His Lady Mistress

Elizabeth Rolls93‘Thank you, Harding.’ Max left it at that. ‘Perhaps youmight pass me my dressing gown.’‘Certainly, my lord.’‘‘‘Sir’’ will do,’ growled Max. He had been ‘Sir’ to Hardingfor too many years to change now.‘Yes, sir,’ said Harding. He handed the dressing gown toMax and said, ‘I know you wished to leave by eight, sir, butin the light of information come to hand, I’ve taken the libertyof making that nine. Thinking it would give you a bit moretime, sir.’Max knew his man too well to bother with a reprimand.He merely asked, ‘What the devil for?’‘Well, what you said last night, about the Colonel’s daughterbeing dead? She’s not.’‘What?’‘That’s right, sir,’ said Harding. ‘Been making my owninquiries, I have. In the servants’ hall. Asked about her, yousee. Thought it might help. Well, they clammed up, the lotof ’em. Wouldn’t say a word about Miss Scott. Except oneof the maids, Sukey. And she got a clout on the lug forspeaking out of turn. But I managed to get her alone lastnight after the rest had gone to bed. Wanted to find out whathappened to the lass. In the end she told me the truth. MissScott’s not dead, but they treat her like a dog...’He continued, but Max didn’t hear any more. Knowledgeand understanding hit him simultaneously, along with flaringrage. He now knew why Faringdon would have hesitated toforce ‘Selina’ and why she had not told him she was a virgin.He’d taken the bait, hook, line and several pounds’ worth ofsinker. Caught by the oldest trick known to woman.His father’s voice echoed mercilessly in his mind... Max,if you must fire a pistol—remember the ball has to go somewhere.The consequences are your responsibility...He focused back on what Harding was saying. ‘So she’shere in the house, sir. Shall I—?’‘Don’t worry, Harding,’ grated Max. ‘I know exactly