Read Online Must Love Breeches by Angela Quarles - Free Book Online
Authors: Angela Quarles
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with unsteady legs on the couch, beside Ada. The butler entering with the tea tray broke their heated stare, and conversation centered around common topics while Mrs. Somerville poured. However, Lord Montagu’s unspoken questions settled over them. Isabelle’s intermingled, adding to the weight. She sipped her tea, feeling Lord Montagu’s gaze on her again, but refusing to look up.
He cleared his throat. “Miss Rochon, I am afraid I have been unsuccessful in learning anything about your thief. I canvassed the area, describing the urchin, but was unable to learn a single thing about the creature, or your silver case.”
She took a steadying breath. “Thank you, I appreciate your help. Is there anything else we, uh, I, can do?” She had to believe she’d find it; if trapped here for more than a day, she needed to pawn it for money. But the thought of doing so sat heavily with her. Her whole body had hummed when she’d found it and the journal wrapped in seal skin under the rotting floorboards of her study in Guildford.
“Could we hire a Bow Street Runner?” she continued. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.” They were still around, right? Shit, when did they stop using Bow Street Runners to investigate crime and began to depend on the newly formed police force? Why couldn’t she have gone back to the Regency era, or the Victorian era? She was stuck in the hazy in-between.
“We can. Is it of such importance to you, then?” he asked, his gaze assessing.
Whew . She shifted on the couch. “Yes, sir, er, my lord, it’s—it is a family piece, and so of value to me.” Man, trying to speak without contractions was difficult. She plastered on a polite smile.
“Then I shall make the necessary arrangements. Please, do not concern yourself with the expense. It will be my pleasure to assist, I assure you.” One of his blunt fingers slowly rubbed the rim of the top hat he held in his lap. He stood abruptly and bowed. “I trust I shall see you at Lady Huxton’s ball tonight?”
Isabelle’s gaze flashed to Ada in panic.
But Ada nodded gracefully at her cousin. “You shall.”
“In the meantime,” he continued, “if I should have need to contact you about your stolen item, Miss Rochon, I can call on you at...”
Again, Isabelle looked in panic to Ada. Not knowing what to do, or what was proper, was so nerve-racking. She didn’t dare glance at Mrs. Somerville. Or Lord Montagu.
“Miss Byron and Miss Rochon will be my guests until Monday, my lord. You may call on them here,” replied Mrs. Somerville.
Isabelle gawked at her. That was nice.
“Very good.” She heard his booted feet move closer. “Miss Byron, pray forgive me for this liberty, but I brought this for you.” Isabelle snapped her attention to the pair. He held out the box and bowed. “It is a replacement for the coat you lost last night.”
What in the—? Ada lost hers too?
Ada stared at the box she now held. “But, I―”
Lord Montagu’s head turned slightly toward Isabelle, his gaze snagging hers.
“Oh, yes,” Ada replied, glancing at Isabelle. “Thank you, cousin. This is kind of you. It is most appreciated.”
He bowed. “Until tonight, ladies.” He donned his hat, gave an assessing glance at Isabelle, and stepped to the door.
The other two women had already stood and curtseyed, and Isabelle rushed to do the same before he left. What must he think of her ineptitude?
With a last nod, he swept from the room.
Isabelle waited until the front door closed downstairs, her legs doing a little shaky-shaky. She turned to Ada. “What do we do? I don’t have an invitation to this ball. And what am I to wear? And Mrs. Somerville, I can’t impose on you until Monday.” Oops, she’d used contractions.
Mrs. Somerville responded first. “Nonsense. I will not hear another word of protest. Lady Byron will be arriving then to collect Miss Byron, and I imagine that will give you ample time to sort out your situation.”
Before
He cleared his throat. “Miss Rochon, I am afraid I have been unsuccessful in learning anything about your thief. I canvassed the area, describing the urchin, but was unable to learn a single thing about the creature, or your silver case.”
She took a steadying breath. “Thank you, I appreciate your help. Is there anything else we, uh, I, can do?” She had to believe she’d find it; if trapped here for more than a day, she needed to pawn it for money. But the thought of doing so sat heavily with her. Her whole body had hummed when she’d found it and the journal wrapped in seal skin under the rotting floorboards of her study in Guildford.
“Could we hire a Bow Street Runner?” she continued. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.” They were still around, right? Shit, when did they stop using Bow Street Runners to investigate crime and began to depend on the newly formed police force? Why couldn’t she have gone back to the Regency era, or the Victorian era? She was stuck in the hazy in-between.
“We can. Is it of such importance to you, then?” he asked, his gaze assessing.
Whew . She shifted on the couch. “Yes, sir, er, my lord, it’s—it is a family piece, and so of value to me.” Man, trying to speak without contractions was difficult. She plastered on a polite smile.
“Then I shall make the necessary arrangements. Please, do not concern yourself with the expense. It will be my pleasure to assist, I assure you.” One of his blunt fingers slowly rubbed the rim of the top hat he held in his lap. He stood abruptly and bowed. “I trust I shall see you at Lady Huxton’s ball tonight?”
Isabelle’s gaze flashed to Ada in panic.
But Ada nodded gracefully at her cousin. “You shall.”
“In the meantime,” he continued, “if I should have need to contact you about your stolen item, Miss Rochon, I can call on you at...”
Again, Isabelle looked in panic to Ada. Not knowing what to do, or what was proper, was so nerve-racking. She didn’t dare glance at Mrs. Somerville. Or Lord Montagu.
“Miss Byron and Miss Rochon will be my guests until Monday, my lord. You may call on them here,” replied Mrs. Somerville.
Isabelle gawked at her. That was nice.
“Very good.” She heard his booted feet move closer. “Miss Byron, pray forgive me for this liberty, but I brought this for you.” Isabelle snapped her attention to the pair. He held out the box and bowed. “It is a replacement for the coat you lost last night.”
What in the—? Ada lost hers too?
Ada stared at the box she now held. “But, I―”
Lord Montagu’s head turned slightly toward Isabelle, his gaze snagging hers.
“Oh, yes,” Ada replied, glancing at Isabelle. “Thank you, cousin. This is kind of you. It is most appreciated.”
He bowed. “Until tonight, ladies.” He donned his hat, gave an assessing glance at Isabelle, and stepped to the door.
The other two women had already stood and curtseyed, and Isabelle rushed to do the same before he left. What must he think of her ineptitude?
With a last nod, he swept from the room.
Isabelle waited until the front door closed downstairs, her legs doing a little shaky-shaky. She turned to Ada. “What do we do? I don’t have an invitation to this ball. And what am I to wear? And Mrs. Somerville, I can’t impose on you until Monday.” Oops, she’d used contractions.
Mrs. Somerville responded first. “Nonsense. I will not hear another word of protest. Lady Byron will be arriving then to collect Miss Byron, and I imagine that will give you ample time to sort out your situation.”
Before
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