Read Lady in Demand for Free Online Page B

Will who managed Luke’s money. They argued constantly, with Will threatening to dismiss him or Luke threatening to walk away nearly every day. They were brothers in every way but blood and birth, and it was this that would always stand between them.
          Livvy patted her husband’s hand. “Give it time, my love. With persistence, which you have plenty of, you will soon wear him down, I’m sure.”
          “I hope you are right, Livvy, because I’m investing his money and it’s growing daily, yet he will do nothing with it.”
          “He is a stubborn mule.”
          “Bella!” Phoebe looked at her little sister. “You are usually the one defending Luke.”
          “Yes, but no more. He needs to grow up.”
          “Here, here,” Will said, lifting his tea cup in agreement. “And don’t think that by changing the subject, young lady, I have forgotten what we were discussing,” Will said, looking at her once more. “If I find out that you have been riding in the park learning carnival tricks and that is how you got that bruise, I will not be pleased, Phoebe.”
          She didn’t roll her eyes because she was old enough to know better, but the urge was still there. “Will, I would never do anything to damage your name or break myself. I don’t take risks that have not first been thought out; therefore, I would ask you to trust me.”
          She was subjected to Will’s steady gaze for several seconds.  
          “I know you would never do anything to damage our name.” Phoebe heard the emphasis on the word ‘our’, and felt warm inside as she often did when he spoke that way. “And I have no wish to know your every move, but I do admit to a certain amount of anxiety over what you do when I or your sisters are not with you.”
          “She has always needed excitement, Will, and to the best of my knowledge this is actually the first time she has injured herself,” Livvy said, patting her husband’s hand. “She is no fool, even if she does need to feel the thrill of testing herself in whatever capacity.”
          Phoebe smiled at her sister. Livvy had seen her do more than her share of hair-raising activities in the past and was used to them by now.  
          “I will leave it for now, but no more injuries, Phoebe.”
          “I understand, Will,” Phoebe said. Unlike Lord Levermarch, her wonderful brother-in-law would not take drastic measures to stop her from riding, or leaving the house without a full compliment of servants watching her every move.
    Phoebe left the house at eleven o’clock with her maid. Hannah’s note had arrived this morning and been irritatingly vague by stating only that she was to meet her at midday at 12 Plimley Lane, a location that was just a stone’s throw away from Bond Street. She had told Bella she was going to visit a friend, but Livvy and Will had already left the house so she had not been able to tell them.
          The drive through London was not fast, as there were plenty of horses and carriages taking advantage of the lovely weather. It was twenty minutes later that Luke pulled the carriage to a halt. The narrow lane was a short distance away, but as the carriage could not maneuver up there they must get there on foot.
    “I shall get Stephen to hold the reins whilst I escort you Miss Phoebe.”
      Looking up at Luke Fletcher’s determined face, Phoebe wondered why he believed he should be in service when there was nothing subservient about the man. Tall and lean, he was a man who issued orders with frequency and little doubt they would be followed. She could see so much of Will in him, and the time they had spent together had changed the boy who had left England so many years before into a man  
    “That won’t be necessary, Luke, as you can see the sun is shining and there are plenty of people about. We will meet you back here in one hour.”
    He opened his mouth to