My Surrender by Connie Brockway

Author:Connie Brockway [Brockway, Connie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General, Historical, Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781416506812
Google: ZAeHEKx-RBUC
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2005-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

12

Culholland Square, Mayfair

July 28, 1806

“MA’AM?” Lizette’s head popped around the bedroom door. Caught in yet another reverie where Dand kissed her in between bouts of declaring himself her devoted slave, Charlotte guiltily dropped the yellow rosebud she’d idly been twirling between her fingers and swung around.

“Yes, Lizette?” Charlotte said.

“Lady Welton is downstairs and would like a few moments of your time.”

“Lady Welton?” Charlotte repeated with pleasure. It had been days since she had heard from her onetime benefactress. She had begun to worry that something was amiss in the Welton household and decided that one of the boys must be cutting up rough or perhaps Maggie had decided to return early from her trip abroad with her new husband. “By all means, show her into the front parlor and offer her some refreshment. Tell her I shall be down directly.”

With delighted anticipation, Charlotte brushed her short curls and threaded a ribbon around her throat before hurrying downstairs. She entered the room with her hands held out in welcome. “Lady Welton! How wonderful to see you!”

The older woman, dressed in a notably subdued fashion, rose and awkwardly took Charlotte’s outstretched hands in hers, squeezing tightly as her gaze swept Charlotte from the top of her well-coiffed head to the dainty kidskin slippers peeping from beneath the hem of her white Swiss-dotted gown.

“You don’t look like a soiled dove,” Lady Welton blurted out.

“A what?” Charlotte’s pleasure vanished. She shouldn’t be surprised. Indeed, she should have realized that no outrage committed by a Welton offspring could have accounted for Lady Welton’s long absence. Perhaps, somewhere deep within, she had.

Now, Lady Welton’s gaze darted anxiously about the room as if looking for some sign of an ongoing bacchanal. Then, with a fastidiousness Charlotte had never before witnessed, she perched her rounded little rump gingerly on the edge of the divan and surveyed Charlotte with a mixture of mystification and sorrow.

“You know, Lottie. A…Woman of Easy Virtue.”

If this hadn’t been so obviously distressful for her former benefactress, Charlotte might have laughed. Thank God, Lizette arrived at that moment with a tray. She arranged the decanter of iced lemonade and glasses on the table before Charlotte, bobbed a curtsy, and left. Gratefully, Charlotte took the moments provided to prepare for this interview. If Lady Welton’s opening salvo was any indication, this meeting could only prove a most painful one.

Baroness Welton had come for a purpose. Just what that purpose was remained to be seen, but already Charlotte suspected it boded little good for the girl who’d once been sheltered in the Welton home. But for the creature she and Dand Ross had created, a budding Cyprian who would enter St. Lyon’s castle and steal a volatile missive, it would doubtless amount to a victory. She must cling to that.

It really was too bad her heart would not allow her to enjoy her triumph.

“What does a Woman of Easy Virtue look like?” she asked, pouring out the bittersweet liquid.

Lady Welton, forgetting for a moment her discomfort, squinted thoughtfully.

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