title: The Deathly Portent (A Lady Fan Mystery)
author:  Elizabeth Bailey 
description: <b>Elizabeth Bailey</b> is the author of more than a dozen Regency novels. She lives in England.
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  The Dashing
  
  
  
  
  
  Widow
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Elizabeth
  
  
  
  
  
  Bramwell
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00003.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright © Elizabeth Bramwell
  
  
  
  
  
  All the characters and scenes in this book are a work of fiction,
  unfortunately, because I really wish that the Balloon Incident had actually
  happened. Any similarity to real people, living or dead, is purely
  coincidental.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEDICATION
  
  
  For my Mum
  
  Thanks for talking me into this
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Also by Elizabeth Bramwell](http://elizabethbramwell.com/bibliography/)
  
  
  The Foolish Friend
  
  His Darling Belle
  
  The Rebel Wife
  
  A Novel Miss
  
  The Alter Ego
  
  The Independent Heiress
  
  The Devilish Duke
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CHAPTER ONE
  
  
  A s fond as she was of her elder brother, there were times when Lady Emma
  Loughcroft rather fancied strangling him. At present George, Earl of
  Gloucester, was pacing her sitting room at a speed that made her feel quite
  exhausted, and was yet to draw breath long enough for her to push a word