A Note of Scandal by Nicky Penttila

Author:Nicky Penttila
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wondrous Publishing

Chapter Nineteen

Captain Sartorius, of the Slaney frigate, arrived yesterday with dispatches from Captain Maitland of the Bellerophon, confirming Bonaparte's surrender and conveyance to England. He is at our doorstep.

—The Beacon

Aunt Betsy, as tidy and proper as always, welcomed Olivia with a generous hug and a delicately raised eyebrow. “’Tis always good to see you, dearest, but I fear your trip has been in vain. I received your father’s letter only yesterday, or I would have sent my own return post. He must have forgotten.”

“Forgotten?” Olivia set her satchel on the hall steps and followed her aunt into the front sitting room.

“He instructed me to sell the furnishings already. The ‘excess’ furnishings, he termed it.” She sniffed daintily. “All that remains is two bedrooms’ worth, and a spare cot. Then this room, the study, and half the dining room. And the servants’ furnishings; those wouldn’t have brought much anyway.”

“The piano?” Her voice squeaked.

“Of course not. It still guards the solarium. I did manage to keep two of the mustiest chairs in that room, as well.” She looked about her. “Everything down to the walls. Even the curtains, in some of the rooms. You would be surprised how much curtains can fetch.”

“So we’ve leached all we can from this property.” Olivia leaned back into the soft cushions of what she suspected was the only sofa in the house.

“Aye. I am grateful it is not my family’s history I am dispensing with.” Her aunt shuddered. “What will Avery think when he discovers the truth?”

“Knowing him, he’ll think it all a great jest. It means fewer servants to pay, as well.”

“But his wife?”

“She will have more to say about it. Oh, Aunt Betsy, she is the woman I wish I were.”

“Dearest, you are one of the finest young people I know.”

“But Rosa Avery. She is not afraid to show her talent. She faces down those who would tell her she is inappropriate.”

“And she has won the hand of your fiancé.” Her aunt gave her a steady stare.

“That is less important. No, truly, I am glad I do not have to marry Richard. I discover my appreciation of him grows in proportion to the distance I keep between us.”

Betsy tittered, then laughed out loud, though behind her neatly gloved hand. “I did miss you, Livvie. But I do wish you were happier with your lot. And what prospects have you? Is there another man?”

Olivia felt the blush creeping up her neck.

“Ho! I see how the wind blows. Is he pining away now that you have absented yourself from town?”

“He may come here, in fact.”

“All the better. We need some fresh blood here. He is fascinated with our newest hostage?”

“Napoleon has arrived?”

“On the Bellerophon. A ship of the line, anchored a quarter-league out. Apparently, he takes the air at five o’clock on the nose. The boatmen are earning small fortunes taking the folk out to try to get a glimpse of him.”

“Have you done it?”

“Me? I am far too proper. But with you here, I do feel a bit frisky.

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