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and all the others announced daily in the
London Gazette
– men he knew personally, or rather
had
known, his befuddled mind corrected itself. He should have simply returned to the Peninsular without coming to call on his mama and grandmother incurring their disappointment in that way, rather than the distress they would feel to see him thus incapacitated.
    The sound of hurrying footsteps penetrated his befuddled mind.
    ‘Crawford!’ he murmured, and slowly crumpled down the framework of the door until he lay sprawled at his manservant ’s feet.
     
    Lucy hurried upstairs, her breath ragged with the unaccustomed excitement and enforced exertion. She had the presence of mind to pause as she had reached the upper landing and peer over the balustrade. There was no sound of pursuit. She took a few deep breaths and slowly exhaled, sensing that her heartbeat was returning to normal. Deep within, her heart was at war with itself, partly exulting in the memory of the dizzying desire she had felt and partlyashamed of her fleeting compliance. She lightly touched her lips with the tips of her fingers, wondering if she would ever feel that surge of overwhelming desire with another man. She knew that anything less would never satisfy her now!
     
    The following day, Lucy was awakened by the swish of her bedroom curtains being drawn back, flooding her room with light. As she screwed her eyes against the bright sunlight, her maid excitedly announced that the young master had returned home late the previous evening but, due to a number of wounds he had received in the course of his military action on the Peninsular, he needed a time of recuperation and was to be secluded in his rooms for this day at least.
    ‘Hmm!’ Lucy couldn’t help reflecting wryly. ‘The ideal remedy for a hangover!’
    Not that she gave any indication of her private assessment of Lord Rockhaven’s state of health when she made her farewells to the countess and dowager countess later in the morning. The countess was clearly delighted by her elder son’s return.
    ‘All I need now is to see Conrad also,’ she said passionately .
    The dowager was more outspoken. ‘Hmm! Pity you are leaving us today, Miss Templeton.’ Her pale eyes gleamed mischievously. ‘You could always delay your departure for a couple of days. I could claim that I needed your presence, eh? Give you an opportunity to meet my wayward grandson?’
    Lucy smiled at her blatant attempt at matchmaking. ‘I think not, my lady. Besides, I am told that seventeen is too young to know my own mind with regard to matrimony.’
    ‘Not even to make an old lady happy?’
    Lucy shook her head. ‘No, ma’am.’
    ‘Ah well. I won’t give up complete hope; after all, he must find himself a wife sometime soon … if he can! Maybe his mama will persuade him to leave the army and look over next Season’s marriage mart? The right person might curb his wildness. You
will
be there, will you not?’
    Lucy remembered the disturbing feel of Lord Rockhaven’s lips upon her own, but he was obviously a man of loose morals and she had no wish to fall prey to his advances.
    ‘Yes, my lady, but I do not intend to set my cap at any young man, let alone one whose reputation is as colourful as your grandson’s.’
    ‘Unless you fall in love with him?’
    Lucy smiled at the old lady’s persistence. ‘That is highly unlikely, ma’am.’
    ‘Maybe so. Off you go, then. It’s been a pleasure knowing you, Miss Templeton.’
    ‘And you, ma’am.’
    She leaned over the old lady and kissed her papery-thin cheek. She sensed she might never see her again.

Four
    L UCY WAS LOOKING forward to spending some time with her young nephew and niece, but the children’s nurse allowed her very little access to the children under the excuse that they were convalescent and must be kept quiet, though Lucy couldn’t help suspecting that Nurse Harvey was more concerned about the effect their young aunt’s sullied reputation might