The American Earl by Joan Wolf

Author:Joan Wolf [Wolf, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency, Romance
Publisher: Ten Talents Press
Published: 2014-10-02T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Evan left it to Julia to get away from their aunt; he had no doubt that her fertile imagination would come up with something.

Sure enough, at breakfast, when Lady Barbara announced her intention of taking the girls shopping for gloves and hair ribbons, Julia announced that she was not feeling well and thought she should spend the day in bed.

Evan saw the look that passed between Lizzie and Maria. They know, he thought with amusement as the two girls turned solemn faces to Lady Barbara. Lizzie said, “Yes, you mentioned last night that you weren’t feeling well. The feeling hasn’t passed?”

“No,” Julia said regretfully.

Evan thought that for a sick person she had certainly eaten an inordinate amount of breakfast, but forbore to voice this observation to his aunt.

Lady Barbara frowned at Julia. “What is wrong?”

“My stomach is upset.”

Lady Barbara’s frown deepened. “Then you should not have eaten so much breakfast.”

“I know,” Julia said mournfully. She put her hand to her mouth, rolled her eyes, muttered, “Excuse me,” and ran from the table.

“I’ll go with her,” Lizzie said, jumping to her feet.

There was a tight line around Lady Barbara’s mouth. “The new clothes are to be delivered this afternoon and I have made an appointment to visit Lady Sefton tomorrow. It is imperative that Julia come with us. Lady Sefton is one of the patronesses of Almack’s and Julia must be presented to her.” She stared across the table at Evan, her blue eyes imperative. “You are to come as well, Evan. It is essential that you make your bow to one of society’s most important hostesses.”

Evan looked thoughtful. “Now, how did Mr. Martelli show me that bow?”

Maria giggled.

Lady Barbara was not amused. “If your new clothes are not ready, then you will have to come in your old ones. But I will be taking the girls to Almack’s next week and I require you to accompany us. You absolutely must have your evening dress by then.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Evan said. He glanced at Maria, who was drinking her tea. “Have you found someone to look after Maria, Aunt? I don’t want her left alone with the servants while the rest of us go out to parties.”

“I know. I know. I have not forgotten, I have just been very busy. I will have one of the agencies in town send over a few people for me to interview.”

He gave her a steady look. “I want Maria to meet this governess before you hire her. I don’t want her saddled with someone she doesn’t like.”

Lady Barbara bristled. “A young girl is hardly the best judge of a governess’s qualifications, Evan. I believe that you may safely leave that up to me.”

Evan said imperturbably, “You can judge the qualifications, but Maria must judge the personality. It has to be someone she likes.”

Lady Barbara glared down at the piece of toast on her plate. How did such an ill-tempered woman produce a sweet-natured girl like Lizzie? Evan thought in wonder.

He glanced at Maria and she mouthed the words, Thank you to him.

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