Read Online The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig - Free Book Online

As for Percy Ponsonby One word to his mother, and half of England would know by noon and the other half by tea. On the other hand, if Mary could get to Lucy, and Lucy could get to Percy before Percy spoke to Mrs. Ponsonby
    Letty rocked forward as the coach jolted to a halt. Once again, the door was wrenched unceremoniously open. This time Lord Pinchingdale's intentions were clearly anything but amorous.
    "Ready?" he demanded.
    Letty didn't answer. All her attention was focused elsewhere, on the first floor of her parents' rented town house, where every single candle of their month's allowance was melting cheerfully away.
    "Oh, no." Letty would have liked to say something stronger, but the training of a lifetime restrained her. "They can't be awake."
    "Can't they?" Lord Pinchingdale said ironically, offering her his arm in a gesture so courtly it couldn't be anything but a mockery. "I'm sure they always sleep with all the candles lit. So much more conducive to rest."
    With an effort, Letty refocused, frowning down at her partner in impropriety. Avoiding the outstretched arm, she felt cautiously for the step with one inadequately shod foot. "You don't need to come in with me. In fact, it would be better if you didn't."
    "And forgo the pleasure of sharing the happy news with your parents?"
    Letty looked up from the all-absorbing task of trying to place her feet on the proper steps without tripping over the hem of her cloak.
    "I can manage this much better on my own."
    Lord Pinchingdale took her by the elbow and all but lifted her down the last two steps. "I'm sure you can."
    Wrenching her arm out of his grasp, Letty started to say something that began with, "If you would only—"
    Geoff silenced her by the simple expedient of dropping the knocker. The sound of iron hitting oak drowned out whatever it was she had been about to say.
    No sooner had a sleepy maid wrestled open the door than slippered feet padded rapidly down the stairs. Decked out in a ribboned nightcap, Mrs. Alsworthy took one look at her disheveled daughter, let out a shriek, and sagged against her husband, nearly knocking him down the last few steps.
    "Is that my daughter? Oh, tell me the worst!"
    Staggering under the impact, Mr. Alsworthy retreated a safe few paces away. "If you must faint, my dear, kindly contrive to do it in the other direction."
    "Shouldn't you be asleep?" demanded Letty, taking a step inside. Automatically, she blew out the candles in the sconces on either side of the door. Candles were so dear, and the household finances were precarious as it was.
    The silent presence of Lord Pinchingdale, looming behind her like a nightmare in the closet, forcibly reminded Letty that their finances weren't the only thing hanging in the balance. She planted herself firmly in front of him, a gesture that had all the effectiveness of a squirrel trying to block a tree.
    "Sleep? Sleep!" Mrs. Alsworthy's beribboned head quivered with indignation.
    "Yes, sleep, my dear," murmured Mr. Alsworthy. "It is what one generally does at night."
    "How could I sleep with my daughter out wandering goodness only knows where, falling into the hands of rogues and seducers and and pirates!"
    "What very enterprising pirates they must be," commented Mr. Alsworthy, "to venture so far inland, just to kidnap our daughter. You do see the honor being done to you, don't you, my Letty? If the pirates have come all that way, just for you, it would be a positive discourtesy not to let them kidnap you."
    "Speaking of kidnapping," began Letty, "the oddest thing happened tonight ."
    "Mr. Alsworthy!" exclaimed Letty's mother. "How can you laugh at such a matter! Although, I must say, I would have thought if a pirate were to kidnap anyone, he would kidnap Mary. She looks quite as I did in my youth, and I'm sure a pirate would have wanted to kidnap me."
    "Don't taunt me with lost opportunities, my dear."
    "As you can see," interjected Letty firmly, before her parents could be off again, "there