Letters to a Lady Read Online Free PDF

lunch.”
    Harrup continued frowning, but it was no longer an angry frown. He was rapidly conjecturing the likely outcome of this accident. “Pity.”
    “Yes, she had all our money in her reticule, which is why we are forced to seek rack and manger from you.”
    “Naturally I’ll repay her. How much?”
    “Ten guineas.”
    “Have you any idea who the thief was? What I am wondering is whether he’ll realize the potential profit in what he picked up along with Peabody’s purse.”
    Diana regarded him as though he were an idiot. “Peabody is the only one who saw the man, and she didn’t recognize him. It was not done inadvertently by some simple cutpurse, however. The man asked specifically for our parlor. How did he know we were there? The only person who knew we had those letters and that we were en route to London was Mrs. Whitby. She sent him. The logical corollary is that she means to hit you up for more money.”
    Harrup’s handsome features pinched in consternation as he considered this view. He looked a little pale around the jawline. “I can’t believe it of Laura,” he said. His voice was light with disbelief or disillusion.
    “I daresay you’ll believe it when you receive the demand for payment,” she answered tartly. “How hot are the letters?”
    “Plenty hot.”
    A little snigger of laughter escaped her lips, for it seemed so very droll to think of this stiff-rumped gentleman penning purple phrases to a lightskirt. “I’m surprised at you, Harrup. I thought you were up to all the rigs, and you behave like a Johnnie Raw. Ronald would not be so foolish as that.”
    “There was a reason,” he defended reluctantly. “After moving Laura to Hitchin, I found I was able to spend very little time with her. To pacify her, I wrote from London occasionally.”
    “A bad investment all around. How did you come to take a mistress, and especially to move her out of town, when you were too busy to see her?”
    “It’s complicated.” he said vaguely. “I moved her out of London because I was courting Lord Groden’s daughter, Lady Selena. I am engaged, by the bye.”
    “Congratulations.” Diana nodded. Her major interest in hearing this was to pass it along to Peabody. “Forgive my ignorance, but was it not an odd time to take up with a ladybird?”
    “I had already taken up with her earlier. I only wanted to get her out of town.”
    “And as Lady Selena keeps you too busy to visit Hitchin, you were dropping Mrs. Whitby,” Diana said.
    “No, it’s not Selena who keeps me so well occupied. The fact is, I am being considered for a very important appointment at court. Attorney general,” he said, his chest swelling with pride. His chin lifted a little higher, and his face assumed that noble expression often seen on Roman statues.
    “You—the conscience of the nation!” Diana exclaimed, and couldn’t suppress a laugh.
    The noble expression dwindled to annoyance. “That is the chancellor you’re thinking of. I shan’t be sitting on the woolsack till Eldon resigns—till he dies, actually. He has it for life. The attorney general is the first ministerial law officer of the government. A very important position. I want that appointment,” Harrup added. His voice resonated with passion.
    The Harrups had always been ambitious. Many such plums hung on the family tree, and as Harrup approached his peak years, he realized he was but little ornament to the family history. For that reason he had put his nose to the grindstone, his offer to Lady Selena, and decided to settle down. He was not accustomed to being thwarted in his desires, and a cold passion overcame him. He would do whatever he had to do to get that appointment.
    “Does Mrs. Whitby know all this?” Diana asked.
    “Of course; I told her.” He rose and began pacing to and fro in the small room.
    “A pity. You’ll have to come down heavy for the letters.”
    Harrup’s nostrils quivered in distaste, but no price was too high to pay for