A Perilous Marriage Read Online Free Page A

wanted to talk to you. I didn’t mind.”
    “But I did. You are a dear friend, and he was rude. Come, let us find my grandmama and see if she is ready to go home. Can we give you a lift, Caro, unless you want to wait for David? He looks entrenched with the Hepplewhite’s. I know Matthew wanted some advice on buying a matching pair for a carriage he had ordered, so I suggested he asked David.”
    “You are kind. Yes, I’ll come with you. Give me a moment to tell David, will you?”
    Lucie nodded and left to seek Eleanor. She stood up at once when she saw Lucie. “Time we made our goodbyes, my dear. I am not for late nights anymore.”
    “I offered Carolyn a ride home if that is all right, Grandmama? I think David intends to stay later. He is advising the Hepplewhite’s.”
    “Good man, David. They couldn’t do better than ask his advice.”
    The look Edmund Tasker gave Lucie was unreadable when they bade goodnight to him, and she felt an uncomfortable itch along her spine that seemed not quite a shiver but a warning. He had not liked her dismissive words. But, with Carolyn there, he could not press his invitation further, and she was thankful to be able to put him off. It remained to be seen what her grandmother had gleaned from the dinner conversation and to decide if she would tell her of Tasker’s bad manners and persistence.
    Lucy tried to recall any interaction in the past that had bearing on Tasker taking up with her now. He had known that she and Emmeline were great friends from Emmeline’s parents, but had chosen to ignore the connection. She had never been invited to their home after Emmy married him. In fact, according to Emmy, he disliked her childhood friendships, so all she had ever known of him had been through Emmeline.
    The ride back was virtually silent, each woman either tired or deep in thought. They bade Carolyn goodnight, and when they reached home, Eleanor turned immediately for the stairs. “I’m for bed, Lucie. We shall discuss this evening’s entertainment in the morning.”
    “Yes, it is late, and we are both very tired. Goodnight and sleep well.”
    “And you, my love.” She kissed her granddaughter and with the help of Ruth, her maid of many years, wearily climbed the stairs.
    Lucie lingered only a moment in the hall to bid Rowten goodnight as he locked the main door then she, too, mounted the stairs and retired to bed. Mary, her own maid, waited to help her out of her gown and into her nightdress and brush and braid her hair for bed. She was tired but unable to sleep for a long time as she thought over the events of the evening. She recalled her previous thoughts when first she had heard of Tasker’s return. Why had he come back? What was he after? She still had no clue, but the uncomfortable shiver was still with her. Maybe her grandmother would have more to say tomorrow.
     
    * * * *
     
    It was almost luncheon before Eleanor descended to greet her granddaughter. Ruth had told Mary, who passed the message to Lucie, that her grandmother was resting later owing to the late night she’d had. However, when she came down, she did not look in the least bit tired. Instead, she had a soft glow of pleasure about her, and she greeted Lucie happily.
    “I trust you’ve found something to keep you busy this morning, Lucie. Did you ride?”
    “I was going to, but Carley had a swollen fetlock this morning, and Haskins was going to poultice it and rest her today. I decided not to ride, and instead, I’ve been busy with Butters to settle on cleaning out the old conservatory near the tool shed and possibly putting in late summer vegetables for when we return from London. He tells me the main garden has been invaded with slugs. He wants to keep a closer eye on the vegetables and prevent infestation if he keeps the slugs out of reach. I said I’m sure you will agree.”
    “Now, you know you and Butters decide on everything to do with the garden and have done so for a long time, so who am I