Read Her Ladyship's Man for Free Online

profit, my lady," Mr. Barrymore expanded, leaning back against the delicately striped chair. "Wars have helped make many a fortune, and the Americans are as eager to line their pockets as any man. And, of course, they have long coveted our western territories. A war would give them the perfect opportunity to seize anything they could."
    "But only the War Hawks, Senator Calhoun and his group, are openly hostile toward us," her father protested, his brows knitting in a troubled frown. "The senators from New England are most eager to avoid a conflict, and I know President Madison is not averse to a peaceful resolution. I am hoping to convince Castlereagh to send a new delegation. Although," he admitted with a heavy sigh, "I fear he may not listen."
    "I'm afraid I must agree with you, my lord," Mr. Barrymore said with a sad shake of his head. "The viscount must first listen to his own party, and we all know how they feel on the subject of negotiations."
    "But another war would be ruinous just now!" Melanie protested, setting her cup down with an angry clatter. "Especially a war which could so easily be avoided. You must not give up, Papa," she said, turning to her father. "You must make them listen to you!"
    "Ah, if only I could, my dear, if only I could," the earl murmured unhappily, wondering if he should tell her about the missing documents from his pouch. He had managed to keep the disappearance secret from her, but he knew it was only a matter of time before she learned the truth.
    So far the Foreign Office had taken no overt action, but he felt his recall from Washington was caused by more than the Crown's desire to remove nonessential personnel from a potential battleground. For a brief moment he wondered if he ought to take her in his confidence, but in the end he decided against it. Barrymore was right, he brooded, it was best that Melanie remain innocent of the undercurrents around her. For all her sharp tongue and quick mind, she was still only a female, and the less involved she was, the safer she would be.

Chapter Three
    M elanie rose early the next morning, eager to assume her domestic responsibilities. Although Lady Charlotte would be acting as her father's hostess, she saw no reason why she should relinquish all authority merely because society had decreed it so. The marchioness wouldn't be arriving for several days yet, and she was determined to have the household well under her thumb before then.
    After a hasty breakfast she and Mrs. Musgrove set out to tour the elegant town house. They started in the drawing room where she and her father had taken tea, and when she asked why it was called the Duchess's Room, the housekeeper was happy to explain.
    "Well, my lady, 'tis called that in honor of Lady Amanda, the fourth Duchess of Marchfield," Mrs. Musgrove said, a pleased smile on her face as she ran her hand across the back of the gold brocade settee. "She decorated it when she came into thishouse as a new bride. It was always her favorite room, and when she died the old duke, God bless his soul, refused to change the room by so much as a cushion! The present duke and his lady like it as well; Lady Jacinda receives all of her guests here. She says it's like sitting in a pool of sunlight."
    "I can see why she would think that," Melanie replied, giving the yellow and gold room an admiring look. "From the little I have seen, the house is quite lovely. I wonder how they can bear to let strangers stay here, although I am most grateful that they did," she added with a rueful laugh.
    "Oh, but this is the first time, my lady," Mrs. Musgrove told her as they turned to leave. "This house has been the Marchfield home for well on seventy years, and none but a Marchfield has ever had the running of it! Why, you could have tipped me over with a feather when His Grace told me he had given you and your good father permission to stay here. And then Mr. Halvey leaving on top of it . . . well, things were at sixes and sevens, I