Read The Husband Hunt for Free Online

taken to a room to rest until the doctor and Miss Lisa’s suitor came.” Her mouth firmed. “And sure enough, we woke up locked in this room on the second floor. But we made a rope from the bed linens like in that book about that Lord Haroway what ravished Lady Laticia, and Miss Lisa said as I should go first, so I climbed out the window, but the bed couldn’t take the weight and started to move and Miss Lisa had to help hold the rope which she couldn’t do for herself and she said I should come find you to go get her.”
    Robert stared blankly as her long, rushed explanation soaked through his mind and then he gave his head a shake, and stepped around her to head for the door. “Wait here. I shall fetch her back.”
    “Oh but—”
    “Wait here,” he repeated firmly.
    “But ye don’t know which window to go to,” she protested in a wail.
    Robert paused, a frown curving his lips as he turned back. “Which window?”
    “I should come with ye. I—”
    “You’re not coming with me, Bet. I’ve enough to worry about without worrying over you. Now which window?”
    “T here,” Mrs. Morgan said and took a step back to look her over with satisfaction.
    Nodding, she pronounced, “You look perfect. He should be very pleased.”
    “Who?” Lisa asked and frowned at the garbled sound to the word. Mrs. Morgan had been pushing some sort of beverage on her the entire time while seeing her bathed, powdered and dressed in . . . well, what was really the most comfortable gown. It felt feather light and airy, allowing the smallest draft to make its way through and caress her skin. It was as close to wearing nothing at all as she’d ever experienced and left her feeling rather . . . well . . . odd, really.
    “You’ll see soon enough,” Mrs. Morgan said with a laugh and led her to the bed. “I’m surprised he feels he needs this to get your attention. Most girls would throw themselves at him. Although, my girls say he can be a bit rough, but you may come to enjoy it. A little rough can sometimes be a pleasure.”
    Lisa grunted for answer. She wasn’t really sure what the woman was talking about. Attractive sounded nice to her fuzzy mind, but the being a bit rough part . . . well, she suspected she should be a bit alarmed, but her mind didn’t appear capable of it at the moment. Instead, she was struggling with a rather odd desire to giggle.
    What the devil had been in those drinks they’d been pushing on her?
    “Now you sit here. He should be here soon to see you and then your new life will start.”
    “Why are you doing this? I thought you were my friend,” Lisa said plaintively, or hoped she did. It didn’t sound quite right coming out of her mouth. It felt like she was talking around a mouthful of marbles. But Mrs. Morgan seemed to understand her words.
    “Now, now,” the woman said on a little sigh and patted her hand as she settled on the bed beside her. “I know it may seem awful of me to hand you over to him like this. But he plans to marry you, my dear. So no harm done. And he’s paying me a very large sum of money to help him woo you like this.” She paused and then grimaced and added, “Of course, Bet is something else. But really, do you think she wants to be a lady’s maid the rest of her life? She’s a beautiful girl despite those unfortunate freckles of hers. She’ll wear the finest silks and drink the finest wine and enjoy many fine men rather than putting up with the callous rutting of stable boys and the like. Really, I’m doing you both a good turn here today . . . and making a great deal of money as well. If the girl’s a virgin, I’ll get top dollar for her.” She stood and moved toward the door, adding, “I really must send word to find out what’s holding up the doctor. I’ve already sent out a notice to every possibly interested party that a fresh girl is to be auctioned off tonight. I need his certification that Bet’s pure before then.”
    Lisa watched her go,