Rescuing Rosalind (Three Original Ladies and Their Gentlemen) Read Free Page A

volunteers run a soup kitchen in the East End for the families of wounded soldiers. My friends Northbrooke and Beverley help me to place the unemployed in work that they can take pride in, that fits their skills.” He paused, seeming to reflect. “Then there is the orphanage Beverley has set up for boys whose fathers were soldiers. They are trained for the woolen trade. His wife even writes gothic melodramas for the boys to perform.” He grinned. “Vastly entertaining.” Then leaning towards Buck, he said, “In a very small way, I feel we are fighting a battle here on the home front. We would certainly be glad of your help expanding these efforts to veteran sailors.”
    Buck had shaken his head. “But what of adventure? What of conquest?”
    Ruisdell had removed his cigar and given a deep, rich laugh. “I can tell, my dear fellow, that you have not spent any amount of time around well-bred females who require wooing!”
    “I have made sure not to. My mother was supposedly well bred, as you will recall.”
    Ruisdell observed him as he drew on his cigar. “Bad luck, old man. I had forgotten all about that scandal. I can see why you would be somewhat cynical.” He tapped ash into the dish in front of him. “My mother was hardly a paragon. I can sympathize. Recall the rogue I was! The worst in England, they said. You were at sea at the time, but the only reason I gave Elise any attention at all was that Somerset bet me a hefty sum that seducing her would cure my ennui.”
    He laughed. “Needless to say, I lost the bet. She has never ceased to enchant me.”
    And so, little more than half grudgingly, Buck had accepted Lady Wyndham’s invitation. Standing on the staircase that ran up one wall of the ballroom while waiting to greet his host and hostess, he ran his eyes over the crowd below. A vast range of colored silks reflected in Lady Wyndham’s mirrored wall. There were even men dressed in such odd colors as lavender and turquoise. At the moment, the guests were performing a lively country dance.
    Dancing! What a futile waste of time. He nearly turned around and descended the staircase to return to his carriage. Just as he had made up his mind to leave, he caught sight of a familiar form standing by the Duchess of Ruisdell at the side of the dance floor. It was Rosalind, and she was glorious.
    Curiosity as to what kind of young lady she had become arrested his intention to depart. Slapping his gloves against his thigh, he waited impatiently for his turn to greet his host and hostess. He missed his uniform with its double rows of brass buttons, wide, braid-trimmed lapels, and epaulettes. Although his evening coat had also been cut by Weston, the master tailor, he did not feel that it gave him the stature and presence of his dress uniform. He might be just another fribble. Buck felt he had lost his identity. Being a marquis did not suit him nearly so well as being a captain.
    Pulling on his gloves, he prepared to present himself, such as he was. He hated having to wear gloves.
    “Lady Wyndham, Lord Wyndham, I am Captain Kernow-Charles, Lord Deal. Thank you so much for your kind invitation. I have not been in a ballroom these many years.”
    Lord Wyndham thrust his hand forward and shook Buck’s forcefully. “Demmed good show!” He turned to his wife. “My dear, this man is the major reason we beat the Frogs in the Caribbean. Took more demmed prizes in his frigate Antelope than anyone else sailing out of Jamaica.”
    Lady Wyndham’s eyes lit. “A war hero! I am delighted that my husband insisted you be invited, my Lord. We are honored by your attendance.” She offered her hand, and he bowed over it.
    “I am not much of a dancer, I am afraid. Too many years at sea.”
    “You will soon learn,” she said confidently.
    Lord Wyndham lordship added, “After commanding a frigate in the heat of battle, I should think anything else would be easy.”
    “To tell you the truth, I miss it.” Buck smiled and then