Read Candice Hern for Free Online Page B

fauteuil near the fireplace, while Charlemagne claimed her lap. Lord Hargreaves took an adjacent chair while the Chenowiths sat together on a small needlepoint settee. Sir Percy led Emily to the other side of the room, where he took a chair opposite her.
    Finally, in response to his curiosity and amusement at Sir Percy's possessive attentions toward his grandmother's companion, Robert boldly intruded on what appeared to be a private conversation by deliberately parking himself on the delicate painted sofa, next to Miss Townsend. He pretended not to notice Sir Percy's eyes narrow momentarily as he insinuated himself into their conversation. As their discussion turned to the impending removal to London, Sir Percy became visibly agitated. He was apparently most upset that the Laura Place ladies, and in particular Miss Townsend, were to leave Bath. Sir Percy caught Robert's puzzled frown and chuckled.
    "My lord," Sir Percy said with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes, "I sense your curiosity. So that you may not get the wrong impression, I now will let you in on a secret that you must swear never to reveal, as it would be most lowering to my reputation."
    Robert's brows rose in question. "I am all agog with suspense, Sir Percy. Pray, put me out of my misery."
    "Well, you see," Sir Percy continued in a conspiratorial voice, "Miss Townsend has been assisting me with my latest literary endeavor. After so many years of penning the usual gothic drivel, I found myself quite dried up. The old upper works completely bereft of new ideas. Then one day while having tea in Laura Place with a few dozen of your grandmother's closest friends, Miss Townsend took pity on me and rescued me from a numbing conversation with a certain turbaned dragon who claimed to be Penelope Manning's greatest fan. Normally I go to great lengths to divorce myself from my literary alter ego, but somehow this harpy had unmasked my identity. Miss Townsend recognized my distress and deftly swept the dragon away. When Miss Townsend then took over the dragon's seat, it marked the beginning of a delightful friendship." He gazed fondly at Emily. "I happily discovered that we are somewhat kindred spirits, that Emily is something of a bluestocking."
    Robert turned to look at Miss Townsend with questioning brows. She smiled shyly at him and shrugged with resignation.
    "Ah, my dear Emily," Sir Percy said, obviously sensing Miss Townsend's discomfort, "you must not reject the label of bluestocking. How much more intriguing is the educated woman with wit and intelligence as compared to the usual insipid misses one meets in Society, with no conversation and little sense. Is that not so, my lord?" Sir Percy asked.
    "Without question," Robert said, grinning at Miss Townsend. This woman continued to intrigue him.
    "English society is quite backward in this particular area," Sir Percy said. "In France they appreciate a clever woman, as your grandmother knows well, Lord Bradleigh. In Paris, before the days of this upstart Corsican, Frances and Emily would no doubt have set up a grand salon and held court to the intelligentsia. Instead they are stuck here in Bath with a bunch of old eccentrics like me." He sighed.
    "And yet," he continued more cheerfully, "it is my great fortune that they are here." He gazed fondly across the room at the dowager, who was in animated conversation with Lord Hargreaves and the Chenowiths. "My dear Frances has often acted as my inspiration and my muse as she regales me with stories of her youth. Such a life she has led!" He smiled over at the dowager, who looked up and smiled flirtatiously in return. "I can only write of such adventures, having lived a rather quiet life myself. And now I have the muse of Emily as well."
    "Don't tell me that you are a notorious adventuress, Miss Townsend?" Robert asked, eyes wide with feigned astonishment.
    "Hardly, my lord," she said, laughing. "I, too, as you must know, have led a very quiet life."
    "A quiet life cannot