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

her
immensely but she could not be mad at Richard for long.  All the same, in this
instance Richard was wrong, very wrong indeed.  The Marquis had behaved
intolerably and something had to be done.

Chapter 2
     

Felicity pays a Midnight Visit
     
          After tea,
the Countess excused herself to go in search of the housekeeper to discuss next
week’s menus. Felicity found herself alone again and picked up her copy of
Ambrosio.  The exploits of the wicked monk failed to seize her attention for
her mind kept wandering to Emily and the dilemma of the stolen necklace.  The
Marquis’s indefensible behaviour and the injustice of the matter began to take
possession her and she stood up and started to pace the floor.
          Felicity
was as impulsive as she was beautiful and as the minutes ticked by her brain
began to formulate a plan.  If she had no one to turn to, she would have to
take on the task herself.  She knew that Alexander Sheraton lived in Green
Street, just two streets away from her own home in Upper Brook Street.  Nevertheless,
even if she managed to gain entry, where would the Marquis keep a sapphire and
diamond necklace?  She asked herself, where did her brother keep his
valuables?  He usually kept them in his office or in his own bedchamber.  It
made sense that the Marquis would probably do the same.  It was not as if she
would have to search the whole house.  Earlier today her brother had as much as
told her that the Marquis spent most nights playing cards at his club and
stayed until the early hours of the morning.  How hard could it be to climb
through a window when he was not at home and steal a necklace back?
          Felicity
made a decision.  She could at least take a walk around to Green Street and carry
out a feasibility study.  She called for her maid. ‘Sarah, I have decided to go
for a walk, go and get your coat for I wish you to accompany me.’ 
          Sarah
looked dumbstruck. ‘But your Ladyship, it is pouring with rain!’
          ‘Never the
less Sarah, a bit of rain never hurt anyone. We can always take our umbrellas.’
          Sarah
looked aghast as if her mistress was mad and Felicity silently cursed at the
restrictions of London society and the requirement that she needed to take her maid
along at all.  How she longed to be back at the family countryseat in Richmondshire
where she had more freedom and she did not feel the restrictions of her
skirts.   She hated London and the rigid etiquette of the censorious ton but
her mother would insist on dragging her back every season in the hope that she
would find herself a husband. She smiled to herself.  It is not as if she had
not had offers.  She had refused two respectable gentlemen already in this the
small season. Her brother was beginning to despair but being of the same age
and single himself, he understood and would not coerce her into a disagreeable
marriage.
           She broke
off from her musings and looked at Sarah’s forlorn face. She felt guilty but it
was a good time to carry out her mission, for no one would be about in this
weather.
          Felicity
left the house, walked the length of Upper Brook Street and turned right into
Park Lane.   If she remembered correctly, Green Street was the second street on
the right. Her maid kept pace beside her but was decidedly puzzled at the
choice of direction. The usual choice for a walk was surely Hyde Park. Sarah
side stepped the puddles and ventured to ask. ‘My Lady, where are we going?’
          Felicity
was non-committal. ‘Nowhere in particular.  I am sorry Sarah but I am restless
and really need some fresh air to clear my head.’
          As they approached
the home of the Marquis, Felicity surreptitiously noted the surroundings. 
There appeared to be no way around the back but there were steps down to the
basement level, with its own door and window. The window looked as if it would
be easy enough to open with a