A Sisterly Regard Read Online Free PDF Page A

good to sit, miss. The
sun's so nice and warm."
    Phaedra made two energetic circuits of the park before her need
for activity was satisfied. As she returned to the bench to retrieve her
maid, she spied a group of half a dozen stylish gentlemen approaching on
an intersecting path.
    One of them, a rotund fellow in a too-tight coat and trousers far
better suited to a smaller man, peered at Betty through a silver-rimmed
quizzing glass. "Well, well. What have we here?"
    Phaedra ignored him. "Come, Betty. It is time we were
returning." She tugged the girl to her feet, but before she could drag her
along the path, a second man stepped into her way.
    "Housemaids, I imagine. Ripe for the plucking." His voice was
smooth, deep, and somehow hungry sounding.
    Phaedra stepped around him, followed closely by the maid, who
offered no resistance and, in fact, hung on tightly.
    A third man said, "Here now, don't run away. We won't harm
you." He blocked the path with outspread arms.
    "No indeed," the first promised with a giggle. "We are harmless
gentlemen. Wouldn't hurt a fly." General laughter agreed with him.
    Dodging around a shrub at a half run, Phaedra and Betty almost
collided with a tall man.
    Instead of stepping aside, he caught Phaedra by the wrist. "Hold
there. What are you running from?"
    She recoiled. He was older than the others and dressed to the
nines. "Release me, sir, if you please." Instead he captured her other wrist
and soon had them manacled between long, strong fingers.
    The other men caught up. "Ah, Dervigne, you caught our little
housemaids. Good man!" The speaker slipped his arm around Betty's
waist. "Give us a kiss then, sweetling." He bent his head.
    Betty squealed, a sound that was abruptly cut off as the man
kissed her.
    "Let go of her!" Phaedra tried to wrench herself free, but the
older man had a grip of iron. As the men surrounded her and Betty, she
felt real terror. "I am a lady, sir. She is my maid. You have no
right--"
    "A lady? Dressed that way? Not likely," the deep-voiced one
said. "Here, Dervigne, I'll take her."
    Her captor appeared to study her features. "No, I think she's
telling the truth." He pulled Phaedra closer, ignoring her struggles. "A
toll, then, and I'll release you."
    As his face approached hers, Phaedra gave up trying to wrench
her hands free and kicked out instead. Her foot connected with his
shin.
    "Damn you!" He released her.
    "Run, Betty," Phaedra cried, swinging her reticule at her maid's
captor. It hit him full in the face. Betty took to her heels, with Phaedra
right behind.
    Fear leant strength and speed to their flight. Although several of
the men pursued them with laughter and cries of 'view halloo', she and
Betty emerged from the park before they could catch up. Once among the
crowds on a busy street, Phaedra looked back. The men were standing at
the park's edge, laughing together.
    Both girls walked rapidly along the street, with frequent glances
over their shoulders. At last Phaedra found her voice. "We are only a
block from home. I will be perfectly safe. Go on ahead. I will be along in a
few moments."
    Betty gave her a tremulous smile. "Thank you, miss. I was that
scared, I couldn't move."
    "So was I. Go now, and try to avoid being seen until you've
tidied yourself." Phaedra watched the maid duck into the servants'
entrance as she walked more slowly, needing time for the shaking of her
hands and the butterflies in her stomach to subside. When Edgemont
opened the door, all signs of her fright and her flight were well hidden,
and she was able to give him a bright smile as she commented upon how
exhilarating her walk had been.
    * * * *
    Two weeks after their arrival in London, the Hazelbourne ladies
returned from a brief shopping trip to find a note awaiting them from
Lord Gifford's aunt, the Duchess of Verbain. It announced her arrival in
Town and contained an invitation to call the next morning. Chloe was
excited, because she took the invitation as the first step in her