The Reunion by Sara Portman

Author:Sara Portman [Portman, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-07-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

“Are you going after her?”

His wife’s question broke his temporary paralysis and John looked up. He experienced an unfamiliar moment of uncertainty regarding just what to do next and realized he quite disliked it.

“I’d say she needs time,” he decided finally. “There will be a period of adjustment.” Heaven knew he had no particular skill in comforting distraught women.

Brydges stepped up to stand in front of him. “You’re my oldest and dearest friend, Worley, so I’ll tell you for your own good—your sister should be paddled like the infant she’s decided to become.”

Heat suffused John. “Old friend or not, you’ll watch yourself when speaking of my sister,” he warned.

Brydges only ignored the censure. “When is she required to watch her speech?”

“Everything in her life as she knows it has changed in a matter of weeks. She is living in a country she does not remember, her mother has died, and she must learn the rules of an entirely different society from that which she has always known. Perhaps you could find some dregs of sympathy in your judgmental heart.”

Brydges was unrelenting. “I’m quite capable of sympathizing with her predicament, that does not require that I tolerate her behavior.”

Emma released a harangued sigh and glowered at Brydges. “Since I’m to be charged with mentoring Lady Charlotte, if you could find it within your power not to be aggravating to her already unhappy disposition, I would greatly appreciate it.”

Brydges only glowered back.

“Charlotte will come around,” John said, as much to convince himself as his wife. She didn’t verbally object, but he noted the tilt of her head and arch of her brow as she contemplated his claim.

Brydges grunted. “Perhaps she might amend her behavior more quickly if you were to clarify its unacceptability.” He shook his head. “I shall leave you to puzzle out this monumental task without me. I fear my contributions on the subject will not be welcome.”

John watched Brydges as he strode from the room, then turned to his wife. “She’ll come around,” he reiterated, much more confident this time. “Charlotte is back in the life she deserves, with a grand house and servants to do her bidding.”

“Come around?” Emma’s voice had risen to fragile pitch. “Have you met Charlotte?”

“She has been through such an ordeal…”

Emma’s eyes rolled upward. “Yes, yes, the ordeal!” She threw her hands outward. “We have all had our mettle tested in some way, John, but that does not excuse us from returning basic kindness and decency to those who give it. Your sister is abominable.”

“That is my sister,” he ground out. “Where is your sympathy?”

“Sympathy? For that?” She marched toward him and poked her finger into his chest. “You deceived me.”

He stared down at her and waited to speak until he was certain he could do so without a string of words that should not be uttered to a lady. “That is a ridiculous claim. You understood from the very first my reasons for marrying.”

Her eyes flashed golden fire. “Yes. I understand the bargain I made, but when you spoke to me of your sister, you severely understated the task at hand.

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