Lord Savage Read Online Free PDF Page A

dresses for breakfast, luncheon, tea, and dinner,
     and I’m sure there’ll be at least one grand ball. You won’t be able to repeat a thing,
     either, or have those grand titled folk think worse of you. But I ask you, ma’am,
     how am I to put all that into two trunks?”
    I smiled serenely. “Lady Carleigh was quite specific, Hamlin. It will be a small party
     of guests at Wrenton Manor, and she wishes everything to be informal and easy, without
     the usual constant parade of changes. Two trunks should be entirely sufficient for
     the dresses we discussed earlier.”
    “As you wish, ma’am,” Hamlin muttered, making it clear that it wasn’t what she wished
     at all. “But from what I’ve been hearing, ma’am, things might be more easy at this particular house than you might be expecting.”
    I turned to the maid, curious. I’d encountered a few raised eyebrows among my own
     London acquaintances when I mentioned that I’d accepted Lady Carleigh’s invitation,
     but they’d all been too discreet to elaborate. “What exactly have you heard, Hamlin?”
    “That this Wrenton Manor’s called Wanton Manor on account of all the shenanigans that
     happen there, ma’am,” Hamlin said, briskly rolling my silk stockings into tidy balls.
     “That having a noble title before your name’s no guarantee of decency, if you understand
     me, ma’am. You can be sure I’ll see that your bedroom door is locked each night, ma’am,
     to keep out the lechers and other rude gentlemen that prowl those halls.”
    “‘Wanton Manor’?” I laughed, even as I thought of one rude gentleman in particular.
     “Oh, my, that is rich!”
    “It’s the truth, ma’am,” Hamlin said with gloomy certainty. “Everyone here says so.
     It’s a wicked, sinful place.”
    “Well, then,” I said, “I promise you I shall be on my guard at all times.”
    I found Hamlin’s gossip more exciting than cautionary, for servants often knew far
     more of their masters’ habits than most realized. If the servants here at the Savoy
     said that the goings-on at Wrenton were wicked and sinful, then wicked and sinful
     they must be—and I could scarcely wait.
    “I doubt I’ll be in any true peril, surrounded by ladies and gentlemen,” I continued.
     “And it’s not as if I’m a fresh young debutante.”
    “A good thing you aren’t, ma’am,” Hamlin said darkly. “From what I’ve heard, an unmarried
     young lady would sooner spend a night in the stalls at Covent Garden than accept an
     invitation to Wrenton Manor.”
    I raised my brows with disbelief. “Really, Hamlin. Don’t exaggerate.”
    “I’m not, ma’am, not by half,” Hamlin declared, shaking her head. “They say the king
     himself has been a guest, all the way back when he was Prince of Wales, and he didn’t
     bring the princess with him, neither. Actresses and other strumpets, that’s his taste,
     low women eager for any sort of royal debauch, ma’am.”
    “His majesty has long been a friend to Lord and Lady Carleigh, Hamlin, so I’m not
     surprised that he has been their guest,” I said, ignoring Hamlin’s more salacious
     comments. “I’m certain her ladyship is an excellent hostess, one who addresses her
     guests’ every comfort and need.”
    “I’ll be the one looking after you and your good name, ma’am.” Hamlin shook her fist
     to ward off imaginary libertines. “It won’t be the first time I’ll keep a cudgel by
     my bed, just in case.”
    “I appreciate your concern for my welfare, Hamlin,” I said, “but I’m certain it’s
     not necessary.”
    I paused, knowing that what I’d say next would not be well received.
    “Besides, you shall not be accompanying me to Wrenton,” I continued quickly, deciding
     speed was best. “Lady Carleigh has advised us to leave our own servants at home, and
     rely on her staff to attend us while we are her guests.”
    Hamlin gasped, stricken, her open hand pressed to her bosom.
    “Not take me, ma’am!”