Abandon Read Free Page B

turned and could just see the feather in Lucilla’s bonnet, where she waited some ways further down the street. He sighed and turned away.
    By the time Aubrey reached his club, he was more than ready for a brandy. His mind was spinning, going over and over the incident on the street. Lord, she really must hate him if she was willing to make such a scene in public. He most certainly deserved it, even if his heart hurt at the thought. He absently rubbed his chest, trying to ease the ache as he looked around the room.
    He spied Blakesley sitting at a comfortable chair in a corner and sat down next to him, signaling for a drink. He tipped his head back while he waited for the waiter and sighed, looking around the room. A lot of the men seemed to be sending sly looks his way.
    Blakesley looked over, a smirk on his face. “I heard that you had an interesting confrontation today.”
    Aubrey sighed again, certain that Blakesley was too much of a gossip to let this go.
    "I believe that Lady Lucilla mistook me for another gentleman. Remember that I have been out of the country the last several years."
    "But isn't her brother's estate in Yorkshire near your own lands?" No, Blakesley was not going to let the incident go.
    The waiter served Aubrey's drink and he took a moment to swallow, letting the rich liquid burn its way to his stomach and clear his head.
    "Well, yes, but it's been many years since I've seen her. We were just children and she was an acquaintance of my family and much younger than me." Aubrey disliked dishonesty but thought that the circumstances justified some prevarication.
    They were interrupted by the arrival of Aversley and Thornton who had been at Tattersalls looking at a pair of matched chestnuts for Thornton's new brougham.
    "So, Lovell, what is this I hear of fisticuffs with Lady Lucilla?" It did not appear that the topic of his encounter with Lucilla was passé yet. Thornton looked amused but Aversley was not happy.
    "What was all that about? Lady Harriet is most upset. And that makes me even more upset! We can't have the members of the marriage party in open disagreement with each other."
    Aubrey tried to soothe Aversley's ruffled feathers. He truly was a good fellow and the stress of his upcoming nuptials along with his mother's disapproval made him overly sensitive to his betrothed's feelings.
    "I was just explaining it to Blakesley. The girl's family lives next to my estate in Yorkshire. She was younger than me and I suppose she might have a childish grudge or perhaps mistook me for someone else." Aubrey felt the back of his neck getting hot. This was getting worse and worse.
    Blakesley interrupted, "The girl is bad blood anyway. Her first season was a disgrace and she has not got any better as the years have gone by."
    Aubrey lifted his head, staring at Blakesley. Aversley's face turned a dull red and his eyes narrowed. "What the blazes are you talking about? Lady Lucilla Blount is a fine lady, sister to the Earl of Wakefield, and very good Ton. She is Harriet's best friend and I won't have you speak ill of her."
    "All right, George. Calm down. I do not intend that you call me out over this," Blakesley replied his hands out and palms up in a conciliatory manner. "But you do have to admit that her birth was irregular, don't you? After all, she admitted it herself."
    Aubrey paled and sank back into his chair. How did they know? And how had Lucy discovered the truth? He reached for his brandy and took a deep gulp, the liquid burning down his throat, causing him to break out into a fit of coughing. Blakesley and Aversley broke off their disagreement to stare at him with concern.
    Thornton reached over and patted Aubrey on the back. One eyebrow was lifted in a manner that conveyed that he did not think the choking was an accident. His next words confirmed that sentiment.
    "Do you have a problem with Lady Lucilla's birth lines?" He inquired quizzically. "For if her father and his wife did not, I do not see why