100. A Rose In Jeopardy Read Free Page B

one to catch her, when her foot became tangled in the train of her dress and the one who should have pressed his lips against her delicious young mouth.
    “Merriman!” Lord Brockley’s angry voice recalled his companion to the jolting coach. “I cannot continue. I require some liquid refreshment. Immediately!”
    One of the reasons why Algernon had remained so close to Lord Brockley for so long, was his willingness to fit in with whatever his Lordship wanted to do.
    Now, as he peered out of the window, he could see that they were driving by houses and shop fronts.
    “I think we must be in Winchester,” he said. “Let’s pause at the nearest hostelry.”
    He reached up and thumped on the roof, shouting to the coachman to take them to an inn.
    He was very thirsty himself and a flagon or two or even three of the finest local ale would not go amiss.
    As the coach lurched to a halt, Algernon hurriedly fastened up the top button of the riding breeches he had worn for this journey into the country.
    He had not worn them for ages and they really were far too tight for him now and most uncomfortable around his middle if he had to sit down for a long period of time.
    But one must look the part of a country gentleman if one was to make the right impression on the pretty young girls who might be found in this rural locality.
    Girls, like the delightful example he could see now, as he stepped out of the coach.
    A slender little thing in a dark gown with the most sublime head of golden curls over which she was holding a parasol, was just walking out of the inn yard and up the High Street.
    Lord Brockley stumbled down from the coach.
    “Come on, Merriman,” he said impatiently. “Leave off chasing the girls for just one day, can’t you? This place looks most inviting.”
    He peered into the interior of the inn and sniffed appreciatively at the mixed aromas of beer and roast beef.
    “Merriman, we need go on no further,” he insisted with great determination. “I have had enough of travelling and botheration. We will stay here and have a good dinner and go on to New Hall later when we are fully refreshed.”
    With a lingering glance at the graceful silhouette of the lovely golden-haired girl, now folding up her parasol and disappearing into a shop, Algernon Merriman tipped his hat over his forehead to disguise his huge black eye and followed his companion into the inn.

CHAPTER TWO
    The gown in the window of Palmer’s Modes for Ladies was the most beautiful Rosella had ever seen.
    It was a pale ivory silk evening dress with a wide flowing skirt, a blue velvet sash and narrow bands of velvet ribbon decorating the bodice.
    As she stood on the hot sunny pavement and gazed at it, she thought that it looked like a beautiful white lily growing in a shady corner of the garden.
    It was certainly a very pleasant sight after the hustle and bustle of The Peacock Inn , where she had just left the carriage.
    She had felt quite uncomfortable alighting there, a young girl all on her own and it seemed as if all the ostlers and pot-boys had stopped their work to stare at her.
    And then a large covered coach had arrived with two rather disreputable-looking middle-aged men inside – and one of them, a stout fair-haired man with a moustache, had winked at her, which she did not like at all.
    A loud jingling noise called Rosella to the present moment, as the door of the dressmaker’s shop opened.
    “Lady Rosella! What a very pleasant surprise. Will you come inside?”
    Mrs. Palmer, who ran the shop, peered at Rosella over her little half-moon glasses.
    Rosella folded up her parasol and stepped into the shadowy interior of the shop, which had a pleasant smell of woollen cloth and freshly ironed cotton.
    Mrs. Palmer brought a chair for Rosella and offered her a glass of lemonade.
    Rosella accepted gratefully and, as she was sipping the cool drink, Mrs. Palmer spoke of Lady Beatrice and what a sad loss she was to the town and local