Free Valerie King by Garden Of Dreams Page B

her position, but she could see in his fatigue there would be no point in a discussion. They would merely fall to brangling again. Therefore, she smiled. “Good night, Robert.”
    She whirled about. This time he did not call to her until she had reached the door. “Lucy!” She turned back again and he added, “The answer to your query is yes, retaliation was involved, but on that subject I will say no more.”
    With that, she nodded and passed from the library. She was surprised that he had given her an answer, nonetheless one that confirmed her suspicions. Only against what had Lady Sandifort been retaliating?
     
     
    By the next morning, Lucy was still undecided as to what she ought to do. After all, Lady Sandifort had made her pronouncement: there was to be no come-out ball. So how was she supposed to make her ladyship rescind her decision? The case seemed quite difficult. However, the day was new and full of every promise.
    She entered the morning room where breakfast was served and saw that none of the gentlemen were present. As for the ladies, a depressed air hung over the chamber. As befitted the mood, a surprising clap of thunder rumbled over the distant hills.
    “I suppose it will rain,” Rosamunde murmured. She held a cup of tea in one hand and a slice of toast in another. She leaned back in her chair and sighed as she glanced out the window.
    “Hallo, Lucy,” Hetty called to her. She was standing at the sideboard ladling eggs onto her plate. “I trust you slept well?”
    “Very well, thank you.” Having noticed her, each of the ladies greeted her in turn, Lady Sandifort merely nodding, for her mouth was full.
    The morning room was situated opposite the armory and next to the ballroom. Colorful chintz draperies and walls painted a vivid yellow should have enlivened any party, but the present company, as Lucy could well see, was quite blue-devilled, and not without reason. Rosamunde was homesick for Baddesley, Anne had been refused her come-out ball, Alice was told a life in Cornwall was not to be considered, and Hetty could scarcely contain her dislike of Lady Sandifort. In actuality, the only person present enjoying even a particle of her surroundings was Lady Sandifort, who gulped her tea and all but smacked her lips. On her plate were a cherry tart, scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, a slice of toast, and a large dollop of strawberry jam. Lucy did not know how she kept her figure when her appetite was so enormous. If Lady Sandifort was nothing else, she was a woman of great appetites, and not just for that which would fill a dish.
    Lucy moved to the sideboard and began filling her plate. Afterward, she chose to take up a chair between Anne and Lady Sandifort, causing that woman to raise a surprised brow.
    When her ladyship finished chewing and swallowing, she said, “You are a welcome guest, Miss Stiles, as I have said before.”
    “Lady Sandifort, I hope I am not being presumptuous, but since the rest of the family addresses me as Lucy I hope you will do the same. It would mean a great deal to me.”
    The remaining ladies all turned to stare at Lucy.
    “I take it very kindly in you, Lucy ,” Lady Sandifort said. “There, you see Anne. You could learn a great deal from our dear Lucy. Now here is a young lady who knows how to behave properly.”
    Anne merely lifted her chin, her continued hostility quite obvious.
    “Do you mean to keep pouting?” she asked.
    Lucy glanced at the elder of the twins and watched as she compressed her lips and as two spots of color appeared on her cheeks. She desired more than anything to intervene but did not know how. Suddenly, inspiration struck in the most extraordinary way. Without questioning in the slightest whether she ought to proceed down the path that now filled her mind, she turned slightly toward Lady Sandifort. “My lady, are you per chance acquainted with Lord Valmaston?”
    Even Hetty glanced at her rather sharply. The Earl of Valmaston had a shocking