Regency Rumours/A Scandalous Mistress/Dishonour And Desire by Juliet Landon Page A

Lord Elyot, still not moving.
    Hurst seemed to cringe a little. ‘Well, my lord, I am suffering a slight embarrassment. I came down by post-chaise from Buxton and discovered at the first stop that my luggage has been left behind … mixed up, somehow … stupid porters … you know how it is … well, no, you probably don’t. And now I find myself without my belongings or my money. It was in my trunk, you see, safe from highwaymen. So annoying. I had wondered whether
dear
Lady Chester would be in a position to offer an old friend a night’s hospitality, but perhaps that’s not a good idea after all.’
    ‘There are some good inns in Richmond, Mr Hurst,’ said Lord Elyot with a remarkable lack of sympathy.
    ‘Ah … yes, of course. Lady Chester has kindly offered to lend me some funds to pay for accommodation until my own arrives. We have been close friends for a good many years, you see, as I’m sure she has sometimes mentioned to you.
Very
close.’
    ‘No, I don’t believe Lady Chester has ever mentioned you.’
    ‘Oh … er, that
does
surprise me, my lord. She has confided in me something of the nature of
your
personal relationship… your
understanding
, that is, though of course I shall keep it to myself until it’s announced. May I offer you my felicitations, my lord? You are fortunate indeed, as I’m sure Lady Chester is also.’
    Amelie closed her eyes and held her breath.
    ‘Thank you for your felicitations, Mr Hurst. Yes, I am indeed a very fortunate man,’ came Lord Elyot’s unwavering response. ‘And as a
very
good friend of the family, you will be kept informed of our progress. However, I am sure you will appreciate that our negotiations are still at a rather delicate stage, and I must point out to you that Lady Chester’s circumstances are changing, even as we speak. So the funds she has so kindly offered to lend you are frozen for the time being. Unfortunately, she is no longer in a position to lend you anything, Mr Hurst. Not until everything is finalised, you understand. Then we shall review the situation.’
    Amelie opened her eyes and slowly began to breathe again.
    Hurst took a step backwards, glancing at the money-bag on the floor with a grimace between a frown and a forced smile of defeat. ‘Yes, indeed, my lord. Yes … er … I had not thought, and naturally Lady Chester did not say as much to me.’
    ‘No, she wouldn’t.’ Lord Elyot smiled at her. ‘She is the most kind-hearted lady.’
    ‘Quite, my lord. You see, she lent me money in the past for which I have never ceased to be grateful.
Most
grateful.’
    ‘Really? What was that for, Mr Hurst? More luggage problems?’
    ‘No, it was for my beloved sister, my lord. A predicament. These things happen,’ he whispered, sadly. ‘Lady Chester was
infinitely
generous.’ He turned a look upon her thatGarrick could have boasted of, full of devotion, adoration, and a sickening intimacy that almost turned Amelie’s stomach.
    At that, she caught Lord Elyot’s eye for the first time and, without the slightest effort, conveyed to him all the fury and humiliation of the past half hour. Relieved beyond words to have had his support at this most disturbing interview that had satisfied none of her intended queries, she also felt the repercussions of her grotesque lie banking up behind her like the thunderclouds of doom in some Gothic novel, with the supernatural calm that comes before the storm.
    ‘I could not agree more, Mr Hurst,’ said Lord Elyot smoothly. ‘Lady Chester’s warmth and generosity are the first things that attracted me to her. Now, my good fellow, I can recommend some excellent inns in Richmond: the Red Lyon and the Feathers are opposite each other, the Greyhound, the Talbot … oh, any number of them. On the other hand, the mail coach leaves for London from the King Street posting-office three times daily. You may wish to take advantage of that as soon as your baggage catches you up. I see you understand me well,