Free Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) by Maureen Driscoll Page B

devil himself.  “I was just
telling Mrs. Seton and the other ladies…”  Here he smiled and nodded to the
others in the room, causing one woman to begin fanning herself.  “I was just
telling them that you’d spoken so passionately about the cause that I had no
choice but to come to a meeting and experience it myself.  I sincerely regret
the miscommunication we had earlier about transportation.  But, fortunately, I
was able to find the meeting myself.  I hope you weren’t too worried about me.”
    “Not too worried, Lord Henry,” said Mel with
annoyance and an unfortunate amount of excitement at seeing the scoundrel again. 
“I count myself more surprised than anything.  Not to put this too
indelicately, but I thought you were rather fond of drink yourself.  I find it
odd that you would attend a meeting of those who would seek to limit its
availability.”
    Mrs. Seton turned to Hal, aghast.  “Is that true,
Lord Henry?  Do you partake of mother’s ruin?”
    Hal turned the full force of his considerable charm
on the frowning woman.  “I must confess, Mrs. Seton, that I have partaken of
spirits on more than one occasion.  However, Miss Sutton has shown me the error
of my ways.  I now offer myself to you as a servant of your cause.”
    A nearby matron whispered, “He offers himself to
us.”
    “Lord, Henry,” said Mel with some asperity.  “I do
not recall any such conversation.”
    “Do you not, dear lady?  It was this morning, when
you were on your way to this very meeting.  At least, I believe that is the
destination your maid told me.”
    “You spoke to my maid?”  Mel didn’t want to believe
it.
    “Yes.  I managed to track her down.  She said you
told your aunt and uncle that you were on your way here, although I believe you
may have stopped elsewhere first.”  He raised his brows as if daring her to
deny it.
    The blood drained from Mel’s face.  If Mrs. Seton
learned of her other activities, she would throw her out of the group.  The
woman had made it clear on more than one occasion that the only thing worse
than drink was the practice of prostitution.  She believed the women were
beyond redemption and merely associating with them in any way tainted a
person.  Mel wouldn’t mind being thrown out of the group, except then she’d
have no excuse to get out of the house and do the work that was meaningful to
her.
    “You stopped elsewhere?” asked Mrs. Seton, turning
her disapproving mien to Mel.  “Where were you?”
    “I was…”  Mel tried desperately to think of an
excuse. 
    “If you will allow me,” said Hal with a smile for
Mrs. Seton.  “Flora said she was at a sweet shop.  Apparently Miss Sutton can’t
resist a good treacle tart.”
    What Mel was finding increasingly difficult to
resist was punching Lord Henry’s smug, incredibly handsome face.
     “A waste of money, if you ask me,” said Mrs.
Seton.  “Throwing good coin after something as frivolous as treacle tarts. 
Honestly, Miss Sutton, I question your common sense.  I’m certain Lord Heffner
would not approve of such frivolity.”
    If Mel hadn’t wanted to end this conversation so
badly, she could have told Mrs. Seton that her uncle’s only comment on her
spending habits was that she didn’t treat herself enough.   He was generous in
supplementing the pin money from her trust.  She knew he would not begrudge her
a stop at a sweets shop.
    But to bring the lecture to a halt, Mel simply
curtsied demurely and murmured “Yes, madam.”  Out of the corner of her eye, she
noticed that the grinning Lord Henry didn’t believe her submissive act for a
moment.  But mercifully, and quite uncharacteristically of him, he remained
silent.
    “If you will but sit down, Miss Sutton, we can
continue our strategy session on where we shall protest next,” said Mrs. Seton.
    Mel looked in vain for a free chair, then saw Hal indicating
the place beside him on the settee.  She wasn’t going to sit there,