A Lady's Maid by Jen Geigle Johnson

Author:Jen Geigle Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2019-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Chloe stood in line with her father and mother to welcome their guests to a ball, hosted in their home, with the intent to raise awareness for the orphanages and to make a surprise announcement in support of women’s suffrage. Her first attempt at hosting such an event already appeared to be a huge success. She greeted each guest in turn with more ease than she’d ever had in speaking with others. Smiling, she knew that while she might never be as proficient in conversation as Lady Amanda, improvement sat well with her.

Chloe fingered the pendant at her neck. She and Amanda had had the design commissioned at a jeweler and had quietly given pendants to those on the suffrage committee, known supporters of their efforts. Already several women had commented on hers as they entered, and each time, she smiled. Soon the women would notice similar gems on other women and no doubt would want one of their own. A thrill of pride filled Chloe as she held the pendant between her fingers.

Someone she had never seen before entered and joined the line of guests to greet them. “Father, who is that man coming in just now?”

Her father finished talking to a couple who had passed Chloe by with a brief nod, and then he turned his attention to Chloe. “Which man, my dear?”

She nodded in the direction of the entrance. “He is in line to greet us. Large, bald head.”

“Great heavens. I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t seeing him with my own eyes! That is Lord Oswald himself. Didn’t think I’d ever see him again. He has been in India for years.” Chloe’s father nearly left his place to greet his old friend, but her mother placed a hand on his forearm.

“He will be here soon enough. We must stay and greet the guests in line before him.”

“Yes, of course you are right.”

Chloe appreciated this quirk in her father. For a highly ranked noble and member of the House of Lords, he had such a genuine and caring nature, completely independent of social norms and customs. He had been taught them, naturally, had been raised on them as were babes on milk, but the lessons had refused to internalize. He mostly did whatever he chose, to be corrected by his wife if he stepped too far out of bounds. The ton humored him because of his stature and great wealth. The family was from one of the largest and most ancient noble lines, their wealth maintained by generations of careful stewards. Or, at least, that is what she’d been told by her mother over and over again.

Chloe eyed the new Lord Oswald slowly moving toward them. Something about him sent a chill down her back. His eyes darted through the crowd gathering on the dance floor. He smiled and laughed with those nearby, but the spark never lit his eyes. Why was her father so excited to see him?

At length, he reached them, and her father leaned forward to embrace him, pounding him on the back.

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