De Warenne Dynasty 11 - An Impossible Attraction by Brenda Joyce

Author:Brenda Joyce [Joyce, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ALEXANDRA STARED around in dismay. Corey and

Olivia were with her. There had been no suitable

lodgings close to home, and they’d taken a ful hour to

drive to London’s southwestern outskirts. The

neighborhood was fil ed with factories that belched

dark smoke, as did the steamships coming into the

harbor, while the brick and stucco buildings lining the

thoroughfare were blackened from the constant soot.

The air was foul and heavy, and the working men and

women—and children—coming and going were thin

with malnutrition, as wel as pale-skinned and dirty.

London had changed so much in the past decade that

it was almost unrecognizable—mil s and factories

were everywhere, as was the belching railroad. The

rooms they’d found that were closer to Edgemont Way

had been incredibly expensive, from Alexandra’s point

of view, or impossibly dirty, or there had been

unpleasant innuendos from the innkeepers as to what

she must do to have the room. While this

neighborhood was hardly hospitable, the room she’d

let was cheap—and it was clean in comparison to the

other rooms she’d thus far seen.

Except, of course, for the privy, which she would

have to share with a dozen other tenants. As for

bathing, she would do so in her room, with water

pumped from the courtyard wel .

“Father wil change his mind,” Corey said

desperately, her eyes red and swol en from crying.

Thinking about Edgemont hurt too much. “I wil take

my bags and my sewing upstairs,” Alexandra said,

attempting a cheerful smile. “It’s getting late, and you

should go back.”

“We can’t let you stay here by yourself, Alexandra,”

Olivia said nervously, as two very drunken sailors

sauntered by them, winking. “I don’t think this place is

at al safe.”

“You heard Mr. Schumacher. The public doors are

locked at ten o’clock.” But she doubted the veracity of

his words.

“I don’t care what he says. Even if you bolt your door,

I am afraid for you to stay here by yourself.”

“I hate him!” Corey shouted, and Alexandra did not

know if she was referring to their father or Clarewood.

“I am going to stay here with you,” Olivia said firmly,

picking up a satchel. “Corey, guard the carriage and

the horse while I help Alexandra.”

Corey’s eyes widened. Clearly she had no wish to

stand in the busy street by herself. At that time of day, it

was congested with wagons and drays carrying every

possible kind of cargo.

“Olivia, I can take everything up myself. And you are

not staying here! You need to get Corey home. It wil be dark soon. I am fine,” she lied, for she was so sick in

her heart that she could barely describe her own

feelings, even to herself.

“Wil you real y be fine? How can you pretend that

you wil be fine?” Olivia’s gaze became moist. “We

can’t leave you here. And I hate him, too.”

“You cannot stay here with me. I brought this on

myself. And this is a pleasant inn,” Alexandra said

firmly, as if she believed it. “I am going to turn my little

room into a cozy, cheerful place. You can visit me as

much as you like. But tomorrow you must get in touch

with al the clients on the list I gave you, so they know

where to find me now.”

Olivia grimaced. “You should have the money so you

no longer have to take in sewing.

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