Chasing Scandal by Leslie V. Knowles

Author:Leslie V. Knowles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance, Historical Fiction, Romance books, Wolverton World, series romance
Publisher: Leslie V. Knowles
Published: 2021-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

Julia assessed herself in the mirror. Lady Ravencliffe was right. The blue and green striped muslin sample dress the modiste had altered for her immediate use made her feel confident that she could demand answers from her cousin.

The fine clothes provided during her failed season had been packed away long ago, and she’d chosen simple and practical clothes for life at the cottage. Had she been of a mind to follow fashion she could have done so, but other than a few dresses for church and trips to Portsmouth, she had paid little attention to her wardrobe. And, of course, she’d been hurried from Tristan’s home with only what she’d worn that morning. The yellow dress was now quite ruined.

The maid Lady Ravencliffe had assigned to Julia dressed her hair in a new style that made her look less severe. Her maid at home, Molly, was a dear, but she was country trained and had not the skills of the young woman today who had drawn her hair into side curls that softened the thin angles of her face. She almost didn’t recognize the woman who gazed back at her.

What would Beatrice look like now? If she found her, would Julia recognize her? She’d had deep brown eyes like their father and that faint dimple in her chin with a deeper one at the corner of her mouth when she smiled. Did she still get hiccups when she laughed too hard? Did she have anything to laugh about? Did she—

“Oh, you look lovely,” Alice said from the doorway.

Julia turned to see that Alice also wore a new dress. Her tussle with the knots had loosened her front teeth and her tongue played across them, making them shift. Julia saw, too, that Alice wore the sides of her hair pulled back and tied with a pink ribbon in addition to the superfluous hairpins that the child had tucked into the sides. “So many pins,” she teased. “Surely you know you will not be locked into a room by Lord or Lady Ravencliffe.”

Though she smiled, Alice’s eyes were solemn when she said, “Mr. Sheffield said one must be ready for any eventuality at any time.”

“I don’t suppose keeping extra pins in your hair is of much consequence, if it makes you will feel better.” Julia knelt and hugged Alice, then whispered, “But now you are here you need not worry. Neither Tom nor Ned know you are here, and someone will be with you at all times until those responsible are brought to justice.”

There was a light tap at the door before the upstairs maid assigned to Alice said, “Mr. Sheffield has arrived, miss.” She held out her hand. “Come along, Miss Alice. Mr. Sheffield is waiting for Miss Dorsey.”

Julia stood and adjusted a pin in Alice’s hair that had slipped loose. “It is fine to be prepared, dear, but do not borrow troubles before time.” She reached for her bonnet. “Enjoy yourself. Stay with Nan, and I shall be back soon.

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