The Deceptive Earl: Lady Charity Abernathy: A Regency Romance Novel by Isabella Thorne

Author:Isabella Thorne [Thorne, Isabella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mikita Associates
Published: 2018-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Fourteen

The day after the Drummond Picnic, Charity took tea with Julia, the new Baroness Fawkland. No matter the trouble in Charity’s heart, Julia could see through it. The truth was, Julia was practical and could understand things with an uncanny ease. Julia would help her make a decision. Julia would know what to do. At least, Charity knew she would feel more settled when she was finished with tea with Julia.

“Thank you Harrington.” Julia said as her butler admitted Charity to Lady Fawkland’s bath home.

“Will there be anything else, Baroness?”

“Have Mrs. Harper bring tea in the morning room,” Julia requested politely

“The house looks wonderful,” Charity commented as she entered. “I cannot believe you just arrived at Bath and you already are all settled.”

“Well, I do have the highest paid butler in Bath,” Julia said with a little smile. “He does earn his salary. All of the staff are eager to please since Lord Fawkland and I took up residence here for the summer. After all they were hired to care for a country miss, and here I am a lady. In truth, I think they are more proud to serve a baroness than I am to be one.”

Charity laughed at Julia’s frankness. She knew her friend was still nervous that she would not live up to her new title. Charity assured Julia that there could be no finer baroness, nor a finer house.

Charity paused at a new display. Last year the paintings that had graced the walls of Julia’s summer home depicted the sites and streets of Bath, many lovingly painted by Julia herself. Now, several key works had been replaced with new paintings, no less lovely, but they instead displayed a lush countryside.

“These paintings. Are they yours?” Charity asked.

Julia nodded proudly. “Lord Fawkland thought we might move some of the Bath scenes to the barony and some of my newer works here so I might always feel myself at home.”

“They are beautiful,” Charity complimented her, pleased that her friend had found happiness in her new role.

Julia fairly glowed when she spoke of her new husband. Charity only wished she might feel that same joy. The two women spoke of Bath and of paintings, and Charity simply enjoyed her friend’s company while tea was served. Julia always made her feel better and today was no exception, but eventually, the topic came to the subject of men, and Charity’s troubles.

“At the opening ball, Lavinia said you were walking the gardens with James Poppy.” Julia raised an eyebrow. “And then again at the Drummond picnic. Are you considering him, Charity?”

Charity lifted a shoulder and placed her cup carefully back in its saucer. She had not thought how it might look from the outside.

“I did walk with James, but only to get a breath of fresh air.” Then Charity spilled the entirety of the story to Julia: the fight with Lord Wentwell at the ball and how miserable she had been since. While she spoke she fiddled with her napkin and gloves in her lap.

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