Maid Under The Mistletoe: A Mapleton Family Saga Novella by Annabelle Anders

Author:Annabelle Anders [Anders, Annabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 7

Shared Interests

Charlotte wiggled uncomfortably in her chair. Since she’d tiptoed in and taken her seat in the formal drawing room, Lord Mapleton and Miss Fairchild had barely spoken ten words to one another. Which, if she was to guess, was more than they’d spoken before Charlotte had taken her unobtrusive seat near the door.

Oh, but this was excruciating.

Susan smoothed her gown. Lord Mapleton shifted in his seat.

The ticking of the clock on the mantle echoed loudly.

“Do you play chess, my lord?” The words sprung from Charlotte’s lips before she could think. He glanced across the room at her with questioning eyes. He had done well to completely ignore her so far.

Which she’d appreciated.

On some levels. Her heart, of course, had not.

“Not with me, my lord,” she clarified. Of course, he’d not think to play chess with her! “With Miss Fairchild. Do you play, Miss Fairchild?”

At this question, Susan scrunched her face up in distaste. “Heaven’s no! Why would I waste my time learning to play a military game?”

“Oh, but chess is so much more––” Charlotte caught herself. She had spent hours across a board with her father on cold winter evenings, but this was not her place.

She dropped her gaze to her lap but felt Lord Mapleton’s curious gaze, nonetheless.

Again, the ticking of the clock took prominence in the room. They all sat through two additional minutes of uncomfortable silence. She could not stand their discomfort. Anything was better than watching the two squirm and fidget. Charlotte wished she could be anywhere but here!

Hush Charlotte. Keep to yourself.

Lord Mapleton spoke. “Do you enjoy poetry, Miss Fairchild?”

“Doesn’t everyone, my lord? Byron is simply all the rage!” Miss Fairchild fluttered a lacy fan below her chin.

Thank heavens!

Charlotte had read most of Lord Byron’s works but by far preferred Keats. In her eyes, there was really no comparison. But at least these two might find something to converse upon.

“I met him once.” The Earl grimaced. “The man certainly knows how to draw attention. What do you think of Wordsworth?”

Miss Fairchild frowned.

“Keats?” Her frown deepened.

“Wordsworth was one of my father’s favorites.” Charlotte piped up. She could not take a chance that this conversation would stall out again. “He refused to take Byron’s poetry seriously, though. He considered his morality a threat to society. Did you know he kept a bear for a pet? Papa said the man walked him much as others walk their dogs.”

“He does court controversy rather successfully.” Lord Mapleton inserted. “One has to wonder if that isn’t much of the reason for his success.”

“And his politics are equally provoking. Art, poetry, even fashion can express ideas so much better than a political speech.” Charlotte turned to Miss Fairchild, who’d seemed a trite lost at the conversation’s turn. “Do you paint, Miss Fairchild? Or draw? I’m sure his lordship would be delighted to view your work…”

Grateful eyes flew open wide. Apparently, she’d felt as ill at ease as Charlotte –– perhaps more so. “Oh, yes. I don’t show these to just anyone, my lord.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.