The Husband Hunt Read Online Free

way, it may have been a favor to him. He was suffering a great deal.” Silence reigned for a moment and then he shifted impatiently. “How the devil did we get on this depressing subject?” When Richard and Daniel merely shook their heads silently, pity in their expressions, he stood abruptly. “I’m heading back to the townhouse. At least there I can get a drink when I want it. Good day, gentlemen.”
    “A re you a virgin, dear Bet?”
    Lisa blinked her eyes open and frowned, both at the fact that she was dozing off in the middle of tea—which was surely about the rudest thing she could do—but also because Mrs. Morgan’s question was completely inappropriate. Good Lord, one simply didn’t ask a lady’s maid things like that. Or anyone, really.
    Realizing she’d somehow slumped in her seat, she sat up and found herself swaying alarmingly. Good Lord, what was the matter with her? Lisa wondered and gave her head a shake.
    A confused mumble from Bet drew her gaze and she found the maid peering at her with the same dismay she was now experiencing.
    “Well, never mind,” Mrs. Morgan said with unconcern. “I suspect you are, but we shall have the doctor verify it. He has to anyway for the auction. Otherwise, no one will bid on you. They don’t simply take these things on word alone when paying such high prices.”
    None of that made the least bit of sense to Lisa, but it did send a frisson of alarm through her.
    “Mishes Mor—” she began, but paused abruptly as she heard the slur to her words.
    “Oh my, I do believe the tincture is starting to take effect,” Mrs. Morgan said pleasantly and picked up the small bell on the table beside her to ring it twice. “Time for bed I think. It will keep you out of trouble until they arrive.”
    “They?” Lisa asked with bewilderment, some part of her brain—a very confused and slow-working part—trying to tell her she needed to get herself and Bet out of there . . . now.
    “The doctor who examines all my girls before I sell them to the highest bidder,” she explained. “And your suitor, of course. I sent word to him that you’re here. However, he does like to sleep most of the day away and it will no doubt be well after dinner before he arrives. Of course, we shall have to get you bathed and properly attired for his visit. He does like his girls presented just so. Quite fussy about it, actually,” she added with a grimace and then glanced around. “Oh, good, here are Cook and Gilly. They’ll put you both to bed. I have things to do, but trust they’ll take good care of you.”
    Lisa stared blankly as the woman stood and moved toward the door. She was vaguely aware that others had entered the room, but didn’t seem to be able to stop staring at Mrs. Morgan. Her friend. Who had apparently put something in her tea? Drugged her? And Bet? What had that been about a suitor?
    The thought was the last she had before her eyes drifted closed.

Chapter Three
    A great loud snoring woke Lisa from sleep. Scowling at the annoying sound, she turned over in bed and then scowled again as she bumped into something hard. Bet’s elbow she saw, opening her eyes. What the devil was Bet doing in her bed? She had her own room in the servant’s quarters. She—
    Stiffening as memory flooded back, Lisa sat up abruptly and peered around the room. It was small and mean looking with little more than the bed in it and four bare walls. One wall held a window covered with dark drapes and one had a large, solid door.
    Sucking in a breath, Lisa slipped her feet to the floor and stood up, alarmed to find the room doing a slow spin around her. When it stopped, she let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and moved slowly around the bed toward the door. Reaching it, she grasped the handle and twisted it, disappointed, but not terribly surprised when it turned but the door didn’t open. They were locked in.
    Swinging back to the room, she crossed to the window and