Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay Read Free Page A

Whatever other faults he had, she felt sure she could handle them.
    ‘ One other thing – please try not to bring too much luggage.’ Lord Demarr glanced at her gown and shuddered. ‘If you don’t mind, I will buy you an entire new wardrobe.’
    A melia almost laughed out loud. What woman would mind being bought new clothes?
    A ll she said was, ‘As you wish.’
     
     

CHAPTER T HREE
     
    The following day was one of the longest in Amelia’s life, or so she thought. She tried to preserve her calm as she went about her daily duties, but she was in such a state of nervous anxiety that she was unusually pale and had to plead a headache when pressed as to the cause. Fortunately her aunt and cousin were both suffering from the effects of a very late night and were not inclined to question her further.
    As for Bernard, he had spent the remainder of the night gambling and drinking and consequently spent most of the day in bed with a sore head.
    ‘ His temper’s not improved by the fact that he lost heavily,’ Bootle murmured to Amelia with a shake of his head. Instead of being able to go back to London with his winnings, Bernard now faced the prospect of having to kick his heels in his mother’s house indefinitely.
    When he finally emerged from his room towards late afternoon, however, the strange looks and smirks that came Amelia’s way made her feel distinctly uneasy . As she could not guess what evil plan he was hatching, she could but wait and see.
    Amelia sighed. After his last visit to Bath, she had come up with a plan which she hoped would put him off his pursuit of her. By adding layers of padding and numerous extra petticoats under her gowns, she had transformed her normally trim figure into something that resembled a small barrel. She had adapted several of Lady Marsh’s old gowns to fit, and as that lady favoured dull hues, this also helped to make Amelia’s skin appear sallow. She had heard Bernard say that he abhorred fat females, but although he had made disparaging remarks about her altered shape upon his return, sadly it had not put him off completely.
    She shook her head . There was no time to ponder this problem now, and with luck she would soon be married to Lord Demarr and thus safe from Bernard’s lecherous advances. Amelia headed for the kitchen, to continue her work. There was always a lot to do, and she was therefore not best pleased when, a while later, she was asked to accompany her aunt to the Pump Room.
    ‘ Dear Maria is feeling a trifle delicate, so she will have to stay at home and rest,’ Lady Marsh informed her. ‘What with having to keep so many suitors at bay last night, it is not to be wondered at if she is tired, poor girl.’
    Amelia hadn’t noticed anyone showing any particular interest in her pl ain cousin, but didn’t say so. As long as Lady Marsh believed it, she would be in a good mood and easier to deal with. Amelia went to fetch her bonnet and pelisse.
    Bootle procured a chair for her ladyship, while Amelia was left to walk beside it. ‘It is such a lovely spring day, after all, just right for some fresh air and exercise,’ Lady Marsh declared. Amelia didn’t protest. She walked along happily, revelling in the sights and sounds all around her. She thought Bath quite the most beautiful city she had ever seen, with its buildings of golden sandstone so neatly fitted onto the hillsides. As they crossed Pulteney Bridge, she marvelled anew at its architecture and the beauty of the river flowing beneath it.
    The moment they entered the Pump Room, Lady Marsh spied some of her cronies and was soon ensconced with them, exchanging gossip about the previous night’s ball. Amelia procured her a glass of the famous restorative water, then found herself dismissed. Since she didn’t know anyone, she wandered over to one of the tall windows overlooking the Roman pool, which had impressed her greatly the first time she saw it. It was fed by an ancient underground spring and looked