Midnight Marriage: A Georgian Historical Romance (Roxton Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

immediate presence in the Pump Room.
    It surprised Deb that Mary had come to town so early in the Season. Not to have forewarned her of such plans made Deb suspicious. It would be too much of a coincidence for Mary to be in Bath the precise week Deb was making plans to quit the declining waterhole for Paris. She suspected her odious brother had once again sent his wife in his place. Deb had no proof but she believed he kept abreast of her every move by paying a member of her household to spy.
    Deb found Lady Mary seated at a window overlooking the King’s Bath and caught in conversation with a stiff-necked society matron who rose immediately Deb came through the crowd towards them.
    “Don’t get up, Lady Reigate,” Deb said cheerfully. “I came only to say good morning to Lady Mary.”
    “Deb! How good of you to come,” said Lady Mary, fluttering her fan in agitation, a sidelong glance at her conversationalist. “Will you take a glass of water with us?”
    Deb leaned over to kiss Lady Mary’s cheek. “No, thank you. I hate the taste and it’s quite fouled you know.”
    “Good day, Lady Mary,” Lady Reigate said with an outstretched hand and a curt nod in Deb’s direction. “It’s reassuring to see a familiar face so early in the season. You will come to my soirée ? I want to hear all about how your cousin the Duchess is holding up, what with her son embroiled in another seduction scandal. Not that I blame Alston. So handsome and so virile, is it any wonder silly French girls swoon at the sight of him? But such a trial on his poor Mamma. Do come on Tuesday, won’t you?”
    “Thank you for the invitation,” said Lady Mary, pulling Deb down beside her. “Thank goodness you came when you did,” she said with a sigh, Lady Reigate barely out of earshot. “I’ve heard enough about Alston’s degrading behavior not to want to be subjected to a moral monologue of his ills by that creature!” She noticed Deb’s riding skirts. “I haven’t upset your morning plans, have I?”
    Deb was staring down at the waders in the King’s Bath, smiling at the bobbing figures in their ridiculous brown gowns and small bars of soap on floating plates. “Not at all, dearest. I intend to ride out to keep my engagement. But your note expressed some urgency. I hope little Theodora isn’t ill?”
    “Theodora? Oh, no. Your little niece is very well indeed and I hated to leave her with Nurse at such a time. She is teething y’know. But Sir Gerald is tied up with tenant matters and cannot get away to see you himself for at least a sennight so he thought it best I come to Bath in his stead.”
    Deb couldn’t help a crooked smile. “If Gerry is tied up with estate matters for a sennight then I do see the urgency for your visit.” When Lady Mary appeared suitably blank faced Deb shook her head. “I’m sorry you came all this way for little return, Mary. I won’t alter my travel plans.”
    “So it is true.” Lady Mary moaned. She grasped Deb’s gloved hand. “I wanted to call on you in Milsom Street but I feared finding a hallway stacked with trunks and so thought it best to talk with you here, in a public place where we could be private.”
    “Dearest Mary, how like you to think it more private here in a crowded Pump Room than within my four walls; and yet how true. Yes, my hallway is piled high with luggage because I intend taking Jack to Paris as soon as I receive word from Mr. Ffolkes. Colonel Thistlewaite! How do you do?” Deb acknowledged, hand outstretched to a middle-aged gentleman who had broken away from his own party to bow before Deb with a flourish. “Permit me to present my sister Lady Mary Cavendish.” To which the portly gentleman in purple silken knee breeches and saffron yellow frock coat with black lacings bowed over Lady Mary’s little plump hand, a twinkle in his jaundiced watery eye. “You mustn’t mind the Colonel,” Deb continued with a bright smile. “He admires all the pretty females with