When You Love Someone by Susan Johnson

Author:Susan Johnson [Johnson, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Susan Johnson

21

After dressing, Betsy had joined Elspeth in her room and, lounging on a chaise while Elspeth finished her toilette, she chatted as though they were old friends. She offered up all the current gossip making the rounds in London's drawing rooms, talked of her children and husband as well, and on occasion, her brother.

Whenever Julius's name came up, Elspeth would invariably blush, but she also stored away each little scrap of information against some future time when she could relish them at her leisure. She understood her yearnings were futile, even more-­ridiculous--but still, she cherished every revealing detail about the man who had come to mean so much to her.

"Did you enjoy the bath?" Betsy indicated the adjacent bathing chamber with a flick of her wrist. "The tub comes from a Roman palace, or so I'm told. Some ancestor took a fancy to it and had it shipped back to England."

"I was quite overwhelmed." Elspeth's brows arched into perfect half moons. The tub was green marble, the taps of gold and crystal, while the luxury of hot and cold running water was unheard of in Yorkshire. "Thank you for sending the maid to explain all the equipment."

"After traveling, I know how I welcome a bath."

"Indeed, it was wonderful." Elspeth swept her hand downward. "I do apologize for my frock, however. We were planning on rough accommodations on our travels. My wardrobe is devoid of grand gowns."

"You look perfectly lovely. Muslin becomes you--unlike so many ladies who are too matronly to carry off the new shepherdess fashions."

Elspeth smoothed the skirt of her simple French-gray frock, standing patiently as Sophie tied the blue silk bow at the back of her waist. "A color such as this was meant to withstand more primitive conditions than London. The port where Will was set ashore is little more than a bivouac, I understand."

"We must have the cook pack you some victuals for your journey, then--and drinking water no doubt would be useful as well. Morocco is desert, is it not?"

"I'm not sure. Although, I shall find out soon enough."

"There ye be, sweetie," Sophie said, patting the bow into place and smiling at her charge. "Ye look right pretty."

"Ready, then?" Betsy rose to her feet in a froth of cerise silk.

Elspeth took a small breath. "I confess, I'm very nervous."

Betsy had deliberately delayed their meeting until Elspeth could cast off her dusty traveling gown, wishing for her brother's sake that his paramour be seen in the best light. "There's no reason in the world why you should be nervous." Betsy smiled. "Maman and Papa will find you charming." In fact, Lady Grafton was stunning--all golden hair and wide-eyed innocence…not Julius's usual style, but definitely a beauty. "As for my children, I warn you, they are spoiled and demanding and not in the least well-trained," she declared, her smile that of a doting mother.

"I'm forewarned, then," Elspeth said, a teasing note in her voice. "Although I thought them sweet children when I saw them that day at Julius's.

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