Rosemary Stevens Read Online Free Page A

now. Young Nevill has not seen her since he was fourteen. I believe Elsworth Nevill holds her responsible for his son’s death.”
    “I cannot understand how a mother could leave her child,” Freddie said.
    Her husband addressed her. “And you’ll never know, since you’ve not given me an heir. All you have are dogs and plenty of those.”
    My body tensed. His tone of voice and his words infuriated me. How dare the Duke of York speak of his wife that way when he paraded his mistress, Mary Anne Clarke, in front of all of London? Poor Freddie. I wanted to strike her husband with the full force of my right fist.
    Colour rushed into Freddie’s face. I could see a hint of tears forming in her eyes.
    That settled it. I looked at the Duke. “Your wife has one too many dogs.”
    His eyes met mine. He did not mistake my meaning. We stood that way, gazes locked, until the sound of the military band behind us forced our attention back to the troops on review.
    The Duke turned without another word, Freddie still holding his arm, and walked away to stand next to the Prince of Wales, his brother.
    I thought of going after him right then, of finally, after all these years, telling the Duke of York exactly what I think of the callous, dishonourable way he treats the most precious of women. Freddie. I thought of the pleasure I would derive out of connecting my fists with his flesh, of seeing him in pain for a change, rather than Freddie.
    But then I remembered my precarious position in this Society of London, and more importantly who I am not to Freddie. It went down a bit hard, but there was the situation in a nutshell.
    At least it appeared that, for the moment, she did not know of my involvement in the duel. If she did, she would surely have taken me to task.
    “Mr. Brummell? Mr. Brummell, did you not hear me?”
    I tore my gaze from Freddie to look at the woman beside me.
    “Er, forgive me, Miss Lavender, my thoughts were elsewhere.”
    “I can see that,” the Scotswoman said. Tonight she wore another of her sensible gowns, this one a dusky shade of grey. The colour complimented her dark red hair and emerald-like eyes.
    But there was nothing fussy or extravagant about the gown. The directress of the Haven of Hope shelter for “destitute and downtrodden” females, as Miss Lavender is wont to say, is too busy to bother with feminine frills.
    I made her a bow. “Are you enjoying the Pleasure Gardens this evening?” I asked, hoping that Mr. Jacombe’s words about the Haven of Hope had not reached Miss Lavender’s ears.
    “Yes, I am. I brought the girls from my shelter with me. I thought they deserved a treat. With the money Lord Perry gave me last year, I have been able to do more for them.”
    Lord Perry had given Miss Lavender a large sum of money to thank her for helping save his wife and baby during a difficult childbirth.
    “How good you are, Miss Lavender. The girls are fortunate to have you and your establishment.”
    Miss Lavender’s chin came up. “Someone must help them.”
    “I saw one of your charges here tonight. Molly.”
    Miss Lavender’s lips curved upward. “I am proud of Molly. She has grown up. Remember how she used to flirt with your chairmen?”
    “Yes.”
    “No doubt you’ve noticed she no longer behaves that way. In fact, she has found the most wonderful young man, and the two plan to marry.”
    “I recently became acquainted with Lieutenant Nevill.”
    “Oh, I didn’t know that. I’m sure you must agree with my high opinion of him.”
    I nodded. Obviously word of the impending duel, and the reasons for it, had not reached Miss Lavender’s ears. I would not tell her. The thought crossed my mind that she would appear at Chalk Farm at dawn and attempt to halt the proceedings.
    Or no. Should the spirited Miss Lavender find out what Mr. Jacombe had said about her establishment, she would probably bring her own dueling pistol and face the man across the grass herself. Do you see why I like