His Lady Mistress

Elizabeth Rolls73Holding his ground gallantly, Harding repeated, ‘You’llhave a devilish head, sir. The brandy’s damned awful!’Max managed a disclipinary sort of stare. ‘In which caseyou have my full permission to say ‘‘I told you so’’ and gloat.Just do it.’‘Yes, sir. One hangover coming up, sir.’Max’s mouth twitched. ‘Impudent dog! God knows why Ibear with you!’Harding grinned. ‘Probably, sir. Omniscient, isn’t He?’Max burst out laughing and sat down on the bed to pullhis shoes off.‘Sir?’‘Mmm?’‘Dessay it’s not my place to ask, but did you hear anythingabout the Colonel’s lass?’The laughter drained away. ‘I’m sorry, Harding, I shouldhave told you,’ he said quietly. ‘She’s dead. Faringdon hintedthat she took her own life. I was too late. Again.’Harding blanched. ‘Oh, Gawd! I’m that sorry, sir.’‘So am I. Goodnight.’When the brandy came Max uncorked it and faced hisfailure. Five years. Why the hell had he left it so long toassure himself of Verity Scott’s well being? Not knowing theFaringdons beyond a nodding acquaintance, he’d assumedthat they would take care of Verity, that she would be safewith them. Damn it, he’d been relieved when he discoveredthat her relations were wealthy.Not until Lady Faringdon came to the fore this past springin launching the fair Celia had he begun to wonder.His fingers tightened on the wine glass and he took a largeswallow, feeling the brandy burn its way down. He hadthought that the child was better off not being reminded ofthat ghastly burial, that he should leave her to recover in thecare of her family. He hadn’t even worried when they didn’tbring her up to London for a Season. After all, launching a