Rumours in the Regency Ballroom. Diane Gaston

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СКАЧАТЬ he’d escaped marriage. The parson’s mousetrap, he and Tanner used to call it, but it nagged at him that she did not think him worthy of marrying. A libertine, she had called him. And she wanted nothing to do with him.

      It also nagged at him that she’d not actually denied that the child was his. He only knew she did not wish him to be her husband. Why had she not accepted his proposal? He was wealthy. He came from a good family.

      Adrian finished the brandy, took another, and answered his own question. She had no wish to be married to a libertine.

      He could not blame her for that opinion of him. He’d cultivated the reputation of a rake, even if it had never been entirely accurate. He did not trifle with women’s hearts. His liaisons with women involved mutual desire, and their partings were mostly amicable.

      He finished the second brandy in one gulp and asked for another.

      Katy’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, ho, you are thirsty tonight.”

      He extended his glass again for the girl to refill. “Very thirsty. Thirsty enough to get thoroughly drunk.”

      “Oooh. That must mean a problem with the ladies.”

      He downed the third glass and thrust his hand out once more. “Have you not heard, Katy Green? Libertines do not have problems with ladies.”

      At a proper morning hour, Samuel Reed waited in a small parlour off the hall of Lord Levenhorne’s townhouse, a place where, undoubtedly, tradesmen and other men who toiled for a living waited for his lordship. Samuel did not resent it. He was only grateful that he had not been summarily ejected.

      After at least a quarter of an hour, a footman entered. “Lord Levenhorne will see you now.”

      Samuel was led to the library, where Lord Levenhorne sat behind an elegant desk with thin carved legs and made of some dark wood—mahogany or oak, perhaps.

      “Mr Reed, m’lord,” the footman said before bowing and leaving the room.

      When Levenhorne looked up, Samuel bowed as well. “Thank you for seeing me, my lord.”

      “What business do you have with me, Reed? Your card tells me you are from that New Observer paper.” Lord Levenhorne sounded none too pleased.

      But he had agreed to see Samuel, so that gave him courage. “If you read my paper, sir, you will know that I am following the story of Lady Wexin—”

      Levenhorne coughed. “I’ve seen what you wrote.”

      Samuel nodded. “I wonder, my lord, what you can tell me about the lady. My sources inform me that she is to bear a child—”

      “That, unfortunately, appears to be true—” Levenhorne seemed to catch himself. He stopped talking and peered more closely at Samuel. “These are family matters, Reed. Not the stuff for newspapers.”

      Samuel took the liberty of advancing one step closer. “Ah, but I have a reporter’s sense, and I believe there is a story in Lady Wexin.” He gave Levenhorne an intent look. “If she produces a son, he will inherit Wexin’s property and title, is that not correct?”

      “Such as it is,” the man murmured just loud enough for Samuel to hear him.

      “And you will inherit if she produces a daughter, or if the child is not born in time.”

      “That is so,” Levenhorne said in a careful voice.

      “If this child is not Wexin’s, however…”

      Levenhorne leaned forwards. “What do you know?”

      The man was interested. Samuel had him. Levenhorne would tell him what he wanted to know. He spoke carefully. “I am speculating that Lady Wexin’s child is not Wexin’s.”

      Levenhorne rubbed his chin. “She certainly did not appear to be a woman in her sixth month.”

      Samuel almost smiled. He had his verification. Lady Wexin was breeding and the baby was not her husband’s.

      Levenhorne waved his hand. “It is of no consequence. All she must do is give birth in time and it bloody well doesn’t matter who the father is.”

      Samuel gave Levenhorne an earnest look. “But what if my newspaper can bring pressure on the lady to openly identify the father? Would not there be a chance she’d marry the fellow? If they both acknowledge the baby as that other man’s, then the inheritance goes to you.”

      “Indeed,” said Levenhorne in a contemplative voice.

      “I will write the story. We have four months to put pressure on her.” Four months of building sales of the newspaper. Everyone would want to see what next would happen with the scandalous Lady Wexin. “All I ask is that you support the idea that another man is the father.”

      “I do support it,” said his lordship.

      “I am in your debt, then, my lord.” Samuel bowed again. “If you hear anything about who the man may be, please send word to me.”

      Levenhorne stood and extended his hand. “I will do so, indeed, sir.”

       Chapter Nine

      The question remains—who is the father of Lady W—’s child? The time advances quickly that will tell for certain if the baby is the late Lord W—’s heir or another man’s child.—The New Observer, July 21, 1819

      On this warm July day, almost three and a half months after Samuel had first broken the news of Lady W’s interesting condition, a gentleman walked into The New Observer office where Samuel and his brother Phillip sat at their desks. The man’s white pantaloons were so tight his legs seemed made of wood. His blue coat fitted so well his forearms barely budged from his sides. With some difficulty he reached up to remove his high-crowned beaver hat. With this in one hand, he struggled to pull a white handkerchief from his pocket to mop his brow.

      Samuel cast a glance at his brother, and Phillip clamped his mouth shut, a cough covering laughter.

      “I wonder if I might speak to Mr Reed,” the fashionable creature said in a voice as soft as the fabric of his pristine neckcloth.

      “Which one?” Phillip asked him.

      “Is there more than one? Oh, dear.” His eyelids fluttered. “I desire to speak to the Mr Reed who writes about Lady Wexin—I beg your pardon—I mean Lady W.”

      “You want Samuel Reed,” Phillip said.

      “Do I?” He made a slight bow. “Then perhaps you might tell me how I might get hold of him.”

      Samuel stood. “I am Samuel Reed, sir, and you are?”

      The man tittered. “I must beg pardon once more. I ought to have presented myself. I am Lord Chasey, at your service.” He bowed again.

      “Lord Chasey,” Samuel repeated. “What do you wish to speak to me about?”

      “About СКАЧАТЬ