The Burdens of a Bachelor by Rebecca Connolly

Author:Rebecca Connolly
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Phase Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-03-31T21:00:00+00:00

“Lady Raeburn to see you, ma’am.”

Lady Cavendish looked up from her embroidery in surprise. “Thank you, Simms,” she replied. “Send her up.”

Simms nodded and bowed, leaving them again.

Susannah felt her throat tighten in anticipation. Did she stay in the room with the ladies? Should she gather the needlepoint and make herself scarce? She was not prepared to meet Lady Raeburn, not dressed like this, and not without Colin. Lady Cavendish was very good and liked her creditably, but she could hardly give the woman a glowing reference after less than two weeks of work.

Before she could ask what she ought to do, a woman in brilliant green silks was in the doorway of the drawing room, sweeping in grandly as if she were an exotic empress. Her fiery red hair was wrapped in matching green ribbon, and her lips were painted the color of rubies.

“Lady Cavendish,” she chirped with a waggle of many ringed fingers.

“Lady Raeburn,” the other replied with a knowing smile. “What brings you to my humble abode?”

“You have never been humble a day in your life, my dear, and you know it,” Lady Raeburn said with a snort, sitting regally in a nearby chair.

Susannah nearly gaped at the bold frankness of this woman. To speak to Lady Cavendish in such a way was beyond daring, and ought to have earned an affronted reaction. But Lady Cavendish only offered a smile that was as genuine as anything.

“True enough,” she admitted. “You are here for gossip, aren’t you?”

Lady Raeburn inclined her head in a nod. “Is there ever another reason? I had to hear from my haberdasher that your nephew is coming? Really, I thought we were closer than that…”

Lady Cavendish tittered a little. “It was a surprise, to be sure; I’ve not had time to tell anyone yet. Miles will be here next Wednesday, and I plan on showing him off in grand style, now he is come back from Brighton. I also have the keenest interest in introducing him to Miss Hart, here,” she added, giving Susannah a devious little wink.

Susannah blushed and ducked her chin.

“Indeed?” Lady Raeburn asked, turning to her with interest. “And how do you like being companion to Lady Cavendish, Miss Hart?”

Susannah looked up into the bright eyes of the woman and stammered out, “It is delightful, Lady Raeburn. I greatly enjoy Lady Cavendish’s company and hope I have been of some use to her.”

“Essential, my dear child, essential,” Lady Cavendish crowed in delight. “It is so much better talking to a person rather than a tapestry, I can assure you. And I think Miles will find her as delightful as I do.”

Lady Raeburn pressed her lips into a thin line and glanced in Lady Cavendish’s direction. “Did you receive an invitation to Lord Cartwright’s soirée? I heard it was to be terribly exclusive, only the essentials of Society will be there.”

Lady Cavendish gasped and her hands began to flutter. “I had not heard that! I hardly know, Simms has not brought the cards up.

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.