Lucy Muir Read Online Free PDF

companions had done, always before he had limited his attentions to married women or women of the demimonde. This was the first time he had made plans to seduce an unmarried woman of good, if not distinguished, family. He realised with some self-disgust that he would not have made the wager if Anne had male relatives to protect her.
    He had not misjudged her spirit, though! Lord Henry smiled as he recalled her reaction to his proposition. Most gently bred women would have had recourse to their vinaigrettes or hartshorn, but not Anne. She was a refreshing change from the vapourish misses, bored wives and blatantly sensual Cyprians with whom he was familiar. His misgivings at the wager disappeared as he contemplated Anne’s attractive qualities, and he wished he did not have to wait six months to collect. Still, it would make for an amusing Season to watch Anne try to establish her ward in the upper echelons of Society. He smiled in anticipation as he rose to retire for the night, his conscience subdued.
    * * * *
    Anne awoke early the next morning with the feeling that there was something unpleasant she was going to remember in a moment. Of course, the wager! She groaned and turned her face into the pillow, wishing she could remain behind the silken bed curtains forever and not have to deal with the consequences of her foolish behaviour. Whatever had possessed her!
    However, much as she would have liked to stay in bed all day, she could not. She pushed back the bed curtains and padded softly to the window. It was a white day. Heavy snow weighted down the branches of the trees, their winter garb clothing them more heavily than summer’s leaves. A cloud-gray sky promised more snow. There would be no hope of escaping Longworth today. Anne sat on the gracefully curved window seat and continued to stare outside, the heaviness of the day matching the heaviness of her spirits.
    There was no way out, not now. Charlie had taught her that one never retreated from one’s gambling obligations. It simply wasn’t done.
    Anne rested her head in her hands and thought glumly that perhaps Lord Stanton was right, and she was not a fit chaperone for her cousin. Whatever would she do? Her only way out would be if she won. Her eyes cleared, and she straightened up. Of course! If she won, no one need ever know of the shameful wager. She would explain away the two thousand pounds to Melissa somehow and all would be well. Her spirits brightened, and she rose from the window seat, ready to face the day.
    Mary entered the room with fresh water and Anne bade her good-morning cheerfully. She refused Mary’s help in dressing and, after a quick wash, clad herself in a blue morning gown of Valencia and a simple linen cap. A look at the red chinoiserie clock told her that Melissa would be awake, and Anne went in search of her cousin before going down to break her fast.
    Anne and Melissa found that Lord Stanton had not yet come down, but the appetizing aroma coming from dishes on the side table told them that the food was ready, so they helped themselves. When Anne was halfway through a dish of kidneys, Lord Stanton made his appearance, flawlessly attired in a light green superfine coat and buff kerseymere pantaloons.
    “Good morning, Miss Amberly, Miss Southwell. I trust you have both recovered from your journey?” he queried, helping himself to a large plate of food and joining them at the table.
    “Yes, thank you, Lord Stanton. We were most comfortable,” Anne replied.
    “Oh, yes,” echoed Melissa. “It would be strange if we were not comfortable. Your house is most beautiful, my lord.”
    Melissa had gotten over her disappointment at Lord Stanton’s ordinary behaviour, and appeared to regard him in the light of an older brother.
    “Perhaps you will allow me to entertain you with a tour of Longworth. I do not think the weather will allow you to depart before tomorrow.”
    “We should like that exceedingly,” Melissa assured him.
    As Anne