Read Online The Riddle of the Deplorable Dandy by Patricia Veryan - Free Book Online Page B

read this dreadful scrawl.” She passed the letter to her godchild, saying with a guilty twinkle that perhaps she should not do so. “For it may very well be a love letter, in which case I must desire that you allow me to read it, dear.”
    Elspeth took the letter eagerly, immensely relieved that no trickery had as yet been detected, and with a mental plea for heavenly forgiveness she exclaimed, “Oh, Godmama! It is from my dearest friend Millicent Crossland! Her family used to spend the summers at their country seat, which was near to ours, as you know, and we swore eternal friendship.”
    â€œHow nice, dear,” murmured Madame, engrossed in her own letter. “What has she to say?”
    â€œThat she is betrothed, and longs to see me, and—oh, gracious! I am invited down to Worthing where they are spending several weeks! How lovely! Only—oh, dear! This letter must have been delayed! I was to have driven down yesterday, and Millicent begs that I be allowed to stay for several days. And tonight there is to be a betrothal party which she especially wishes me to attend! Oh— Godmama! What a disappointment!”
    Glancing up and meeting tragic blue eyes, Madame was touched, and since her own letter contained an enticing invitation which did not include her protégé, she asked to see the letter. Having struggled through it, she said kindly, “My poor sweet! It is a pretty letter, but Miss Crossland should have given us more time, and I should really have first corresponded with her mama.”
    â€œYes,” said Elspeth, with a forlorn little sniff. “But you will remember my father always held that Lady Crossland was something of a widgeon, however well bred.”
    Madame could not even remember Lady Crossland, but since the late Mr. Clayton had frequently advised her that she herself was similarly afflicted, she felt an affinity with the lady and said, “True. But—never look so sad, love. You do seem to have taken a little cold, and it might be as well for you to escape the city air for a space.”
    Elspeth gazed at her hopefully. “Do you say I may go, ma’am? Is there time?”
    â€œâ€™Tis rather a scrambling business, and I doubt your dear mama would approve … Still, with your cold … Let me see. Miss Crossland says that if our coachman could bring you as far as this posting house in Fleetwell Village one of their ostlers would guide you to the estate her papa has hired. I wonder why on earth he would hire an estate in Worthing with the London Season hovering on the horizon.”
    Improvising desperately, Elspeth declared that Millicent had always loved the seaside, and that the young lady was extremely pretty and very petted and indulged by her doting parents.
    â€œSo they allowed that she have her betrothal ball in Worthing … Hmm. They are eccentric, to say the least. But—then, who isn’t? Well, where are we? It is early yet and I have reason to be proud of my bay team. If you were to leave within the hour, Abraham Coachman could drive you down in the new coach and tomorrow bring back word of when you will return. You will take your woman, of course, if she can get you packed up quickly…”
    There was no doubt, declared Elspeth joyously, that Freda would be as quick as winking!
    Forty minutes later, Abraham Hines, Madame Colbert’s coachman, was less joyous as he loaded Miss Elspeth’s portmanteau into the boot of the coach. “If ever I heard of such a scramblement,” he grumbled to Freda. “With less’n a hour’s warning I’m to go galloping fer a posting house as I never heard tell on and get the young lady there afore dark! I grant yer madame’s bays is sixteen mile a hour tits, but I’ll have to change teams twice at least, seeing as Madame don’t keep changes along any post roads, so no one can’t blame me if we end up with two slugs what