Free My Lord Wicked (Historical Regency Romance) by Cheryl Bolen Page B

to sully me in public. He has the courage to tell me to my face what he thinks."
    "How you can have him under your roof is beyond me," Roberts murmured.
    "He has made Miss Lambeth well."
    "With your diligent care, I daresay the young lady would have mended without the arrogant doctor's help. And you certainly don't have to have him at your table."
    "But I long for a good game of whist, and with the addition of Mrs. Taylor, Edgekirth will make a fourth."
    Roberts nodded grimly. "It's been many a year since you've had four to dinner. I daresay that at least is a good thing for you, milord."
    "A good valet, I have been told, never expresses his opinion," Stacks said. "You, my dear Roberts, must be a most inferior servant." The mirth in Stacks' voice belied his words.
    ***
    Despite that Edgekirth would generally be considered a far better looking man than Stacks, Julia Taylor ignored him and directed her full attention to the head of the table throughout the long dinner. "My dear Papa--he was Sir Manley Morehead, you will remember--always said a good host was one who provided a different wine for each course," she said, complimenting Stacks on the quality of his wine.
    "You found the Sauternes adequate, ma'am?" he asked, knowing full well Sauternes had not been served but wickedly unable to resist trapping the matron in her own net of superiority.
    "Oh, quite exceptional, I should say," she said, shooting a self-satisfied smile at her host.
    Why was it he had never before noticed how hard the woman tried to fit into the ton ? He supposed he had been much too besotted over Elizabeth then.
    While she praised Stacks on everything from the comfort of her chambers to the tie of his cravat, Edgekirth and Freddie discussed the influence of the stars on herbs as well as man's body.
    "I cannot tell you how delighted I am, Miss Lambeth," Edgekirth said, "to find someone with your understanding of astronomy."
    "But I am sure my guardian is far more knowledgeable than I. My father said Lord Stacks was the most brilliant man he had ever known, and my father was rather well read himself."
    Edgekirth stiffened, taking in a mouthful of the plum cake being served for dessert. "Though I am delighted with your return to good health, I shall miss our daily visits, Miss Lambeth."
    "They need not end," she said. "We have become friends, have we not?"
    "Yes, but--" he glanced at Stacks.
    "But you will come visit me," she said firmly. "I told you I would like to assist with your potions."
    "I should like that exceedingly, Miss Lambeth." Dimples creased his cheeks when he smiled.
    After dinner, Stacks declined to share port with Edgekirth while the women retired to the great hall. Instead, he suggested the four of them immediately try their hands at a game of whist.
    The gaming table was no longer by the fire, Freddie noticed. It was back on a Persian carpet near the outer wall where it had been the first time Freddie had walked into the great hall.
    Stacks offered to take Mrs. Taylor as his partner. Freddie, knowing her guardian's hunger for good game of whist, silently commended him for his supreme sacrifice to good manners. For she did not believe Mrs. Taylor could possibly have any great skill at cards.
    "Oh, dear me!" Mrs. Taylor exclaimed, smoothing her white silk skirts beneath her as she sat opposite Stacks. "My dear Mr. Taylor used to admonish me over my lack of skill. I am forever forgetting about those trump things!"
    Freddie shot a devilish smile at her guardian, who met her gaze, raising a single eyebrow.
    Stacks' skill could not compensate against the adeptness of his opponents.
    "It seems you do everything well, Miss Lambeth," Edgekirth said, admiration in his voice, a wistful appreciation in his clear green eyes.
    "Were that true, I would not need Mrs. Taylor as desperately as I do," Freddie said, glancing at the rounded matron whose dress was outmoded and much too small on her. Freddie guessed the woman had worn it when she was much