Read Online A Gentleman and a Scoundrel (The Regency Gentlemen Series) by Norma Darcy - Free Book Online

themselves away for a mere Mister―and you know how he says it Emmy, with that look on his face, looking down his nose with the air that you’re such a disappointment to him.”
    “None better than I,” Emma muttered with a short laugh, thinking of her parent’s reaction when she had refused Lord Allenby all those years ago.
    “He proses on about all the money spent on my come out and the clothes he was forced to buy and on and on all leading up to the fact that Malvern is the only match he will countenance. For a Duke, you know, Malvern is perfectly charming besides being quite handsome and not at all puffed up with his position. I’m sure he would make any woman a creditable husband…but…but not me. Does that make me so very bad?”
    Emma smiled. “No, dearest. I am very fond of Malvern, for a more sensible, gentleman-like man I have yet to meet. But I could not love him.”
    Louisa flung a piece of mauled plum cake back onto her plate. “But what am I to do, Emmy? Papa wants a title. Sophie married a mere mister. You have broken off with Lord Yarlett. Papa says that I am his only hope of happiness.”
    “And what has Nicholas to say about it?” asked Emma.
    Louisa plucked a currant from her cake and nibbled it thoughtfully. “I haven’t seen him since Vauxhall.”
    “I see.”
    “He…he is a gentleman of means, Emmy.”
    “To be sure he is,” her sister agreed, “but rather limited means, my love.”
    “Yes, but I should not care a rush for that! Mama thinks all I crave is a new pretty bonnet and I shall be happy. But I want more than that. I want what she and Papa have. I should be happy living in a cottage somewhere if I could be with him.”
    Emma, knowing her sister’s love of shopping, rather doubted this pronouncement but prudently kept her reservations to herself. “Is it agreed between you then?” she asked. “Are you engaged?”
    “Oh yes! He asked me at Vauxhall, you know. Nicholas was in the box next to ours with his friends. We stole away into one of the walks, when the fireworks were going off. There was a stone arbour amongst the roses. It was a little early for roses, but it was very romantic just the same.” Louisa picked up a knife and began to ruthlessly stab the remains of her plumb cake with it. “But then Malvern came upon us,” she added darkly.
    “Malvern?”
    “Yes,” said Louisa, brutally stabbing a raisin, remembering. "Almost as if he had followed us from the box.”
    “And?”
    Louisa raised her eyes from her plate and threw down her knife. “Oh never mind that now. It has nothing to say to anything.”
    “Doesn’t it?” Emma prompted, burning with curiosity.
    “Oh the mortification!” cried Louisa, burying her head in her hands. “I don’t think I shall ever be able to look him in the face again. Which is why I must leave London. I cannot endure it!”
    “Endure what, my love?”
    “But oh you don’t know ,” said Louisa in agonised tones, “you cannot know what happened! He was so very angry and…oh why can I never think of anything to say to the purpose until it is too late? I blush, I stammer and I make a fool of myself. I wish I were clever and witty like you Emma, you always know exactly what to say.”
    “Me?” said her sister, taken aback.
    “Why yes. You know just how to set one down.”
    “Do I? What a very curious skill that is to be sure. I haven’t decided yet if you have paid me a compliment or not!”
    “What am I to do, Emmy? I cannot face Malvern again; it is too humiliating. And I cannot go home for Papa will be so angry with me.”
    “Then let us go to Devon.”
    “To Foxhill?” asked Louisa, her face brightening at the thought.
    “I will write directly to Uncle Ned.”
    “Oh yes do! I would like it above all things.”
    Emma then watched in some amusement as her sister took to stirring her hot chocolate, seemingly unaware that the cup was empty.
     

Chapter 5
     
    The kitten was adorable; all grey fur with a white