Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance Read Free

Flick, your
brother is right, you are not to be involving Richard in things that are not
our concern and putting him at risk.’
          Felicity
patted her mother on the arm. ‘Do not worry mother, I would not dream of such a
thing but honestly, Richard makes Thorndale sound like a perfect paragon.  It
is a wonder that he cares to warn me against him.’
          Richard
bristled at that. ‘Do not fool yourself, he may keep within the bounds of
propriety but he has other vices that I hardly think are suitable for conversation
in this drawing room. One thing is for certain, he certainly does not care what
people think of him.’
          ‘His women
you mean?’ replied the Countess.
          Richard
was indignant. ‘Really mama, this is hardly a subject for ladies!’
          Sophia
Ellingham just smiled. ‘Oh Richard, do not be such a prude, everyone knows that
Thorndale is not adverse to a petticoat. Why only last week my dear friend Mrs
Haswell was telling me about the flirt he keeps in Russell Square.’
          Richard
gave a sardonic smile. ‘Quite,’ he said. ‘Up to now he has confined his
interests to women in certain circles, but still I would not trust him.  You
are to keep away from him Felicity.  I am putting my foot down this time and
that is all I intend to say on the matter.’
          ‘Well you have
no reason to worry Richard.  I have not even met the man. I doubt he even knows
that I exist.’
          ‘Good.’
Richard replied vehemently. ‘Then keep it that way!’
          Felicity
glowered at her brother getting herself into a temper over his rare display of
firmness. ‘And pray what am I supposed to do if the man asks me to dance,
should I be rude to him?’
          ‘There is
no need to be rude Felicity,’ he retorted. ‘You should just smile, thank him
and tell him that your dance card is full.’
          ‘I must
say Richard,’ remarked the Countess. ‘You seem to know the gentleman remarkably
well for all of your protestations to avoid him.’
          Richard
bowed his head to his mother. ‘I know him well enough and so I am well able to
advise you. He moves in similar circles but is not part of my set. You can find
him most nights in the clubs up until the small hours in the morning. I have met
him on many occasions at the card tables and I have sparred with him once or
twice at Jackson’s salon but other that I have little to do with him.’
          Felicity
bristled. ‘So it is alright for you to associate with him but not for me, is
that it?’
          ‘That is
different Felicity,’ he said defensively. ‘He is not the same danger to men as
he is to women.  He has done nothing to me that I should have reason to
ostracise him but mind you Flick, I have no desire to see you hanging off his
arm.’
          The Countess
watched as Felicity was about to retort and intervened.  ‘Let the matter drop Flick,
your brother is in the right of it, Alexander Sheraton is no fit company for
you.’
          Felicity
bit her lip.  She did not intend to encourage the attention of the man but she
was not going to oblige her brother by saying so. One thing was for sure. She
now knew that she could not rely on Richard to help Emily retrieve her missing
Sapphire and Diamond necklace.  She would just have to think of something else.
           The Countess
intruded on her thoughts.  ‘I think a cup of tea is called for,’ she announced
as she rang the servants bell. ‘Not for me mother,’ Richard smiled. ‘I am
meeting Jeremy Leighton at Manton’s to shoot some wafers, I shall return for
supper. Now if you will excuse me I must go and fetch my pistols.’
           He bent
over and kissed Felicity on the cheek. ‘I love you big sister despite your
stubborn ways so take care of what you are about, for I know you well.’
           Felicity
smiled at him. His sensible demeanour and is boorish ways frustrated