The Toplofty Lord Thorpe Read Online Free PDF

though Lucy had barely responded to his greetings before, shame burning in her hot cheeks as she remembered every scathing word he had said to her, she melted hastily into any nearby group of people or handy quiet anteroom.
    Embarrassment played a part in her actions, but not a large one. She had, as she had acknowledged ruefully to her aunt when she confessed her crime, put her foot in it badly this time, but it was her bruised heart that was suffering, and not her pride. She had believed herself truly in love with Julian Rutherford, and even now her illusions about the man, having been struck down most unmercifully by his cruelty and indifference, were not really ready to die.
    Waving languidly to several acquaintances who tried to draw her into their conversation, Lucy now contented herself with making a lazy circle of the large room, only idly wondering why no one was dancing. Whatever juicy bit of new gossip had takentheir attention, it was still difficult to believe that it could keep the younger members of the party away from the floor when the musicians were playing such a lively tune.
    Out of the corners of her eyes Lucy could see her aunt beckoning to her, very determinedly gesturing for her niece to join her at the side of the ballroom. Thinking that perhaps Aunt Rachel could enlighten her as to what was going forward, and not really interested enough to have to winnow out the facts from the extraneous exposition that excited gabblemongers would generously sprinkle into their version of the scandal, she made for the woman’s side and made herself comfortable on one of the fan-backed chairs.
    â€œMy goodness, Aunt, have you ever seen anything to match it? Anyone would think Prinny had just announced he was giving up his title to marry a scullery maid. Tell me, what is it you have gleaned?”
    Now that she had her niece back at her side, Rachel Gladwin was torn as to exactly what she should do. While part of her wanted to whisk Lucy away before she got wind of what was about and made a cake out of herself in public, another, more realistic part of her knew that the time and place would make little difference to the news she had to impart. It would only be delaying the inevitable.
    â€œIt’s about Lord Thorpe, dearest,” she said at last, uneasily avoiding Lucy’s suddenly widened eyes.
    â€œLord Thorpe ran off with a scullery maid?” Lucy joked, suddenly not wanting to hear the truth.
    â€œIf it were only that simple,” her aunt sighed,reaching over to hold her niece’s kid-encased hand. “I don’t know the whole of it yet, so I don’t want you screeching out loud or anything when I tell you, do you understand?”
    â€œHe…he’s not… dead? ” Lucy pleaded in a husky whisper.
    â€œIt’s worse than that, my precious. They say he’s…Oh dear, how do I say this to an innocent like you? He’s gotten a girl in his home county into a…um…delicate condition, and left her to do away with herself in despair.”
    â€œWhat!” Lucy exploded, causing several of the nearby dowagers to cast curious glances in her direction. “What nonsense!” she hissed, heeding the warning pressure of her aunt’s hand. “Only a ninny would believe such a ridiculous thing.”
    â€œBe that as it may, Lucy, the facts speak for themselves. I understand there was a note telling all.”
    â€œA suicide note?” Lucy asked, still trying to reconcile her image of the man with the thought of Lord Thorpe rolling about in the hay with some village lass. “How has word of such a note gotten all the way from Derbyshire to London?”
    While Lucy sat rigidly in her chair, her eyes staring blankly at the people who were busily destroying Lord Thorpe’s reputation with their pointed tongues, her aunt outlined what she had heard.
    It seemed that there had lived, in a village near Thorpe’s estate, a young woman of