Lucy and her loves.

'May I introduce Lucy Walter?'  asked Lady Herbert.

Lucy found herself gazing into a pair of the deepest brown eyes she had ever seen. Whilst she could not claim the man was handsome, yet his presence was compelling. Furthermore, she had felt him watching her every move that evening.

'Robert Sydney at your sevice, Ma'am'.

'Colonel Robert Sydney', added Lady Herbert.

Lucy felt her hand being grasped firmly, her pulse quickening and a faint flush spreading across her cheeks.

Noticing her consternation, her companion extended his arm. 'It is somewhat warm in here. May I suggest we repair to the balcony?'

Casting an apologetic glance in the direction of her godmother, who smiled fondly at her, Lucy allowed her new acquaintance to escort her through the large doors at the far end of the ballroom and outside into the cool evening air.

Candlelight from crystal chandeliers spilled out through the long windows, shining on the canal below.There was just enough light for Lucy to see something was amusing Robert Sydney.

'So. I am in the presence of Lucy Walter. Shame that my brother, Algernon, was forced to put duty to his country before his own pleasure'.

Lucy's heart sank.  It was as she feared. 'Algernon Sydney?' she whispered.

'Aye, the very same Algernon Sydney.'

Seeing Lucy's distress, he pulled her to him, roughly.

'The Algernon Sydney who paid your father fifty broad pieces so that he could own you'.

Lucy bit her lip and lowered her head.

'Don't play the innocent with me', he warned.

 Putting his finger beneath her chin, he forced her face upwards and was about to lower his mouth on hers when instinct came to her rescue. Robert Sydney was too large for her to push away. Instead, she brought her foot down firmly on his toes.

Yelping, he fell back against the wall.  Lucy dare not look for a moment, but when she did she saw that Colonel Sydney was laughing helplessly.

After a while he recovered himself. 'I'll say this for you, Lucy Walter, you are a spirited wench'.