Creatures of Habit: a Year in Cherrybrook, #1 by Charlotte Brothers

Author:Charlotte Brothers [Charlotte Brothers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CB Press
Published: 2022-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

When they arrived home, Eugenia allowed herself to be helped from the carriage and into the house. Mister Cavendish rushed this way and that about her feet, barking.

“Quiet, dog!” shouted her father. But Mister Cavendish trotted up the stairs and jumped onto Eugenia’s bed in anticipation of his mistress. Her parents deposited her on the edge of her bed and sent for Mary to come and help Eugenia undress while they fetched her a cup of tea.

In the flickering lantern light, Eugenia could see her silhouette in her mirror as she sat slumped on her bed, waiting for Mary. She looked at her reflection and shook her head slowly.

What a weakling. How could she have let Captain Fortescue go so far without genuine discouragement from her? Now the whole town had seen him drop before her and hold her bare hand. What was worse, Lawrence would have seen the whole of it. If he hadn’t, some eager gossip would have told him before her family carriage had left the park. She was sure of it.

She slouched even further, and a tear dropped on her wrist. She dug in her reticule for a handkerchief. When she’d located it, she pulled it from the small bag and blew her nose in it noisily.

Mary knocked and entered her room.

“My goodness, miss! I didn’t think anything was wrong with you when you went out. I am so sorry! To miss a dance and to miss seeing the captain and the other men all dressed up in their regimentals receiving their medals? What a pity. But don’t you worry, we will get you back in full health, quick as a wink.”

“Thank you, Mary.” Yes, I’ll be well quite soon, thought Eugenia sadly. Fear and humiliation heal quickly. For a moment she wondered if she ought to feign sickness until Fortescue grew bored with Cherrybrook and decided to leave.

Her dismal thoughts were interrupted by a second sharp rap on her door.

“Come in,” she called out.

Her mother and father both stepped in.

“My dear, are you alright? Are you ill?” Her mother asked.

Eugenia opened her mouth to answer, and nothing came out. She looked at her mother and said in a small voice, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? Was it a case of the nerves? We’ve never known you to be a delicate girl,” here her mother looked apologetic and clasped her hands together, “but it is plain to see that your father and I, and you too, must prepare for an offer of marriage from Captain Fortescue.”

Mrs. Merritt looked as unhappy as Eugenia felt, and Mr. Merritt pressed his fingers to his brows as if he were trying to drive the unpleasant thought into his head by force.

Even though Eugenia had no intention of accepting Captain Fortescue, it did not follow that he should be looked down upon by her parents. The captain had done nothing wrong. If anything, when they had begun their acquaintance, she had encouraged his attention and now was sorry for it, but that was no fault of his, but hers.

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.