Read Online The Fortune Hunter by Jo Ann Ferguson - Free Book Online Page A

in bed. “And, of course, you have said nothing to set up my bristles. I have a few errands to run. Would you like to join me?” She glanced toward the door again. “We can enjoy some private prittle-prattle while I shop.”
    With a smile, Annis nodded. “Private, it shall be.”
    A potpourri of pungent odors welcomed Nerissa as she and Annis entered a shop near the corner of Great Pulteney and William Streets. Her nose was tickled by bits of the various varieties of snuff that filled Mrs. Peach’s shop. As she waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, she stared at the clay pots lining the shelves behind the counter.
    Annis was surprisingly silent, as she had been since Nerissa had told her that Lord Windham was escorting her to a small party that evening at Mr. Rowland’s house. Annis had been scandalized by the invitation and shocked that Nerissa had accepted.
    â€œHe is rakehell, Nerissa,” she had gasped. “You will ruin your reputation being seen with him.”
    â€œHe has been nothing but a gentleman to me, and I could see nothing wrong with agreeing to go with him and his brother this evening.”
    â€œFrye must be—”
    â€œFrye is putting herself into a stew about everything at the moment.” Laughing, she patted her friend’s hand. “It is but one evening, and I know he wishes to atone for his thoughtlessness that caused the accident. Could I be so uncivil as to deny him that chance?”
    Annis had scowled before replying, “I suppose not.” Those were the last words she had uttered.
    Nerissa tried not to think of her friend’s dismay. Her thoughts should be on what she would purchase. It was useless, for she longed to beg Annis’s forgiveness. Her friend only worried that she was doing something jobbernowl.
    The shopkeeper’s familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She smiled as she greeted Mrs. Peach.
    â€œGood day, Miss Ehrlich, Miss Dufresne,” said Mrs. Peach in her scratchy voice. She stared at Nerissa and choked, “Miss Dufresne!”
    â€œIt is nothing,” Nerissa answered as she had so many times.
    â€œâ€™Tis a shame,” grumbled the old woman, whose hands were stained from the snuff she sold.
    â€œSoon it will be nothing but a memory and an amusing anecdote.”
    The shopkeeper seemed unconvinced, but turned to speak to Annis. As she listened to her friend reply to the shopkeeper’s questions, Nerissa calculated how much she needed to buy and, more importantly, how much she could afford. She frowned as she tried to figure the total in her head.
    â€œSo down pinned?” asked a friendly voice behind her.
    She smiled when Mr. Windham tipped his topper to her. His clothes were as usual à la modality . His coat was of the warmest russet shade and his nankeen pantaloons properly secured under his shoes. As he set his hat back on his head, the gold buttons on his coat flashed in the faint light from the lamp behind the counter.
    â€œWhat a pleasant surprise!” she exclaimed.
    â€œHow kind of you to say that! May I return the kindness and say that it is grand to see you looking so hale?”
    â€œI am glad you think so. Everyone else today has been too solicitous of my health.”
    He chuckled. “You do not take coddling well, I collect.”
    â€œShe should be coddled after what she suffered!” Annis burst into the conversation and continued before Nerissa could warn her to watch her words. “When that profligate Lord Windham failed to watch where he was going, Nerissa was the one to suffer.”
    â€œAnnis …” Nerissa cautioned.
    â€œYou need not defend that ramshackle fellow, Nerissa,” her friend returned with fire. “I know he brought you back to Laura Place, but …” She turned to include Mr. Windham in her fury. “… he thinks to repair the damage with nothing more than an invitation to a rout. Nerissa could