Read Lucy Muir for Free Online Page B

had kept in better contact.”
    “Perhaps one of the servants would know,” ventured Melissa.
    “Of course,” Anne cried, pulling the bell rope. “Ask Benton to come in,” she said to the young footman who answered her ring.
    “I remember when I interviewed Benton that he said he had formerly served a military gentleman,” Anne said to Melissa. “Surely he will know who is in residence in London.”
    Benton, a slender young man with sandy hair and freckles, was most anxious to help his young mistresses. He knew that few other people would have given him an opportunity to advance to the position of butler, and he wished to prove his gratitude.
    “If you will name some of the officers with whom you were acquainted, ma’am, perhaps I could tell you if they are in residence,” he suggested.
    Anne named several without success, but was lucky with her sixth try, Captain Halcott.
    “There is a Colonel Halcott, ma’am. Might that be the same family?”
    “Yes, no doubt it is,” Anne replied delightedly. “It would be odd if he had not advanced in rank since I knew him. I will send a note round to Mrs. Halcott immediately.”
    Returning to her desk, she quickly wrote a note, and Benton dispatched the footman with it.
    While they waited for a response, Melissa inspected some parcels that had arrived from the milliners, hoping that one of them contained her new gypsy hat and veil. Anne, realising that Mrs. Halcott was probably their last hope to find someone willing to assist them in gaining entrance into Society, was unable to interest herself in the parcels. She remained in the drawing room, alternately pacing the floor and sitting on an uncomfortable ladder-backed chair, twisting her skirt between her hands. Why hadn’t she thought of this before she left Medford? And why hadn’t she kept in contact with her former friends?
    Fortunately for her state of mind, a response to her note came within the hour in the form of a call by Mrs. Halcott herself. Benton proudly announced the visitor, who immediately opened her arms to Anne and embraced her fondly.
    “My dear Anne. I was so surprised to receive your note. Seven years! What are you doing and how is it you’ve never married?” Mrs. Halcott asked, holding Anne at arm’s length and inspecting her critically. “You are certainly in good looks,” she added, taking in Anne’s appearance in her lace-trimmed leaf-green frock that tied beneath her breasts with a white ribbon.
    Anne smiled warmly at Mrs. Halcott and returned her compliments. Mrs. Halcott did not appear to have aged at all in the past years. Her brown hair was still unstreaked by grey, and her plump figure looked most fashionable in a puce muslin morning gown. They sat together on the sofa while Anne explained her long silence to Mrs. Halcott.
    “I’m afraid I’ve lived a very retired life since Papa’s and Charlie’s deaths,” she said. “I just could not interest myself in Society.”
    “Of course, I understand.” Mrs. Halcott sympathized. “But you are still a young woman, Anne. I am glad to see you have decided to come back into Society.”
    “It is not on my account,” Anne confessed, proceeding to outline her predicament to Mrs. Halcott.
    Mrs. Halcott frowned thoughtfully. “Amberly—he resigned his commission after inheriting a baronetcy, did he not? Well, her father had a title, if Miss Amberly does not. That should help. And if Melissa is as beautiful as you say, there should be no difficulty introducing her into Society. I would be more than glad to help. But you know, my dear, we do not move in the exclusive circles of the ton, only on the outer fringes. Vouchers to Almack’s will be out of the question, I am afraid.”
    “Indeed, I did not expect to enter the inner circle,” Anne assured her. “I would be most grateful for us to be included in any Society entertainments at all.”
    “Well, then, introduce me to your cousin and let us make some plans,” Mrs. Halcott said