How to Ruin Your Reputation in 10 Days (Ladies of Passion) by Harmony Williams

Author:Harmony Williams [Williams, Harmony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 1800s, botanist, historical, long distance relationship, reputation, London, Harmony Williams, ultimatum, Entangled, bookworm, scientist, ballrooms, Britain, England, pen pals, ladies of passion, wallflower, regency, friends-to-lovers, full-length, childhood friends, Romance, regency romance, historical romance, Romantic Comedy, novel
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Select Historical)
Published: 2017-06-04T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Francine.”

The whisper roused me from sleep. Darkness weighed against my eyes. I must have imagined the voice.

A hand pressed over my mouth, silencing me. I struggled. My thrashing jarred my ankle, making me cry out. The sound weakened against the callused palm pinning me to the bed.

“Hush,” Julian said. “You’ll wake the household.”

I stilled. Was I dreaming? He used to sneak into my bedroom to rouse me in the middle of the night as children, but we were no longer children.

When he retracted his hand, I asked, “Why are you in my bedroom?”

“You had to leave abruptly this afternoon. I wanted to ensure you were all right.”

All right? I couldn’t begin to figure that out, with the pressure of Papa’s ultimatum on my shoulders and the rumors flitting about. I released a long, heartfelt sigh. He shifted to gather me closer.

A shriek pierced my ears. “Take that!”

A heavy thump sounded and Julian stumbled toward me. “Run, Miss Francine,” Pauline shouted. She brandished what, from its shadow, I judged to be a candlestick holder.

I tottered to my feet and stepped between her and Julian, hands raised. “Pauline, wait! I’m fine. He wasn’t accosting me. This is Julian. You met him yesterday, remember?”

She hesitated, lowering the makeshift weapon. “Your friend from Leicestershire?”

Julian groaned, rubbing his head. “The same.” His voice was tight.

A moment passed in silence as Pauline processed the information. “What is he doing in your bedroom?”

I half turned toward him. “I asked him the same thing.”

Rapid footsteps descended down the hall. Pauline’s shriek had woken the house. She shuffled forward, hand outstretched to Julian. He backed away.

“Quick,” she said. “Hide under the bed.”

“I beg your pardon?”

I joined Pauline in urging him to his knees and then behind the hanging coverlet. I sat on the bed over his position, using my legs to obscure him further.

Papa barged into the room so forcibly the door banged into the wall. I cringed.

“Francine, are you safe?”

“Here, Papa.”

The shadows were quickly chased away by someone bearing a candle down the hall. Mother appeared with the light.

Papa tried to shoo her away with his hands. “Blast it, Bess. I told you to stay in bed.” He put his body squarely between her and my room. The halo of light outlined him until he resembled an avenging angel. “Are you hurt, Francine? I heard a scream.”

“That was me,” I said. “I had a nightmare. I’m sorry.”

He peered into the room, searching for an intruder nonetheless. “You aren’t being attacked?”

I mustered as genuine a smile as I could under the circumstances. “Not at all.”

He grunted.

“Sorry to wake you,” I added. “It won’t happen again.”

Grumbling under his breath, Papa left, lumbering back to his bed. He dismissed the servants who had hurried down from the noise.

Mother lingered in the doorway. She shielded the candle flame with one hand. “Are you certain you’re all right?” she asked.

Julian stirred beneath me. “I’m perfect,” I said quickly. I inwardly cringed at my choice of words. Who said that?

Still, Mother hesitated. “Would you like to talk about your nightmare?”

My face softened into a genuine smile.

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