‘I think I should take you home , before you get into any more trouble.’ The Baron helped the Earl to his feet and together they started the stumbling dance to the door.
     
    *****
    A month later, Wilfred De Lacey stepped out of his carriage, sauntered up the steps and knocked on the front door of number 13 Green Street. He did not see Lucille Hastings and she did not recognise him as she walked with her maid along the opposite side of the road.
    ‘My Lord.’ Bennett said deferentially as he opened the door to the Earl.
    ‘Good afternoon, Bennett. Is your mistress receiving?’ Wilfred asked as he stripped off his gloves.
    ‘She is always happy to see you, My Lord.’ Bennett replied, closing the door quietly as Wilfred whipped off his hat, dropped his gloves in it and handed it to the butler. ‘She is in the parlour.’ Bennett handed the hat to a footman, a rather large footman with a belligerent expression and showed Wilfred into the parlour. He tapped lightly on the door, opened it and announced him efficiently.
    ‘Thank you, Bennett. Would you have Mrs. Baker join us and send up some tea, please?’ Harriet said softly as Wilfred stepped into the room, ‘unless you would like something stronger, Wilfred?’
    ‘Tea will be fine, thank you.’ Wilfred said with a smile as he approached the woman on the chaise long. He took her hand gently in his and delicately brushed his lips over her knuckles. ‘How do you feel today?’ Mrs. Baker sidled into the room, took a chair in the corner and picked up her embroidery.
    ‘I’m starting to feel much better, the pain in my leg has now reduced to a nagging ache, which I think has more to do with the wet weather.’ She smiled brightly and indicated he should sit. ‘So you can tell me how Caroline’s presentation went.’
    ‘It went like clockwork, just as every presentation goes.’ He said cheerfully as he sat on the settee. ‘The King tottered out, supported by the Queen and cast his feverish eye over the debutantes. He sat in the chair and nodded as each girl was presented and we held our breath as the Prince Regent slavered all over them.’ He snorted, contemptuously. ‘I thought that Caroline was going to swoon when the Prince asked if she wanted to be a lady in waiting!’ Harriet tittered behind her fingers. He found it an endearing habit. He’d seen her do that regularly, since her face had recovered. He was surprised just what a happy soul Harriet Saunders had, she was always finding something amusing.
    ‘Did he ask Caroline to dance?’ Wilfred shook his head slowly. ‘That’s probably just as well. I’ve heard he has two left feet!’
    They became quiet as Bennett brought in the tea and Wilfred’s mind ambled away to think about Lucille Hastings. She had been at that same ball and looked so beautiful in her white debutante’s gown. He’d managed, at some point, to get close enough to see that it had fine silver netting over a brilliant white sarsenet gown. Her décolletage had revealed a goodly portion of her creamy breasts and he had seen the Prince Regent almost try to touch one fleetingly. He had been astonished to feel his blood boil, but he had managed to keep out of her line of sight and he stood over Caroline all evening because Markham was in attendance. Lucy had been with her brothers Robert and Richard. He knew both of them from Cambridge. He only took his