Read Online Zulu Hart by Saul David - Free Book Online
Authors: Saul David
Tags: Historical
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commission immediately, and of course return the money, we’ll say no more about last night. I have spoken to the others and we’re all in agreement.’
‘And if I refuse?’ said George.
‘Then I’ll have no option but to report your behaviour to both the Horse Guards and the local constabulary. Either way you’ll lose your commission. But if you accept my offer, at least you’ll retain your freedom and your honour, such as it is.’
George was shaking with fury. He was close to losing control, and knew it. ‘You to talk of honour,’ he said loudly ‘Nothing could be more dishonourable than the underhand way you’ve treated me. I was a fool to believe you could change. I suppose 1 wanted to. Only now you show your true colours. I will resign, because you and your creatures have left me no option. But don’t for a minute think you’ve won. Some day, somehow, I will have my revenge.’
And with that he flung the money from his pocket and strode from the library.
Returning to his room to pack, he found Lucy making the bed. ‘Good morning, sir,’ she said with a broad smile.
‘Is it?’ replied George, his temper barely abated. ‘I wouldn’t know. And don’t bother with that. I’m leaving as soon as I’ve packed.’
‘I’ll do that, sir,’ she said, fetching his leather suitcase from the wardrobe. ‘But why are you leaving? I thought you were staying until tomorrow.’
As George’s anger gave way to shock he found himself telling the pretty maid what had happened.
‘I was. But thanks to your employer and his lady friend Mrs Bradbury, I’ve been forced to resign from the regiment.’
Lucy looked shocked. ‘Resign? Why?’
‘Because he’s a vindictive man who could not bear having an officer of dubious social standing like me foisted upon his regiment. Unfortunately he has his wish, thanks to a combination of my gullibility and his scheming.’
‘I’m sorry, sir,’ she said, pausing from her packing, ‘but none of this makes any sense. Why would Sir Jocelyn invite you here if he didn’t like you?’
‘To set me up for a fall - and he seems to have succeeded.’
‘And you say Mrs Bradbury was involved?’
‘How exactly?’
George blushed. ‘I don’t want to go into details, but she was certainly party to the scheme.’
‘I’m shocked, I truly am. She seemed the perfect lady to me, but I won’t deny Sir Jocelyn has a curious hold over her. She adores him and would do anything for him.’
George raised his eyebrows. ‘Quite. But it’s as well you know the real Sir Jocelyn. He’s a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to get his own way.’
‘I already know that,’ said Lucy quietly. ‘When you asked me about him yesterday, I didn’t feel I knew you well enough to speak my mind. But the truth is , I’m afraid of him. He has often tried to kiss me - without succeeding. And each time I reject him he becomes angrier still, telling me I should be flattered by his attention. He swears he will have me sooner or later, which is why I’m so desperate to leave his service.’
‘Then why don’t you?’
‘It’s not as easy as that. Anyway, where would I go?’
‘Does it matter? Surely anywhere would be better than here?’
Before Lucy could answer, the door was opened by Andrews, the butler. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘the carriage is ready to take you to the station.’
‘Thank you. Take my suitcase. I’ll be down presently.’
Once Andrews had left the room, George turned back to Lucy. ‘I’m sorry. I have to go. I wish I could offer you a post myself, but without money or a career I’m in no position to do so. But I’ll think of a way to get you out of here and will write in a day or two when my plans are a little clearer. Will you be all right until then?’
‘Of course. Sir Jocelyn leaves me alone when Mrs Bradbury is in the house, and she’s staying until next weekend.’
‘Goodbye, then,’ he said, pecking Lucy on the
‘And if I refuse?’ said George.
‘Then I’ll have no option but to report your behaviour to both the Horse Guards and the local constabulary. Either way you’ll lose your commission. But if you accept my offer, at least you’ll retain your freedom and your honour, such as it is.’
George was shaking with fury. He was close to losing control, and knew it. ‘You to talk of honour,’ he said loudly ‘Nothing could be more dishonourable than the underhand way you’ve treated me. I was a fool to believe you could change. I suppose 1 wanted to. Only now you show your true colours. I will resign, because you and your creatures have left me no option. But don’t for a minute think you’ve won. Some day, somehow, I will have my revenge.’
And with that he flung the money from his pocket and strode from the library.
Returning to his room to pack, he found Lucy making the bed. ‘Good morning, sir,’ she said with a broad smile.
‘Is it?’ replied George, his temper barely abated. ‘I wouldn’t know. And don’t bother with that. I’m leaving as soon as I’ve packed.’
‘I’ll do that, sir,’ she said, fetching his leather suitcase from the wardrobe. ‘But why are you leaving? I thought you were staying until tomorrow.’
As George’s anger gave way to shock he found himself telling the pretty maid what had happened.
‘I was. But thanks to your employer and his lady friend Mrs Bradbury, I’ve been forced to resign from the regiment.’
Lucy looked shocked. ‘Resign? Why?’
‘Because he’s a vindictive man who could not bear having an officer of dubious social standing like me foisted upon his regiment. Unfortunately he has his wish, thanks to a combination of my gullibility and his scheming.’
‘I’m sorry, sir,’ she said, pausing from her packing, ‘but none of this makes any sense. Why would Sir Jocelyn invite you here if he didn’t like you?’
‘To set me up for a fall - and he seems to have succeeded.’
‘And you say Mrs Bradbury was involved?’
‘How exactly?’
George blushed. ‘I don’t want to go into details, but she was certainly party to the scheme.’
‘I’m shocked, I truly am. She seemed the perfect lady to me, but I won’t deny Sir Jocelyn has a curious hold over her. She adores him and would do anything for him.’
George raised his eyebrows. ‘Quite. But it’s as well you know the real Sir Jocelyn. He’s a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to get his own way.’
‘I already know that,’ said Lucy quietly. ‘When you asked me about him yesterday, I didn’t feel I knew you well enough to speak my mind. But the truth is , I’m afraid of him. He has often tried to kiss me - without succeeding. And each time I reject him he becomes angrier still, telling me I should be flattered by his attention. He swears he will have me sooner or later, which is why I’m so desperate to leave his service.’
‘Then why don’t you?’
‘It’s not as easy as that. Anyway, where would I go?’
‘Does it matter? Surely anywhere would be better than here?’
Before Lucy could answer, the door was opened by Andrews, the butler. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘the carriage is ready to take you to the station.’
‘Thank you. Take my suitcase. I’ll be down presently.’
Once Andrews had left the room, George turned back to Lucy. ‘I’m sorry. I have to go. I wish I could offer you a post myself, but without money or a career I’m in no position to do so. But I’ll think of a way to get you out of here and will write in a day or two when my plans are a little clearer. Will you be all right until then?’
‘Of course. Sir Jocelyn leaves me alone when Mrs Bradbury is in the house, and she’s staying until next weekend.’
‘Goodbye, then,’ he said, pecking Lucy on the
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