Read Online Felicia by Leonora Blythe - Free Book Online Page A

understand?”
    “No, as you well know yourself, Cuthbert.” Mr. Burton gave Felicia a sympathetic look. “But do not worry, Miss Richards. I will defend you if Lord Umber allows his temper to get out of control. And, I daresay we can persuade Cuthbert to stand firm on your other side.”
    “Not wise, David, old boy!” Lord Rowbotham said evasively. “He’ll only think I had a hand in it.”
    Felicia turned to Mr. Burton in disbelief. “You are serious? I can hardly believe that I have committed an unpardonable sin.”
    Mr. Burton looked at her curiously as he nodded his head. He was surprised that she showed no signs of trepidation.
    “Then I shall confess immediately and take all the heat,” she continued determinedly. “Lord Umber will understand, I am sure.”
    “Yes, yes,” Lord Rowbotham agreed quickly. “Ian can never resist a pretty face.”
    “Shame on you, Cuthbert,” Mr. Burton chided. “I, for one, do not intend to let Miss Richards bear the brunt of Ian’s fury.” He turned toward the rest of the group, who were all listening with interest
    “Oh, Miss Richards,” Miss Fitzroy breathed, a look of awe on her plain face. “You are brave.”
    “Nonsense,” Felicia replied, checking the irritation she felt at the way her one simple action had now become the focal point of conversation. “Excuse me, I will go and apologize to Lord Umber immediately, and clear his mind of the thought that you might have had something to do with it, Lord Rowbotham.” She dropped a brief curtsy and turned towards the door.
    “I will escort you,” Mr. Burton said, as he followed her. “There is no need for you to put your head in the lion’s mouth without someone standing by to make sure there is fair play.”
    The determined look left her face as she laughed, “I fear Lord Rowbotham has exaggerated the peril ahead. Surely no one can be that put out by a few cut orchids. It is not as though I took them all.”
    Mr. Burton shook his head in mock gravity. “It is not so much the orchids, Miss Richards, even though he views them in much the same light as a servant would view a few gold guineas. No, it is more that he does not like to lose a wager. But, come, let us break the news to him and take our punishment bravely.”
    As the door closed behind them, Miss Fitzroy said to no one in particular, “Whoever is she? I have never heard of a Miss Richards.”
    “Some distant relation,” Lord Rowbotham said grandly, puffing out his chest importantly. It was not often that he was able to hold anyone’s attention for long, because normally he talked only about flowers. And very few of his acquaintances knew a sepal from a petal.
    “Where did you get that, Cuthbert?” a Mr. Gibbons twitted. “The wisteria around the front door?”
    Lord Rowbotham looked down his long nose haughtily. He was well aware that people regarded him as slightly eccentric, for the word had long since leaked out that he talked to his plants. “As a matter of fact, Lord Umber told me himself this afternoon. Didn’t mention anything about a fortune, though,” he finished morosely.
    Mr. Gibbons smirked in unkindly fashion. Everyone knew that Cuthbert had to marry money. “So even though she be ripe for the picking, you have no interest. Tut! Tut! Cuthbert!”
    “Oh!” signed Miss Fitzroy in relief. “I’ll be sure to tell Barbara…I would not like her to be uneasy….” She stopped as she realized no one was listening. Everybody’s attention had been caught by the grand entrance of Lady Barbara. She looked stunning in a low-cut dress of orange silk, and her auburn-streaked hair, piled high, set off her finely chiseled features to perfection. The only thing to mar her looks was a small frown of annoyance that creased her brow. This was caused by the absence of Lord Umber. Her eyes scanned the room quickly, but her search failed to recognize him among those already assembled. She tapped her foot in frustration, for she had been