Most Rebellious Debutante Read Online Free Page A

room.’
    Lucy was thankful of the chance to refresh herself in the hot bathtub. Her boxes had already been delivered to her room and Susie had hung most of her gowns when she emerged from the tub to be engulfed in a wondrously soft bath towel. Laid upon the bed was a pair of drawers, a chemise, a corset and a full-length petticoat.
    ‘I think we’re going to like it here, Miss Lucy,’ Susie commented, as she dressed her mistress in the layers of underwear. ‘And maybe this round-gown, since there’s no company?’ she suggested, holding up a gown of a dark-cream lawn that was one of Lucy’s favourites.
    Thus attired, Lucy was eventually escorted to the dining room, where Lady Montcliffe smiled her welcome. The tablewas set for two, each chair with a liveried footman in attendance , and the countess directed Lucy to her seat, explaining that the dowager countess preferred to eat upstairs in her suite of rooms. ‘But you and I shall eat together, Miss Templeton … or may I call you Lucy?’
    ‘Oh, please do, Lady Montcliffe. That will make me feel much more at home.’
    The dinner was a pleasant meal, consisting of a bowl of cream of celery soup with a freshly baked bread roll, followed by a fillet of steamed turbot in a butter sauce, which was then removed with a selection of hot meats and vegetables with accompanying sauces.
    Lucy glanced around as the various covers were removed and replaced. Her eyes lighted upon two portraits that adorned the wall above the fireplace. Each was of a handsome dark-haired young man in military uniform.
    Lady Montcliffe followed her glance. ‘They are my sons,’ she said, with pride in her voice. ‘The one on the left is Theo, the eldest … and the one on the right is Conrad, just one year younger. Oh, how I miss them.’
    ‘Are they still fighting in the Peninsular War?’ Lucy asked, wondering if the infamous Earl of Montcliffe and his younger brother were likely to remain absent for the whole duration of her stay.
    ‘Yes, though Theo is in England at the moment. He was wounded at Albuera in May and has been in the military hospital in London since arriving back in England. I stayed at our town house for a few weeks, just to be near him, but he insisted that I return home. He is so independent. He never did like anyone to comfort him when he was ill, not even as a boy. Oh, the scrapes he used to get into!’
    Her eyes twinkled as she regarded Lucy’s interest. ‘I expect you have heard about many of them. The whole county was privy to his escapades, I fear. But, he was never a
bad
boy, simply full of fun and determined to enjoy life … and Con, of course, followed his lead.’
    Her face saddened for a moment. ‘I sometimes wish those days were still here. It is so hard to know one’s sons are fighting on foreign battlefields and fearing they will be killed. But, I am not the only mother who suffers thus and I am thankful Theo was not fatally wounded. However, enough of that. Others are not so fortunate so I mustn’t complain, even though he will be returning soon to rejoin his regiment.’
    She paused as the main course covers were removed and a dish of hothouse peaches was carried in, accompanied by a bowl of freshly whipped cream. When both had been served and were enjoying the juicy fruits, Lady Montcliffe eventually asked, ‘Now, how are we to occupy you on your visit? You are welcome to come and sit with me any afternoon … and the dowager countess extends a similar invitation. However, neither of us expects you to be confined to the house or to our saloons. Do you play the pianoforte?’
    ‘Yes, I enjoy playing music, ma’am, though I am not sure how accomplished I am,’ Lucy replied modestly.
    Lady Montcliffe smiled. ‘I am sure you will be perfectly accomplished to play for the dowager countess and myself, if you will not find that too tiresome. I’m afraid I am at present out of touch with any young society. My health isn’t what it was … and, with the