Rescuing Rosalind (Three Original Ladies and Their Gentlemen) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in the nature of a joke, but it has become all too serious. Elise and Fanny’s mother is known as Lady Hatchet. For good reason. The woman is so deranged, she belongs in Bedlam. She actually terrorizes her own children.” Using his sugar spoon, the duke scored the tablecloth with deeply indented lines. He appeared to be suffering under strong emotion.
    The waiter appeared with Buck’s lamb, peas, and roasted potatoes.
    Ruisdell said, “I don’t have formal guardianship, but I have full authority granted to me in a writ instituted by their father in the Court of Chancery. Fanny and her younger sister, Sophie, consider my home their home.”
    Buck wondered what details his friend was keeping to himself. Thinking of Rosalind being physically or emotionally hurt in any way made him see red. Years of commanding a ship had given him enough taste of bullies to last a lifetime. “Why are you telling me this, Ruisdell?”
    “Fanny is far more fragile than she appears.”
    “You think I would hurt her?”
    “Not intentionally. But I wanted you to know that there is a vulnerable woman beneath all that bravado.”
    Buck considered this. “It is a pity she’s a lady, for she is a very talented actress.”
    “She immersed herself in Shakespeare when she was growing up, convincing herself she was a great actress. According to Elise, she played role after role through her childhood.”
    “I have seen evidence of it. Who is she when she is not acting?”
    “That very issue has become a problem. We don’t know anymore. She tries on different lives daily.”
    Buck was silent, considering Rosalind’s behavior that afternoon with Clark.
    “Are you certain it is that dire? Perhaps she only amuses herself. She does not appear to be a victim, you know.”
    “She told Elise this morning that she was blue-deviled and longing to break free of the restrictions of the ton. ”
    “Well, I can agree with her there. I’m feeling a bit blue-deviled myself. It is a strange civilization—this upper ten thousand. It is as much hidebound by pointless and absurd shibboleths as the heathen savages I met on my voyages.”
    The duke looked uncomfortable. “I pray you will not share that observation with Fanny. Whether or not we are strange, that is the world we must live in. She has a fortune settled on her from her Aunt Clarice. We don’t want her to fall victim to a fortune hunter through her forward ways. It would be very easy to compromise her. Elise and I must make certain she does not spoil her chances.”
    Buck began to feel uncomfortable. He ran his finger under his collar. “I like Miss Edwards rather well, as you have gathered. But I’m not in the market for a wife.”
    “Then please refrain from entertaining her more shatterbrained ideas. In fact, I would greatly appreciate it if, instead of encouraging her as you did today, that you might show some restraint where she is concerned.”
    “What a pity,” Buck said. “To restrain such an enthusiastic and delightful young woman. Are you attempting to recruit me, Ruisdell?”
    “I’m saying watch her and watch yourself, old man. She’s like a whirling dervish. I know not where she will end up.”
    At this, Buck pushed away his plate and ordered some of the smuggled brandy, thinking offhandedly that it should be a very short time before normal trade relations with France were restored and he could enjoy the wines he had so prized as part of the booty in the ships he took.
    “I believe you have handed me a problem that requires strategy and cunning,” he said. “Just when I thought there was no call for those talents of mine. I think I can promise you that, by adding my not inconsiderable aptitude to yours and the duchess’s, we can accomplish the goal of keeping Miss Edwards safe and happily occupied at the same time. I pledge my word.”
    * * *
     
    The next day in the interminable length of days ahead dawned early for Buck. His head pounding from the effects of too much