horseman, while Harriet, ordinarily delighted by her brother's open and friendly ways, cursed him silently for being so forthcoming with someone to whom he had not even been introduced.
She reached up to jam her hat even farther down, but it was no use. The stylish creation had been designed to look particularly jaunty and therefore had barely any brim at all with which she could conceal her face. Even had she been able to accomplish that, nothing could be done about the redgold curls that peeped out becomingly from underneath it. At any rate, she had no choice because by this time they had reached the horse and rider and her brother was greeting the former soldier in his usual ingenuous fashion."
"Hello, Fareham here. I saw you at the battle of the Pyrenees and thought you were a regular Trojan leading the chaps along like that. Saw you at Waterloo as well—no mistaking a mount like yours."
If the rider was taken aback at being addressed so unexpectedly, he gave no sign of it, but scrutinized Charlie's uniform, then grinned and extended his hand. "It's good to see another military man, especially one who has the good fortune to be a soldier still. I am Chalfont. I remember you 100
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
fellows at Waterloo. The Guards were certainly in the thick of it at the end there. I am pleased to see that you came out of that carnage unscathed. But may I be introduced to your fair companion?"
"Oh, I beg your pardon." Charlie glanced around in some surprise to find his ordinarily friendly sister cowering behind him in what appeared to be a most uncharacteristic fit of shyness. "This is my sister. Lady Harriet Fareham. And you must be Lord Chalfont, Marquess of Kidderham, I believe?" Adrian nodded as he bowed low over the gloved hand extended so reluctantly to him.
Her heart thudding, Harriet kept her eyes lowered demurely, hoping against hope that she was unrecognizable in her fashionable slate-gray riding habit and dashing highcrowned hat. It was a vain hope, quickly shattered by the rider's low chuckle. She looked up in alarm to see the amber eyes, alight with mischief, gazing at her with a wealth of significance.
She held her breath as Lord Chalfont opened his mouth to speak. What would Charlie say when he heard that his favorite sister had been a regular visitor at London's most exclusive brothel? Her brother was well known for his free and easy ways, but he would most certainly draw the line at this. It would definitely be the end to all her plans for Mrs. Lovington's ladies and the only worthwhile thing she had found to amuse her in all of London.
"I am charmed to make your acquaintance. You must be most grateful to have your brother back home unhurt after his years fighting the Corsican monster." There was nothing 101
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
in the marquess's voice or words that gave the least hint of their prior acquaintance. Even the closest observer would not have known that he had ever laid eyes on her before, much less come to her rescue in the most compromising of situations.
Faint with relief, Harriet let her breath out slowly. He was not going to betray her after all. Following his lead she replied with as little self-consciousness as she could muster. "Yes, I am delighted to have Charlie home, though I know he finds guard duty excessively dull after his exploits in the Peninsula and the recent events in Belgium." At last she dared glance up at him again. It was a mistake for he gave her a conspiratorial wink that very nearly overset her.
"We are all finding life rather quiet after the years spent campaigning," Adrian continued smoothly, and then he turned back to Charlie. "Tell me, were you at the siege of Bayonne or were you part of the group that chased Soult back to Toulouse?"
And with that, Harriet's presence was entirely forgotten as the two soldiers compared notes about crossing the Adour, foraging for food in the harsh countryside, and the unreliable
She reached up to jam her hat even farther down, but it was no use. The stylish creation had been designed to look particularly jaunty and therefore had barely any brim at all with which she could conceal her face. Even had she been able to accomplish that, nothing could be done about the redgold curls that peeped out becomingly from underneath it. At any rate, she had no choice because by this time they had reached the horse and rider and her brother was greeting the former soldier in his usual ingenuous fashion."
"Hello, Fareham here. I saw you at the battle of the Pyrenees and thought you were a regular Trojan leading the chaps along like that. Saw you at Waterloo as well—no mistaking a mount like yours."
If the rider was taken aback at being addressed so unexpectedly, he gave no sign of it, but scrutinized Charlie's uniform, then grinned and extended his hand. "It's good to see another military man, especially one who has the good fortune to be a soldier still. I am Chalfont. I remember you 100
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
fellows at Waterloo. The Guards were certainly in the thick of it at the end there. I am pleased to see that you came out of that carnage unscathed. But may I be introduced to your fair companion?"
"Oh, I beg your pardon." Charlie glanced around in some surprise to find his ordinarily friendly sister cowering behind him in what appeared to be a most uncharacteristic fit of shyness. "This is my sister. Lady Harriet Fareham. And you must be Lord Chalfont, Marquess of Kidderham, I believe?" Adrian nodded as he bowed low over the gloved hand extended so reluctantly to him.
Her heart thudding, Harriet kept her eyes lowered demurely, hoping against hope that she was unrecognizable in her fashionable slate-gray riding habit and dashing highcrowned hat. It was a vain hope, quickly shattered by the rider's low chuckle. She looked up in alarm to see the amber eyes, alight with mischief, gazing at her with a wealth of significance.
She held her breath as Lord Chalfont opened his mouth to speak. What would Charlie say when he heard that his favorite sister had been a regular visitor at London's most exclusive brothel? Her brother was well known for his free and easy ways, but he would most certainly draw the line at this. It would definitely be the end to all her plans for Mrs. Lovington's ladies and the only worthwhile thing she had found to amuse her in all of London.
"I am charmed to make your acquaintance. You must be most grateful to have your brother back home unhurt after his years fighting the Corsican monster." There was nothing 101
My Wayward Lady
by Evelyn Richardson
in the marquess's voice or words that gave the least hint of their prior acquaintance. Even the closest observer would not have known that he had ever laid eyes on her before, much less come to her rescue in the most compromising of situations.
Faint with relief, Harriet let her breath out slowly. He was not going to betray her after all. Following his lead she replied with as little self-consciousness as she could muster. "Yes, I am delighted to have Charlie home, though I know he finds guard duty excessively dull after his exploits in the Peninsula and the recent events in Belgium." At last she dared glance up at him again. It was a mistake for he gave her a conspiratorial wink that very nearly overset her.
"We are all finding life rather quiet after the years spent campaigning," Adrian continued smoothly, and then he turned back to Charlie. "Tell me, were you at the siege of Bayonne or were you part of the group that chased Soult back to Toulouse?"
And with that, Harriet's presence was entirely forgotten as the two soldiers compared notes about crossing the Adour, foraging for food in the harsh countryside, and the unreliable
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