Read Online Dangerous Dalliance by Joan Smith - Free Book Online Page B

the lady’s middle.
    “Harold thought I was just the right size.” She smiled. “Speaking of Harold, I daresay it was his heart that carried him off?”
    “Yes,” Mrs. Lovatt replied, with a warning glance in my direction.
    “He mentioned those palpitations when we were—” She came to a coy pause, and smiled at Lord Fairfield. “When we were engaging in any strenuous activity.”
    “He found walking fatiguing,” Mrs. Lovatt said, her voice like ice. “You ought not to have let him exert himself, Mrs. Mobley.”
    “Try if you could stop him!” she said, and laughed merrily. Her next embarrassments were directed to Lord Fairfield, from whom she hoped to obtain an invitation to the Royal Pavilion. “As you are a fine lord, I daresay you are putting up at Prinney’s place?” she asked.
    “I am staying here at the Royal Crescent,” he answered civilly.
    “Just a social visit? Will you be visiting the prince?”
    “I am here on business, actually.”
    “Feel free to call on me, if you have an hour at your disposal. I live on German Street, just off the Marine Parade. A tidy little red cottage. You’ll know it by the daffodils around the gate. I’m sure any friends of the Humes are friends of mine.”
    Mrs. Lovatt bridled in frustration at this impertinence.
    “You are very kind,” he said, trying to conceal his astonishment. Then he rose. “I know you ladies are tired, so I shan’t trouble you further. May I return later this evening to discuss that matter I mentioned, ladies?”
    “We plan to return to our room immediately after dinner,” I replied.
    “I look forward to seeing you then.” He bowed all around, and left.
    “A new beau, Miss Hume?” Mrs. Mobley asked.
    “I only met Lord Fairfield today.”
    “But your papa knew him,” the dame said knowingly.
    “I don’t believe so.”
    “I’m sure I’ve seen him chatting to Harold, though I was never presented to him before. They exchanged letters once, I think. Harold used to meet an odd assortment of men. When was it now?” She gave a frowning pause. “Yes, it was during Harold’s Christmas visit that I spotted his lordship. We had been shopping—Harold bought that dainty little gold locket for you, Miss Hume. We stopped here at the hotel for tea. Harold excused himself and had a word with Fairfield. He didn’t mention the lad’s name, but I am not likely to forget a face like that. Handsome as can stare.”
    I was on thorns to learn how Papa had known Lord Fairfield, and was aware, too, of her confirmation that Papa had indeed been coming to Brighton all along. Mrs. Mobley could not know he had given me that little gold locket at Christmas unless she had been with my father when he bought it. I was incensed to realize that Papa had been pulling the wool over our eyes, and with this ill-bred creature.
    “And what did he buy for you, Mrs. Mobley?” Mrs. Lovatt asked, in a sharp tone.
    “Not a wedding ring, if that is what’s got your back up. Marriage didn’t suit me, though we discussed it. He could not leave Gracefield, and I had no wish to go there.” Her gimlet gaze said as clear as words who it was she objected to.
    “It is strange Papa never mentioned Lord Fairfield,” I said.
    “Aye.” Mrs. Mobley nodded sagely. “There were odd things aplenty going on with your father. I don’t know what it was; he said it would be safer for me not to know. It was a great secret. One would think he was a spy, the way he carried on,” she laughed. “Would you have any notion at all what brought him here, Miss Hume? He’d been coming half a year before I bumped into him.”
    “It was bird business,” Mrs. Lovatt said.
    “Still racing his pigeons, was he? That explains all those odd-looking men he used to meet.”
    “What do you mean?” I demanded.
    “Why, you may be sure they were fixing the races. Arranging amongst themselves whose bird was to win, and laying bets on it. That sort of thing goes on all the time. I wish he