Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

I like being called an old fool.’
          With one
swift movement that belied his age and his inebriated state, Charles raised his
cane and pressed a lever to reveal a large deadly blade. Before the footpad
knew what he was about, Charles adroitly thrust the blade into the footpad’s
upper thigh.  He gave a shriek of pain bringing his hand down to his leg to
support himself and released Felicity in the process.  Felicity ran to stand
behind her rescuers before the assailant regained his senses.  Blood was seeping
through his coarse breeches and was slowly dripping down his leg.  The footpad
glared daggers at Charles who held him at bay with the length of his cane, sullied
with blood but still glinting ominously in the moonlight.  Badly injured, with
blood dripping heavily on the pavement and no longer having control of the
situation, the footpad cursed and spat, and then deciding to cut his losses, he
limped off down the street.
          ‘Good
riddance to him I say,’ muttered Henry as he turned to Felicity.
           Felicity
by this time had retrieved her scarf and hat and put them back on, quickly tucking
her hair into the confines of her hat.  She only tied the scarf loosely around
her lower face as she had no desire to be rude.
     ‘I say young men
are you alright?’ Charles asked with a jovial air. Felicity replied in deep
tones. ‘I think so sir.  I must thank you for your kind intervention.’
          Henry patted her hard
on the back nearly knocking her over. ‘No problem young man, think nothing of
it. I think after such an experience you must be in need of a drink. We are off
to George’s house for a brandy would you care to join us? The more the merrier
I say.’
          Felicity bowed. ‘No,
no thank you sir,’ she spluttered and not daring to say anymore in case she
gave herself away, she ran off down the street as fast as her legs would take
her.
          ‘Well I say,’
George remarked as his eyes followed her.  ‘The young men today, running off
like that!  Didn’t even tell us his name.’
          Charles frowned
as he watched Felicity enter into a house at the far end of the street. ‘I say
Henry I do not think that was a young man.  I think that was a Lady.’
          ‘A Lady!  Nonsense,
what would a Lady be doing on the streets this time of night unescorted?’
          Charles shook his
head.  ‘I do not know old chap, but I am telling you that was a gel.’
          Henry scratched
his head as if trying to think. ‘He was wearing breaches wasn’t he?’
          ‘Yes but...’
          ‘Then he must
have been a lad,’ Henry concluded. ‘Stands to reason.’
          ‘But did you see
those curls peeking out from under that hat?’ Charles argued.
          ‘Well he must have
been a pretty lad then, don’t be such a nodcock Charles, it could not possibly
have been a gel. What respectable gel would be out on her own in the streets
this time of night?’
          ‘Charles shook
his head. ‘You know Henry I am sorry but I must be more foxed than I thought.’
          ‘Well boy or gel,
the fellow just lives down the street so he could at least have invited us in
for a brandy.’
           ‘Don’t be too
hard on the young sprig old chap.  He must have had a shock.  That footpad was
a big brute of a fellow.  He scared me, I can tell you. Tell you what, did you
notice which house the young cawker went into? We should pay him a visit
tomorrow to see how he is. Young devil probably should not even have been out,
he only looked about fifteen.’ 
          ‘Good idea Henry,
and meanwhile we can still knock George up for that ball of fire. Boy I need it
more than ever after that.’
          Henry grimaced.  ‘Got
a feeling he might tell us to go to the devil this time of night.’
          ‘Goodness no! It
is only a quarter past two, still early yet old chap,’ Charles quipped and at