The Barrister and the Wallflower: A Friends to Lovers Regency Romance (Fernley Family A Regency-era Romance Book 5) by Angela Johnson

Author:Angela Johnson [Johnson, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pemberley Publishing, LLC
Published: 2023-08-07T16:00:00+00:00

Audrey waited outside her father’s den until she was certain five minutes had passed. Had he decided that less than a week in London would have already been enough time for her to secure a match? Knocking on the door, she tried to calm her breathing by slowly counting while taking a long breath in and purposefully releasing it.

“Come in, Audrey.” Her father’s voice sounded far too stern for it to be anything other than a discussion about her prospects.

Audrey didn’t allow the door to fully open before she squeezed through and approached her father’s desk. “Have I done something wrong?”

“Sit down.” Her father shuffled a pile of papers on his desk before pulling out a worn black book that was twice the size of one of the books of fiction she would find in their library. “This is a financial ledger.”

“Oh?” Audrey sat forward on her chair so she could see what was written on the pages as her father lifted the top cover and flipped to the page marked with a ribbon. “Should you not discuss the finances with Andrew? I am certain he would be interested in learning more about the estate.”

“Andrew has already learned the estate ledgers.” Her father pulled out a file folder and extracted a stack of organized papers. “You visited the modiste and other shops with your mother this week, is that correct?”

A sick feeling entered her stomach as she slowly nodded. “I did, sir.”

Her father handed the stack of papers to her. “We will start at the top. I would like you to read the name of the shop and then list out each item purchased and the cost while I record it in the ledger.”

Audrey picked up the top receipt. “Madam Lanchester on Bond Street. One evening frock of silk, periwinkle and lace. Five pounds and two pence. One riding habit of dark blue cotton. Tailored with a hat, gloves, and boots. Thirteen pounds and five pence.”

There was no guilt in her mind until she came to the line item that had been the pinnacle of her shopping excursion. Audrey couldn’t lift her head as she read the line. One evening frock of red satin. Slippers. Elbow length gloves. Six and twenty pounds and five pence.”

Her father grunted after each item. She didn’t know if he did it as a way to let her know he was ready for the next line on the bill, or if it was a way to show his disapproval. But each item listed out only proved to show exactly what he had said before they had arrived in London. The fashionable season was done at great cost to the estate finances.

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